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Page 30 The Antique Shoppe March, 2019
MILK CANS more than 1,000 years. Although milk tankers are now
a common site, milk cans are still made and are used
Continued on Page 28 in several countries including India, South Africa and

Many retired farmers have the USA. The number of US patents for milk cans
kept one or two milk cans just and improvement to milk cans is very impressive.
as a reminder of the old farm. Between 1859 and 1910 there were 543 patents
Sometimes those cans are passed issued for milk cans. Some were quite specific such
down through the family. A rusty as patents for new designs for lids or handles. New
milk can placed in amongst garden designs for milk cans are still being made.
plants is an example of garden art Some types of old milk cans are very rare and very
but is it also nostalgia? Upcycling expensive. Not surprising therefore that there are
is very popular (as it should be) modern reproductions of some of the rarest milk cans.
and many a milk can have been I’ve collected not only examples of milk cans
given a new lease of life and a new Examples of brass, copper and folk art on milk cans but also many milk can anecdotes, items from old
function. Throughout almost every newspapers, milk can patents, and information
A milk can letter box. state there are many examples of from both museums and institutes of rural history.
plant containers, umbrella stands, bread bins, and particularly The National Dairy Shrine Museum, The All-American Dairy Show, and the
letter boxes made from milk cans. National Museum of American history have all been particularly helpful. There
Old milk cans are to be found at car boot sales, and vintage and collectable was more than enough material for a book of A thousand milk cans. A very rare
fairs. Even rusty cans appear to becoming more and more collectable. With rust 257 pages. I was surprised to find that there is 1900 show card from the ANGLO-
removed and painted, the cans become a work of art (folk art). How pleasing no other book dedicated to milk cans. SWISS Condensed Milk Co.
it is to see so many examples of milk can art with country scenes and brightly Where are the other collectors
colored abstract patterns. or milk cans? Are milk cans of no
I have often heard the comment “milk cans? There can’t be much to write interest? Please help me celebrate the
about. Surly milk cans are just grey colored steel cans, commonly about eight history, use and design of milk cans.
gallons, with a lid”. On the contrary, there is much to discuss. For example
the variation in the size of milk cans ranged from extremely small (1/8th of a Ian Spellerberg resides in New Zealand. He is
Emeritus Professor of Nature Conservation
pint) to very large (25 gallons). Milk cans were made from more materials than with a keen interest in the conservation of
just steel. They were made from wood, plastic, copper, and aluminium. There heritage and social history. He has written
were even ceramic milk ‘cans’ known as counter pans. These were placed on many books including three about antiques
and collectables. He can be contacted on
the counter of dairies and from there the milk was decanted for the customers. mspeller@xtra.co.nz
There is even a patent for a glass milk ‘can’. Spellerberg’s book ‘Milk cans – a celebration
of their history, use and design’ has recently
Milk cans are often associated with the period of the later 1800’s to the been published by Astragal Press www.
1950’s. Surprisingly, milk cans have been in use in some parts of the world for astragalpress.com ISBN: 978-1-931626-41-5

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