Old advertising tins

Advertising tins have been around for hundreds of years. As early as 1819, their use was documented in the United States. Manufactured to hold items ranging from coffee to tobacco, and everything in between, they were often kept by members of the household for storage of other items after the original contents were gone. Images on the tins often depicted their original utilitarian purpose, while others were decorated brightly with images solely to please the purchaser, which through the years has kept them at the top of many collectors’ lists.

Tins came in many different shapes and sizes, which also has been a draw to individual collectors. One round tin in my personal collection once held fan shaped biscuits, a taller one, round in shape also, was originally a container for flour. Another round tin, rather low in height, holds a set of miniature canapé cutters. Cigarettes came in rectangular shaped tins, maple syrup in tins shaped like log cabins, tiny sized tins held sewing needles, aspirin, even tips for pens. Figural tins in numerous shapes, everything from animals to cars, are treasured by those lucky enough to come across them. One tin I have had for many years is bright orange in color, with a picture of a yellow songbird, advertising the removal of mites from the family’s pet bird. Another popular item that early tins held, gaily decorated, was cosmetics.

Nearly any item that was available for sale came in a tin at some time or another, so if you are a collector of nearly any item from the past, somewhere along the way, you will probably add a tin or two to your collection. The number one thing to keep in mind as you encounter advertising tins, especially if you are not familiar with tins in general: Do not purchase by mistake a reproduction tin for the real thing. Even today, tins are still being manufactured. Some of these resemble tins of the past. One problem this presents, is the assumption that if the advertising decorating the tin, is for a product from long ago, the tin must be old. This is not always so. ‘Reproduction’ tins are quite common. These are made specifically to resemble older tins. Most modern ones manufactured for this purpose will have a date on them. The best way to find out if it is a reproduction is to simply look for a copyright date. This is a sure giveaway to the actual age, and that the tin you are considering is a newer example and not an original.

Do not overlook newer, from the last few decades, reproduction tins of popular items though. Some of these can be just as desirable as the older tins. Part of the distinction here will be by the collectors themselves. Someone who collects strictly older tins may very well look right past these. Someone who collects a particular type of tin though, say peanut tins, may be just as interested in a tin reproduced in the 1970’s, to add to his or her collection, as he or she is in a tin from the late 1870’s. I am a collector of anything related to sewing, so throughout the years I have accumulated tins that are quite old, and some that are generally new in production. Aesthetic quality means as much to me as age. Always go by the rule of only buying what pleases your eye, and in this way, no purchase will ever be a ‘bad’ purchase. This is not to say you should not take the time to look something over to determine it’s age, only that in the end, only purchase something that you like.

Advertising tins, because of their original purpose as a useful item, often have scratches, dents, even rust, so once you come across a tin you would like to add to your collection, do not let a few imperfections scare you off. Unless they detract greatly from the item, most collectors consider them part of their history. Rust is common on the interior part of tins also, so expect this. Tins often came with hinged lids. The condition of the hinges should be as good as possible, and the absence of, or broken hinges, can greatly detract from the desirability of a tin.

This is not to say that you can not find perfect specimens. On a recent trip to a small town in Colorado, I was lucky enough to come across a perfect aspirin tin. Not a single imperfection could be found. After carefully looking over the tin, I did conclude that it was an original. For the most part though, if the tin appears brand new, chances are it is.

In the end, the best way to distinguish old tins from newer copies is to become familiar with advertising tins in general. This can be accomplished by viewing, through museums or private collections, as many specimens as you can. Study these originals, become familiar with the finished texture of older tins, the colors used and the bottom rims, and edge seals. As you study authentic pieces, you will quickly learn the subtle differences compared to newer mass-produced copies. Your biggest problem will then be on deciding between that perfect Uncle Remus Syrup can with an intact paper label, or a tin of Boye Sewing Needles, circa 1912, with original needles included!