Object number
72/24
Creator
Description
This is a container used for the transport and storage of pasteurised homogenised milk for sale. The container was manufactured by Bowater Flexible Packaging Ltd. This came to the museum from Marks and Spencer, Baker Street, London.
Physical description
1 milk container: cardboard and plastic; good condition[cont'd]...;red print inscriptions on outside of box, including: 'Pergall, contents 3 imp. gallons, pasteurised homogenised milk, store in a cool place'.
Label Text
Milk container. This box, manufactured in around 1970, was used to transport and store milk. It contains a plastic bag linking to a pipe, which is used for pouring. The box holds three imperial pints, a measurement still commonly used today for milk despite the UK's adoption of the metric system in 1985. Milk, beer and cider were - and still are - the only drinks which may be sold by the pint. This was for the same reason road signs did not become metric; replacing all milk bottles and cartons with metric equivalents would have been prohibitively expensive for the industry.
Archival history
MERL ‘History Artefacts’ card – ‘Container // Inscription- Pegra Division Gateshead NE11, Bowater Flexible Packaging Ltd // Marks and Spencer // Description: A corrugated cardboard box with two 2.5cm diameter holes on one side. The box is printed in red with various instructions. There is a sealed plastic plastic bag inside to hold the milk fixed to a plastic ring with a screw lid which is fixed to the top of the box. From this emerges a flexible plastic pipe 20cm long for pouring. It will hold 3 imp gallons. Use: For the transport and storage of Pasteurised- Homogenised milk for sale.’
Production place
Gateshead
Production date
1970-01-01
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_10932.tif - High resolution image
