The Green County Historical Museum has in its permanent collection a fine example of an early lunch box. The tin lunch box has inscribed on its handle that it was patented on "Feb 15 98"; however, there is no indication as to who made it.
The lunch box evolved over the latter part of the 19th century coinciding with the second phase of the industrial revolution in America. The first lunch containers included woven baskets with lids and handles, as well as fancy wooden boxes.
The type of lunch container used often reflected the person's social and economic status. During the 1860s can makers began making pails and cans for carrying lunches to the factory, school and office. The lunch box shown here is quite similar to those used by Welsh miners during this time period.
This lunch box measures 8 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 7 inches high; however, it also has a 2-inch dome in which a tin cup can be removed, revealing a small reservoir for keeping a beverage. The lunch box has a removable tin insert which would allow the person to put a piece of ice or hot metal slug between the insert and the base of the box to either chill or warm the contents.
By the early 20th century, the lunch box was revolutionized by a modification of an early vacuum bottle constructed of double-walled glass which was encased in metal. The addition of a cork stopper and screw-on cup made it the perfect vessel to keep beverages hot or cold. The new drink container largely determined the shape of lunch boxes, as the Thermos bottle clipped in over the top of the food.
The lunch box evolved over the latter part of the 19th century coinciding with the second phase of the industrial revolution in America. The first lunch containers included woven baskets with lids and handles, as well as fancy wooden boxes.
The type of lunch container used often reflected the person's social and economic status. During the 1860s can makers began making pails and cans for carrying lunches to the factory, school and office. The lunch box shown here is quite similar to those used by Welsh miners during this time period.
This lunch box measures 8 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 7 inches high; however, it also has a 2-inch dome in which a tin cup can be removed, revealing a small reservoir for keeping a beverage. The lunch box has a removable tin insert which would allow the person to put a piece of ice or hot metal slug between the insert and the base of the box to either chill or warm the contents.
By the early 20th century, the lunch box was revolutionized by a modification of an early vacuum bottle constructed of double-walled glass which was encased in metal. The addition of a cork stopper and screw-on cup made it the perfect vessel to keep beverages hot or cold. The new drink container largely determined the shape of lunch boxes, as the Thermos bottle clipped in over the top of the food.