Once again the drug store shelves are lined with the inevitable red heart-shaped boxes that tell us it’s time to give candy to those we love. Nougat, coconut, or chocolate cream, it is no doubt the contents, rather than the packaging, that is the object of our attention. But to many collectors it is not the candy, but the candy container that counts.
In the late 1800s candy came packaged in small glass toys. The contents consisted of tiny, bright colored sugar pellets held in place with screw caps or cardboard insets. The first known containers were issued during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1873 and were shaped like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. While geared to appeal to children, they quickly became a favorite collectible of adults who appreciated the high quality craftsmanship and intricacy of detail that went into the production of the hand-made containers. Very early pieces were cast in individual molds into which the glass would be blown or molded. After cooling the containers were then hand painted.
Early shapes included war-related items, comic strip characters, animals, cowboys and Indians and doll house furniture. Planes, trucks, cars and motorcycles are also popular with collectors as they reflect the historical changes in transportation through the years. One of the most popular from this category is the three piece New York Central Train set.
No holiday in mid-20th century America was complete without the candy container. Santas appeared in thousand of Christmas stocking while jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin heads and Easter bunnies and chicks were the hit of many a children’s party. Available for a few cents, candy containers were sold at train stations and 5 and 10 cent stores or they could be ordered through both the Sears and Roebucks and Montgomery Wards catalogs.
Glass manufacturing in the U.S. suffered during the Great Depression and production of candy containers took a hiatus from 1929-1939. Production resumed in the early 1940s, but the days of quality craftsmanship and hand painted design were gone. In their place were automated assembly lines that could turn out thousands of pieces a day. The lids also underwent redesign with screw on metal caps being replaced by cork stoppers or waxed cardboard caps. In the 1950s plastic candy containers gradually began to replace glass and by 1970 the production of glass candy containers ceased completely.
The lime deposits of southeastern Pennsylvania made it home to many of the nations leading glass manufacturers. Victory Glass, T.H. Stough, J.C.Crosetti, and Jeanette Glass all made their home there. Watch for their mark on very early candy containers. Other companies of note include Westmoreland, West Brothers and L.E. Smith.
This is a fascinating area of collecting with a wide range of topic matter and pricing. A review of eBay auctions found 1940s and 1950s containers selling in the $5-$50 range. A 1915 Charlie Chaplin figure with attached glass jar brought $200, and someone loved a “black glass” cat so much they paid $1,275! Until next time….Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com