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Discover Mid-America - March 2003
Coffee tins percolate interest with collectors
Over the past few years, the hobby of collecting coffee tins has exploded due to availability, decorative purposes and cost.
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There are many categories of coffee tins that exist: pre-1901 two color, decorated metal box variety, paper label over tin or cardboard, key or strip open types, pail, coffee bins and the tall cylindrical lithographed tin one-pound containers.
The lithographed one-pound tin was introduced on the 1880s although coffee had been packed in tin since the early 1800s. The labels on these early tins were either soldered embossed or stenciled. Pre-1901 the tins were not of uniform size. They were square, cylindrical, rectangular or box-shaped with a small pull-off or hinged lid. 1901 was the year that most of the early lithographic companies were bought out by the American Can Company. The pre-1901 tin will usually have the tin makers name on the label. There were only two colors in the lithography process, usually black with either red, green, yellow or blue, or a shade of one of these colors. By 1914, multicolored tins began to be mass produced using techniques of chromatography. Since the containers could sell the coffee the more exquisite the label the better the product would sell.
The 1920s brought about keen competition for the coffee seller and a variety of different sized containers became available. It is known that at least 350 different brands in tall, lithographed one-pound tins existed and 1,100 short key-open tins. As the hobby grows more unknown tins pop up. Paper label containers probably exist in even greater numbers. Many of the multi-colored paper labels are just as exquisitely detailed if not even more so than tin and much less expensive in today’s market. The tall one pound containers have two basic types of lids: the pry-off type which is inset in the top about 1/4 inch from the edge the twist-off which fits over the top and twists down. These lids were introduced with the start of air-tight coffee containers after the turn of the century. This type of container allowed the coffee to stay fresh longer.
In the late 1920s the key-open tin was introduced and a true vacuum seal was created. Most nicely lithographed coffee tins from the 20s range in price from $100 to $400. A tin with lettering will usually sell from $30 to $150, unless the tin dates pre-1902 in which case it would demand a higher price. Most of the nice short key-open tins coffee cans can still be found for under $50. Of course all prices are determined by condition: a $300 coffee tin may bring only $30 in poor condition.
The tall one-pound tin disappeared in the art Deco Period of the early 30s and was totally replaced by the key-open tins and glass containers and in some cases paper bags. Tins are still showing up but with less and less regularity.
Recent auction prices
Royal Dutch Coffee, 1 lb tin can, (excellent) $45.00
Wallers Coffee, 5 lb tin container, pry-off lid, (excellent) $95.00
Mauna Kea Kona Coffee, 3 lb container with paper label, pry-off lid. (excellent)
$60.00
Breakfast Call Coffee, 1 lb tin container (excellent) $40.00
If you have a question on an antique or collectible, drop us a line:
J & J, 4465 Lonedell Rd., St. Louis MO 63010.
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