| From the early 1950s children's lunch | | | | the history of the lunch box has a dark side to it |
| transportation experienced a revolution. The | | | | as well! As collectors of these items will know all |
| introduction of lithography - a technique used to | | | | too well many of the boxes from the early days |
| imprint graphic designs onto metal - meant that | | | | have suffered significant damage in the form of |
| metal lunch boxes for kids were adorned with | | | | battle scars from fights in the school yard. |
| colorful designs of contemporary TV and movie | | | | Perhaps this is not too surprising as kids will be |
| characters. | | | | kids after all. However, what is quite shocking is |
| This trend began in the early 1950s when the | | | | that the ferocity and overall prevalence of the |
| Aladdin company brought the Hopalong Cassidy | | | | fighting eventually got so severe that by the |
| lunch box to market. Decorated with a Western | | | | early 1970s parents had begun lobbying state |
| style motif this product was an instant hit with | | | | governments to take action against the "evil" |
| school children all over America. Aladdin's sales | | | | metal lunch boxes! This particular instance of |
| went through the roof and the company moved | | | | people power was strongest in Florida and |
| quickly to capitalize on this success with their | | | | eventually, in 1972, the local legislature agreed to |
| follow up Tom Corbett Space Cadet box a year | | | | impose a ban throughout the state. Shortly after, |
| later in 1952. | | | | this precedent was followed by other US states. |
| In the years that followed all manner of products | | | | However, these happenings should be seen in the |
| were released and whilst the hardware itself | | | | context that many manufactures had ceased |
| remained remarkably unimaginative - a simple box | | | | production before this point anyway (1963 for |
| frequently accompanied by a thermos - the | | | | Universal and ADCO in 1956, for example). |
| graphic design imprints themselves proved to be | | | | Today, metal lunch boxes for kids have become |
| an important narrative for the popular culture of | | | | collectors' pieces rather than items for everyday |
| the time. | | | | lunch transportation. Naturally, looking out for |
| Such is the power of nostalgia, it is all too easy to | | | | evidence of playground battle scars is no doubt |
| look back at this golden age and see nothing but | | | | very important! |
| fond memories of childhood and days of | | | | If only lunch boxes could talk... |
| innocence. However, it must be remembered that | | | | |