By 1900 tin technology was at the point where mass production of good looking boxes was routine. That’s not to say there weren’t problems, but those are among topics I plan to write about in the future.

    The 20th century saw two developments that greatly impacted the tin box industry. The 1910 legalization of small boxes of 5 and 10 cigars gave a big push to the industry as tin was highly suitable for small containers. Only 4 years later, improvements in drying tech-niques sped the manufacturing process, reduced loss, and led to affordable boxes and cans. After 1915, tin containers could truly be mass produced.

    This exhibit is a selection of tin boxes used between 1900 to 1940, selected to give you a sense of what was happening in the world of tin boxes.