Vintage large square mcvities & prices digestive shop display tin

Vintage large square mcvities & prices digestive shop display tin very rare item most are small square boxes this one we believe would have been in a shop front for selling purposes marked w.c.&s William Crawford and son

23 1/2 cm square 24 cm height although some of the original paper design is missing or worn away due to age it still holds that lovely decorative look a fabulous addition to any collection or interior designers piece

Some age related wear

Here are some key events in the history of McVitie & Price, the Scottish biscuit company that became McVitie's:

1830: William and Robert McVitie open a provision shop in Edinburgh, Scotland

1888: The company moves to the St Andrews Biscuit Works in Edinburgh's Gorgie district

1892: Alexander Grant creates the first Digestive biscuit, which was named for its supposed ability to aid digestion

1902: The company opens a factory in Harlesden, North London

1914: The company supplies "Iron ration" biscuits to the government during World War I

1925: The company adds the Chocolate Digestive to its range

1927: The company adds the Jaffa cake to its range

1948: The company merges with Macfarlane Lang to form United Biscuits

2000: The company is bought by Finalrealm and Nabisco Holdings Corp

McVitie's is now owned by United Biscuits, a British multinational food manufacturer that also makes Jacob's Cream Crackers and Twiglets.

William Crawford & Sons biscuit tins were a hallmark of the brand and a significant part of its popularity in the early and mid-20th century. The tins were collectible items, and their designs were an effective marketing tool that helped distinguish Crawford's products from competitors.

Here are some highlights from the history of William Crawford & Sons biscuit tins:

Design

The tins were available in a variety of designs, including sports cars, sundials, and more. The most exotic designs were produced in the early 20th century, before World War I. After World War II, the custom of producing decorative tinware never really revived.

Popularity

The tins were popular among collectors, and in 2007, a Crawford biscuit tin in the shape of a sports car sold for £15,600 at Bonhams.

Packaging

The tins were a hygienic way to keep biscuits fresh, and the tin's surface could be bent into various shapes for advertising and decoration.

Production

The British biscuit tin came about in 1861 when the Licensed Grocer's Act allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. The offset lithography process, patented in 1877, allowed multi-colored designs to be printed on tinplate.

Today, United Biscuits owns Crawford's, and they continue to produce biscuits under the Crawford's brand.