Vintage Palethorpes Sausages Cardboard Delivery Box (c.1930s–1940s)
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By Palethorpes Ltd., Tipton, Staffordshire
Dimensions: approx. 45cm x 30cm x 20cm
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A remarkable survivor from Britain’s golden age of rail-delivered produce, this vintage Palethorpes Ltd. sausage box dates from the late 1930s to 1940s and offers a genuine glimpse into the nation’s food-production and distribution heritage.
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🏭 About Palethorpes Ltd.
Established in 1852 by Henry Palethorpe in Birmingham, Palethorpes quickly became one of the largest and best-known sausage manufacturers in the world. By the early 20th century, the firm’s state-of-the-art factory in Tipton, Staffordshire, was producing an astonishing range of sausages, pies, and brawn that were transported nationwide via the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) network.
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This box is a fine example of the company’s durable packaging and pioneering logistics — proof that Palethorpes were among the first food manufacturers to embrace rail-to-door delivery long before modern refrigerated transport became standard.
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📦 Description
Constructed from heavy-duty cardboard with strong printed branding in dark navy ink, the box is emblazoned with:
> “Palethorpes’ Sausages – Pies, Brawn, Bacon, Hams & Lard”
and
“Established 1852 – Largest Makers in the World.”
An illustrated sausage emblem and the distinctive Royal Cambridge line name complete the design.
Each side includes the company’s trade-mark warning:
> “Every pound of Palethorpes’ Sausages bears the trade-mark label. None is genuine without it. Anyone using this box for sausages other than Palethorpes’ is liable to a heavy penalty.”
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The interior remains clean and structurally sound, while the exterior shows expected age-related wear, creases, and marks consistent with use and transport.
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✉️ Historic Shipping Label
A wonderful period detail survives in the form of the original printed LMS railway delivery label, addressed to:
> Mrs. E. Rees, The Furnace, Clandyfi, nr. Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire – via Salop & Welshpool.
Marked “Perishable” and stamped “LMS No.6”, the label confirms this was a genuine rail-delivered food parcel, shipped with carriage paid including home delivery — a testament to Palethorpes’ early mastery of direct-to-consumer distribution.
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The box itself was produced by Alliance Box Co. Ltd., Warrington, marked A.B.C. 802, a known supplier of official food-grade packaging for Palethorpes and other major British manufacturers.
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🕰️ Dating
Because the LMS railway operated under that name between 1923 and 1947, this box can be confidently dated to that period — most likely late 1930s to wartime 1940s.
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🎯 Collectability & Display
An exceptional piece of British advertising and transport history, this Palethorpes delivery box would appeal to collectors of:
Vintage food packaging & advertising memorabilia
Railway ephemera (LMS period)
Midlands industrial heritage
Retro kitchen décor and display props
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Its bold typography, clear maker’s details, and surviving label make it an outstanding decorative item for a vintage kitchen, pantry display, or collector’s cabinet.
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💷 Condition
Good vintage condition overall with expected signs of age, light scuffing, and minor surface wear. The printed graphics remain legible and vivid, the structure is stable, and the box retains its lid and interior liner. A rare survivor considering its original utilitarian purpose.
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💡 Objet d’Art Stuff Notes
We love that this box captures an era when goods travelled by rail, handled with care and pride by both maker and recipient. It represents not just a food brand, but a story of innovation, British craftsmanship, and domestic history — a tangible link to everyday life nearly a century ago.
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Price: £65.00
(Reflects rarity, historical interest, and display appeal.)
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Sustainably packaged for dispatch. Age-related wear as shown. Photos not digitally enhanced.