Antique 1920s silvox cubes tin box sold by CWS ( co op wholesale society)
Antique 1920s silvox cubes tin box sold by CWS ( co op wholesale society). This lovely little box would have originally held six cubes. Silvox was a competitor to Oxo cubes.
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Some age related wear
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6 1/2 cm wide
4 cm depth
3 cm tall
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— these early Co-operative Wholesale Society “Silvox Cubes” tins are full of character and social history. Here’s a detailed write-up you can use:
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Vintage Silvox Cubes Tin
(Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd — early 20th century)
This charming miniature advertising tin once held “Silvox Cubes”, a household disinfectant/sterilising product made by the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd (C.W.S.) — the retail arm of the UK Co-operative movement.
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The tin is finished in a rich brick-red enamelled ground with bold cream and black art-nouveau-inspired lettering, framed by a distinctive monochrome chequered border. That strong graphic styling places it very comfortably in the Edwardian–inter-war period (circa 1910–1930).
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The tin is dinky — pocket-sized — with a hinged lid and smooth rounded corners. Side text (usually very small) tends to read:
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> Manufactured by the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd.
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The tin has the sweetest worn patina: gentle surface rubbing, light speckling and age-related oxidisation, all fully consistent with a genuine period tin that has actually lived a life in a busy household. The lid still snaps shut, and the typography remains beautifully legible.
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What were “Silvox Cubes”?
Silvox was a brand of disinfectant and antiseptic preparations marketed by the Co-operative movement — cubes and solutions designed to sterilise, freshen and clean. These products were heavily promoted in the early 20th century when hygiene awareness was increasing, particularly post-World War I and during influenza epidemics. They were the Co-op’s answer to well-known brands such as Izal and Jeyes.
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Maker History — The Co-operative Wholesale Society (C.W.S.)
The C.W.S. was founded in 1863 to supply goods to the growing network of UK co-operative retail societies. Based primarily in Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne, it became one of the largest manufacturing and retail groups in the world — operating flour mills, biscuit factories, soap works, creameries, pharmaceutical labs, tea merchants, and later banking and funeral services.
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Products like Silvox were created so Co-op members could buy trustworthy, affordable goods without relying on private wholesalers. The branding was distinctive, bold and proudly modern for its time — helping build one of Britain’s most successful mutual businesses.
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Today the C.W.S. survives as part of what we now know as The Co-operative Group.
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Why collectors love it
✨ Tiny tins are hugely collectable — they display beautifully
✨ Co-op advertising pieces have strong social-history appeal
✨ The typography and colourway are pure vintage charm
✨ This size and age are scarcer survivor
It’s such a sweet little piece — the sort of thing that makes you smile every time you pass it 💛
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