Vintage c.1940s Calfos Pharmaceutical Tablet Tin – London Chemist

Vintage c.1940s Calfos Pharmaceutical Tablet Tin – London Chemist / Medical Ephemera

A wonderfully timeworn vintage CALFOS pharmaceutical tin, dating to approximately the 1940s and originally produced to hold 120 calcium and phosphorus tablets.

Made for Calfos Ltd of Imperial House, Kingsway, London W.C.2, the tin retains much of its original blue and cream printed decoration, including the large CALFOS branding, “Natural Mineral” wording and details relating to the tablet contents.

Of particular interest is the surviving circular price marking reading approximately “5/10” including Purchase Tax, together with the remains of an old dispensing chemist’s paper label applied across the lid. These original details give the tin a lovely sense of provenance and make it particularly appealing as a piece of British pharmacy and social history.

Calfos was marketed as a mineral preparation containing calcium and phosphorus, together with naturally occurring trace elements. Contemporary records show Calfos products being sold during the 1940s, with the company operating from Imperial House, Kingsway, London.

The tin has developed considerable age-related wear, including surface rust, scratches, staining, rubbing, discolouration and losses to the printed decoration and paper label. The interior and underside also show oxidation and wear. We have deliberately left the tin in its naturally aged state, as the distressed finish forms an important part of its character and history.

A fascinating survivor that would make a great addition to a collection of vintage chemist advertising, medical ephemera, pharmaceutical packaging, social-history objects or simply unusual decorative tins.

Approximate measurements:

9 cm x 7 cm x 1.5 cm

Why we love it:

This is exactly the sort of small object that offers a glimpse into everyday life of the past. The battered chemist’s label, old purchase-tax price and surviving CALFOS advertising turn an ordinary tablet tin into a rather evocative piece of mid-20th-century British social history.

Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description and show the condition in detail. Vintage and antique items will naturally show signs of age, use and previous ownership.

Our descriptions are written to the best of our knowledge and research. Colours may vary slightly depending on screen settings and lighting.