Vintage Famel Catarrh & Throat Pastilles Tin – Original Pharmacy Advertising Tin

I’d date this broadly to the mid-20th century, probably 1950s–60s. The Famel name has a rather good pharmaceutical history: French pharmacist Pierre Famel established Laboratoires Famel in 1912, with Famel Syrup becoming one of its best-known preparations. British advertising for Famel cough syrup is documented in 1948 and it was still being heavily promoted in 1959.

8 cm wide

6 cm depth

2 cm tall

Vintage Famel Catarrh & Throat Pastilles Tin – Original Pharmacy Advertising Tin – c.1950s/60s

A wonderfully evocative piece of mid-century pharmacy and social history, this original Famel Catarrh & Throat Pastilles tin would once have been bought from a chemist to soothe coughs, sore throats and catarrhal complaints.

The rectangular metal tin has a particularly attractive cream, yellow and deep green lithographed lid, boldly marked “FAMEL – Catarrh & Throat Pastilles”, with the wording “Produced by the makers of Famel Syrup” above.

Even better, the tin has survived with some of its original internal paper wrapping and what appear to be several of the original dark brown pastilles still inside. We have deliberately left these exactly as found. They give the piece a particularly strong sense of its original purpose and make it an appealing survivor for a collector of vintage chemist, medical or advertising items.

The printed formula on the lid includes creosote, cinnamon, lemon and menthol – ingredients typical of the sort of proprietary throat remedies widely marketed during the mid-20th century.

Maker History

The Famel pharmaceutical name originated with French pharmacist Pierre Famel, who established Laboratoires Famel in 1912. The company produced a range of pharmaceutical preparations, with Famel Syrup becoming one of its best-known products and being marketed internationally. Famel cough remedies were advertised extensively through the middle decades of the 20th century, and this little pastille tin is an appealing reminder of the era when branded cough mixtures, lozenges and remedies were a familiar sight on the shelves of the local chemist.

Condition

A genuine vintage example showing plenty of age and use. The printed lid remains bright and very readable, with minor surface marks and wear around the edges. The unpainted metal base has considerable tarnishing, scratching, darkening and surface corrosion consistent with age and storage.

Inside are old paper wrappings together with what appear to be original pastilles. These are retained purely as part of the historical character of the item and must not be consumed.

Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.

A quirky little piece of vintage pharmacy advertising – ideal for a collection of chemist's memorabilia, medical ephemera, advertising tins or social-history objects.

Vintage item sold as a collectable/display piece only. Any remaining original contents are not suitable for consumption.

Our descriptions are given to the best of our knowledge and research. Age-related wear is part of the character of vintage and antique pieces. Photographs have not been digitally altered, although colours may vary slightly between screens.I’d put this one in your Social History category as well as tins/advertising if your site allows multiple categories — the surviving contents give it much more storytelling value than the average little tin.