Vintage Thornes toffees lithograph tin full of vintage buttons

Vintage Thornes toffees lithographed tin, full of vintage buttons. This lovely decorative tin is full of old / vintage buttons. There may be some rare / bakelite ones in there!!!! Very collectible.

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Size: 19 cm wide 14 cm depth 6 cm tall.

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Some age related wear

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Thorne's toffee tins have a history rooted in a Leeds-based confectionery company, Henry Thorne & Co. Ltd., which began as a mustard and chicory shop in the 1830s. The company later expanded into producing drinking cocoa, chocolates, and toffees. Thorne's became a well-known name in confectionery, with their "It's too good for you" slogan and iconic "Extra Super Crème Toffee" tin design, which was registered as a trademark around 1924. The factory closed and was demolished in 1971.

Here's a more detailed look at the history:

Early Days:

Henry Thorne & Co. started as a humble shop selling mustard, chicory, and ginger in Leeds.

Quaker Beginnings:

The Thorne family were Quakers, and like other Quaker confectioners, they initially focused on "Health Cocoa" as a fashionable, medicinal alternative to alcohol.

Expansion into Confectionery:

The company later expanded into producing chocolates and toffees, with the "Extra Super Crème Toffee" becoming a popular product.

"It's too good for you" Campaign:

The distinctive "It's too good for you" slogan and the associated tin design were registered as a trademark around 1924.

Peak Production:

By the 1960s, Thorne's was producing two million pieces of confectionery a day.

Factory Closure:

The factory on Leeds closed and was demolished in 1971.

Legacy:

Thorne's toffee tins, particularly the "Extra Super Crème" ones, have become sought-after vintage items.

Lithography, a printing technique that utilizes the immiscibility of oil and water, was invented by Alois Senefelder in 1796-1798. Initially named "Chemical Printing," it later became known as lithography, meaning "writing on stone". This process involves drawing an image on a smooth stone (typically limestone) with a greasy substance, then wetting the stone, and applying oily ink, which only adheres to the greasy areas. The development of lithography revolutionized printing, offering a more accessible and versatile method compared to older techniques like engraving.

Here's a more detailed look at the history:

Early Development:

Senefelder's initial experiments involved using locally available limestone from Kelheim. He found that a greasy substance, like ink, would adhere to the stone's surface, and when dampened, the stone would repel ink in non-image areas, allowing for printing.

19th Century Expansion:

Lithography quickly gained popularity, finding applications in art, commercial printing, and cartography. Land surveying companies and publishers found it particularly useful.

Romantic Era:

Romantic painters like Eugène Delacroix embraced lithography for its ability to create dramatic tonal shifts and atmospheric effects.

Chromolithography:

In the latter half of the 19th century, color lithography, known as chromolithography, emerged, with French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec making significant contributions to its development.

20th and 21st Centuries:

While offset lithography is now a common commercial printing method, lithography continues to be used in art and specialized printing applications. Modern lithography, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, has evolved into photolithography, utilizing lasers and sophisticated techniques for creating intricate patterns on wafers.