Vintage 1920s /30s miniature Burdall’s Gravy Salt Tin — “The Tell-Tale”

Lovely little piece of early British kitchen advertising — and the colourway is still very strong despite the wear.

Vintage 1920s /30s miniature Burdall’s Gravy Salt Tin — “The Tell-Tale” Advertising Kitchenalia Tin

7 cm tall

4 cm wide

3 cm depth

A charming vintage Burdall’s Gravy Salt tin, with bold red, navy and yellow printed decoration and the wonderful period slogan “The Tell-Tale” to the front. The design shows a plated joint of meat with gravy, alongside the original 1½d price mark, giving it that instantly collectable early grocery-shop feel.

The tin has embossed metal end caps reading “Burdall’s Gravy Salt”, with printed recipe and serving suggestions to the sides, including directions for adding Burdall’s Gravy Salt to gravy, sauces, stews and savoury dishes. The side panel identifies Burdall’s as sole manufacturers and proprietors, and as manufacturing chemists, Sheffield, which adds a lovely local industrial-history connection.

Burdall’s began as a Sheffield chemist and druggist business before becoming best known for its gravy salts. The firm was incorporated as Burdall’s Ltd in 1930 by Herbert Moses Burdall and Herbert Alonzo Burdall, and in 1932 it occupied part of the former Hillsborough Barracks site in Sheffield, later known as Burdall’s Buildings.

This example is most likely 1920s / 1930s to mid-20th century, with the 1½d price, graphic style and small domestic grocery packaging all pointing to the interwar/early post-war kitchen cupboard era.

Condition

In authentic vintage condition, with age-related wear throughout. There are scratches, rubbing, small paint losses, surface marks and discolouration to the printed panels, particularly to the front and recipe sides. The tin still displays beautifully, with strong lettering and excellent decorative appeal. Interior condition not shown, so best sold as a decorative collectable only.

A characterful vintage Burdall’s Gravy Salt tin, full of nostalgic British kitchen cupboard charm. With its bold red lettering, deep navy background, yellow recipe panels and embossed metal end caps, this small advertising tin is a wonderful survivor from the days when everyday pantry goods came in beautifully printed reusable tins.

The front is marked “Burdall’s Gravy Salt – The Tell-Tale” and shows a plated joint of meat with gravy, alongside the original 1½d price mark. The sides retain their original printed instructions and recipes, including suggestions for using Burdall’s Gravy Salt in gravy, sauces, stews and savoury dishes.

Burdall’s was a Sheffield firm, originally associated with chemists and druggists, before becoming especially known for its gravy salts. Burdall’s Ltd was incorporated in 1930 and later occupied part of the former Hillsborough Barracks site in Sheffield, giving this little tin a lovely connection to British food, packaging and industrial history.

Condition is authentically aged, with surface scratches, rubbing, small areas of print loss, marks and discolouration, as shown in the photographs. The wear is very much part of its appeal and gives it a wonderful timeworn pantry display look. Best suited for decorative use, display, prop styling or collecting.

A lovely addition to a vintage kitchenalia collection, advertising tin display, country kitchen shelf or social history collection.

Please note: this is a vintage collectable tin sold for display only. It is not sold as food-safe and should not be used for storing consumables.