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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Antiques and Collectibles Articles   Follow the arrows to other stories Canadian Advertising Tins By Melissa Collver In our family, summer always meant a trip to a pioneer village. This was one of my favourite outings. I rode in the back seat of the family car filled with anticipation. As my father paid our admission, I rushed through the gates and was immediately transported back in time. I enjoyed everything about these visits.Meandering along the dirt roads past fields filled with bleating sheep, riding in a horse drawn buggy, visiting the primitive homesteads of early settlers but for me the highlight was a visit to the general store. Every village had one and each one was unique. The smell of wood smoke from the pot-bellied stove, the feel of the smooth wood of the floor counters, and the gleam of the tins lining the shelves captured my imagination. They were full of charm and nostalgia. The first general stores came about as areas were settled and small communities were formed. The needs of these communities could no longer be met by the peddler's cart of wares. As populations increased so did the wares in the general store. These stores had to be able to provide everything from nuts and bolts to spices and tea.   Without the convenience of the horseless carriage people depended on being able to purchase things locally.Years later, as a young adult, I was visiting a couple who were avid collectors of Canadiana. As I toured their lovely home and admired their collection I was led to a closed door in the basement. The couple with a twinkle in their eyes opened the door and invited me in. To my amazement I found myself inside a replica of an early general store complete with a post office. It was filled to the rafters with coffee mills, dye cabinets, merchandise of all kinds and the most beautiful tins I had ever seen. I had no idea that there were people who collected general store items but I knew then that I was going to become one. I purchased my first items from the couple with the 'basement general store' and twenty years later my search continues.   Early on, I became fascinated with early Canadian advertising tins. These containers are true works of art. Two companies, the Thomas Davidson Mfg. Co. and the Macdonald Mfg. Co. dominated the industry of manufacturing tin containers during the late 1800s and early 1900s. With the advent of techniques such as lithography and enameling these companies were able to produce magnificent tin containers. They were colourful, came in a variety of shapes, sizes and the detail on some is simply amazing.   Competition was stiff. The shelves and countertops of the general store were brimming with goods and producers knew that their packaging had to be more exciting and eye-catching than the product next to it. At the turn of the century there was no television, radio, or billboards to advertise a product. The tin container was the advertising!   A Scotsman named Thomas Davidson, who immigrated to Canada in 1842 and eventually set up shop in Montreal, owned the Thomas Davidson Mfg. Co. David Macdonald, a fellow Scotsman, who arrived in Canada in 1870 and located in Toronto, owned the Macdonald Mfg. Co. Tins manufactured by these companies can often be identified by the maker's name that appears in small print at the bottom of the container.   These two Canadian companies produced tins that rivaled their American counterparts. As Canadians we can be proud of their innovation and craftsmanship. As well as being beautiful, tin containers tell a story or should that be "a history". Each one provides a glimpse into Canada's past. Tins featured not only the product name but the company's name and location as well. Some containers featured a picture of the factory itself where the goods were produced. Some of the most sought after tins are those sporting Canadian motifs such as the beaver or the maple leaf.   There are many kinds of tin collections. Some collectors focus on a particular brand of goods such as Red Rose Tea while others focus on a type of product like tobacco. Others like myself take a more eclectic approach to their collection.   Although I treasure all of the tins in my collection, the Macdonald Manufacturing Company produced my favourite. It is a Choice Family Tea tin. The colourful graphics are beautiful. All four sides of the tin have different and unrelated illustrations. The front side has a beautiful floral design while below a ship (clipper) sails the open sea. Two sides feature children ­ a beautiful young girl frolicking in a meadow, another not-so-beautiful girl frightened by a mother hen protecting her brood. The fourth panel features an exotic, gypsy-like woman. While not the most valuable tin in my collection it remains my favourite. Recently, I had the good fortune of discovering an identical tin, which features the stenciled name of G. Marshall & Co. Tea Importers of London, Ontario!   As a collector, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, buy the best examples that you can find and afford, as they are more apt to retain their value and perhaps even increase in value. If you are interested in collecting Canadian general store items or advertising tins it is a good idea to invest in a good guide.   For the Canadian market I recommend "Canadian Country Store Collectibles" (2nd ed.) by Bill and Pauline Hogan and Ed Locke. It is informative, simple to follow and includes descriptions and prices. I recently purchased the 1st edition (1979) of this publication complete with price guide. The comparisons between the marketplace twenty years ago with today's marketplace made for interesting reading.   As with any collection, one piece soon turns into two and soon your collection begins to take over your home. Each time I bring home a new addition to my tin collection, my son, Ben, wonders what I'm going to do with all this "old junk".   Last summer, as we continued the tradition started by my parents, my family visited a pioneer village and of course, the general store. The 'storekeeper' decided he would educate my young son about the important role general stores played in their communities. Standing at the counter the gentleman said, "I bet you don't know what this is?" Ben answered, "Sure I do, it's a coffee grinder." Thinking that this must be a lucky guess the gentleman challenged him once more, "Well, I bet you don't know what this is." Ben quickly said, "That's easy, it's an apple peeler." The storekeeper seemed genuinely pleased with Ben's knowledge and rewarded him with an ice cream cone! Perhaps there is some merit to collecting "old junk" after all! Melissa Collver has been collecting Canadian tins for 20 years. She can be reached at melissa.collver@sympatico.ca   Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2007 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster