Antique Smith and Kirk Candy Co. Toledo, Ohio, Box or Barrel with Heavy Bail

Description

The Smith-Kirk Candy Company was founded in Toledo, Ohio, in 1902 as a wholesale provider of chocolates and other sugar candies. The company got into trouble with the Federal Trade Commission in 1922 for selling what looked like chocolate-coated ice cream bars (they were actually chocolate-coated chocolate bars, yum) that looked like the more popular Eskimo Pie confection then catching on across the country. The company ceased and desisted. It looks like the company faded away during the Depression as people had other things to buy than sweets.
This is a very unique candy box or barrel. In many respects it looks more like an old hat box with a bail handle. It is round, 11 inches high and 13 inches in diameter (28 x 32 cm) and made of thick rolled cardboard. Our guess is that it dates from near the turn of the 20
th
century because box-making technology was different even by the 1910s. The handle is solidly attached to box and it is sturdy. Just like Depression kids carried lard can lunch pails with bails, you could carry your picnic lunch in this thing, but we wouldn’t. It has a great patina yet is still solid. It might have a practical use, but it would best displayed with other early 20
th
century artifacts.
Would make a nice addition to any candy or Ohio collection or as an interesting accent.
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EA957006