Read on Twitter
Quality Street is trending, as people lament the decreasing size of the tins.
However: no one is talking about the tins' designs. And that's a problem.
Please join us on a trip through time to the kings of biscuit tins of yore: Reading's very own Huntley & Palmers.
(thread)
However: no one is talking about the tins' designs. And that's a problem.
Please join us on a trip through time to the kings of biscuit tins of yore: Reading's very own Huntley & Palmers.
(thread)
Huntley & Palmers' story began in 1822, when Joseph Huntley began baking biscuits in his small bakery on Reading's London Street.
He sold biscuits from a basket, mostly to travellers staying at a nearby coach inn.
He sold biscuits from a basket, mostly to travellers staying at a nearby coach inn.
Huntley's son, also called Joseph, was an ironmonger across the road.
Together, the Joseph Huntleys recognised the potential for selling biscuits farther afield, by transporting them in boxes made of tin. Like this one: a later model, from the 1950s, that looks like a GameCube.
Together, the Joseph Huntleys recognised the potential for selling biscuits farther afield, by transporting them in boxes made of tin. Like this one: a later model, from the 1950s, that looks like a GameCube.
In a number of years, the bakery grew into a world famous biscuit company (Huntley & Palmers, after George Palmer joined in 1841), whilst the tin shop grew into Britain's largest tin works: Huntley, Boorne & Stevens.
Here is the Cookie Monster, whose debt to Reading is enormous.
Here is the Cookie Monster, whose debt to Reading is enormous.
The first tins to be made were large and square,. These were made by hand and cut from tinplate sheets. A skilled worker could make around a hundred a day.
Here's a more elaborate one, from the 1860s, its ornate decoration applied via transfer printing, like kids' tattoos today!
Here's a more elaborate one, from the 1860s, its ornate decoration applied via transfer printing, like kids' tattoos today!
Sometimes you just wanna sit down with a book and a biscuit, and sometimes you just wanna sit down and eat biscuits out of the said book.
Many of the tins, like this one from 1903, were high concept. It was an artform! It wasn't just a means of packaging.
Many of the tins, like this one from 1903, were high concept. It was an artform! It wasn't just a means of packaging.
This tin from 1930 shows H&P's legacy of innovation, as even prams became a method of delivery.
In fact, the railway had been a huge part of the company's success. They even modified the tins' shapes so that they fit better in the carriages.
Who's a good biscuit-filled baby?
In fact, the railway had been a huge part of the company's success. They even modified the tins' shapes so that they fit better in the carriages.
Who's a good biscuit-filled baby?
As the times changed, so too did the tins' designs, chronicling historic events and cultural changes. A bit like Forrest Gump, but with custard creams and ice wafers rather than a box of chocolates.
This tin commemorated a royal visit to North America in 1935.
This tin commemorated a royal visit to North America in 1935.
The tins also demonstrated a wild sense of humour.
This is the most notorious one ever made, known as the Kate Greenaway tin, after the artist who inspired it. A keen observer will notice that there are some particularly unsavoury scenes amidst this pastoral idyll.
This is the most notorious one ever made, known as the Kate Greenaway tin, after the artist who inspired it. A keen observer will notice that there are some particularly unsavoury scenes amidst this pastoral idyll.
Here's the original illustrator, Mick Hill, unpacking the masterpiece, in one of the most iconic examples of taking the biscuit in biscuit history. A field in which we are extremely invested.
NSFW. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-berkshire-43671549
NSFW. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-berkshire-43671549
If you enjoyed this thread, and this chance to learn about how the cookie crumbles, be sure to visit us when we reopen. We're home to the Huntley & Palmers collection, which contains all of the tins above and so many more. https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit/permanent-galleries/huntley-and-palmers-gallery
