From the 1950s to the 1980s, the cachet of showing up on the first day of school with the latest in character lunch boxes, be it Davy Crockett or the Bionic Woman, could bring popularity hitherto unknown. And although today's soft-sided bags deliver improved insulation and packability, they've lost something in the translation. We love vintage metal lunch boxes for their perfect, diminutive size and shape, and for the dented sides and creaky hinges that bring to mind fond (!) recollections of soggy tuna sandwiches and warm drinks in a glass-lined thermos. Whether you have one made by Aladdin Industries or by Thermos (the two most prolific producers, especially after the former's profitable association with Disney in 1956), use it to bring back a little retro appeal to an organizing project.
What to look for
As always, age, condition and rarity indicate value. Domed lunch boxes are older, but prices for any shape range from $10 to more than $100 if the thermos is intact.
Idea 1
Craft and carry with a portable art kit. Transform an old lunch box using decorative papers and dividers to hold scrapbooking and artists' materials for creating a masterpiece whenever inspiration strikes.
Idea 2
Hard-sided, sturdy and sporting a handy hinge to keep bottles in place, an old-fashioned lunch box makes a kitschy make-and-take vanity kit for people on the move.
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