Spaulding Ware Mystery Box

This box is marked "Spaulding Ware."

Hello, what's this? Paper Franks PICKOHIO Etsy Shop was really sweet to let me use this super cool picture of this box, marked "Spaulding Ware" to find out if any of you out there knew what it was.  At first glance it looks to me like a sewing novelty box.  Paper Franks reports when they bought it, the inside had canning lids/supplies in it and as you can see a bit of paint on the lid.

Spaulding Ware made lots of melmac and plastic ware, and here on my Spaulding Ware history page I did find a set of spice shakers which I thought was odd. I heard rumors they made kitchen ware, but this doesn't explain a sewing style box.

As with most plastic companies it is not uncommon they did contract jobs for others, aside from melmac dinnerware. However, what was this contract for? A sewing company? A craft box? A novelty box? A canning jar box?

You never know, do you? It never ceases to amaze me that out of the blue or woodwork something will come up that you just don't see everyday, even after all these years of collecting. For now PaperFranks is enjoying the box but sooner or later it may end up in their PickOhio Etsy shop so keep looking.

Any ideas?

Eco Friendly Plastic Bags Reduce Carbon Footprints

The plastics I write about here on Melmac Central are all vintage plastics. The reason I write about them is to increase awareness in the beauty of vintage plastics. If you love them as much as I do, you can find a place for them in your home and maybe not throw them into a landfill.   I give tips on how to clean up old melmac dishes and melamine dinnerware, so they will be useful and collectible in your home.  Truth is, I'm very much a recycle freak and into the environment.

Today I was thinking, if we look at our life and the amount of plastics in it today, how can we reduce the plastics we  50 years from now so our kids and grandkids aren't writing a blog like mine wearing hazmat suits and hating us?

Simple! Check out these cool green tips and alternatives I found.   (I plan to add more reviews when I find them, and start a whole section on Plastic Footprint Reduction. )


Plastic Shopping and Food Bags- Everything from bread bags to clothing shop bags, these retail bags use an additive to shorten their lifespan and break them down within 3 years or less in landfills.   See writeup on the biodegradable bags here, or visit the biodegradable packaging company for  website.

You can make a few changes in your life:

Dog Poop Bags - I have three dogs and know how I try to be a responsible pet owner when we take walks and pick up their poo, but always feel guilty using a regular plastic bag.  I have to admit there have been more times than one I tugged on the little guy's neck to poop in my own yard because I didn't want to have to use a plastic bag.  Do a search at the above manufacturer's website as they offer compostible dog poop bags.  Now I can feel better by using dog poop bags that compost down into nothingness! They are made of corn and for only a few cents each. What's not to love?  You can find them by searching keywords:

Bottles, Drinkware, Etc
EnviroBottles Promotional Products - This company offers products that are tailored to reduce the carbon footprint when you are buying promotional products for your small business or large company. A refillable steel water bottle sure beats a plastic giveaway. Plastic style pens made of recycled paper are an eco friendly office premium.  A tote made of recycled plastics to carry groceries in sure beats using cheapie store plastic bags (happy to say plastic bags are getting banned in some states.)  See a review here and visit the company website at EnviroBottles Promotional Items.

just a few changes in our lives today
can help the world of tomorrow

THINGS TO GET RID OF:
STRAWS
CUP LIDS

use a reusable bottle and get rid of straws , they take forever to break down into the earth!

A Life Without Plastic Gadgets and Decor

Wee plastic deer for your shadowbox by ModsLuvRockers on Etsy.

I know there are a lot of people who hate plastic. Maybe not the plastic itself, but perhaps the way in which it's made. Industrialism hasn't always been a clean and eco friendly process. In fact I have heard the horror stories of many years ago people working in big plastics factories. I've heard the whispers of lawsuits -- some of all the women becoming infertile. Some of the workers having lung cancer from the asbestos. Some from the side effects of the formaldehyde.

Wait little kitty, is that melamine you are drinking?  From TheIdConnection on Etsy.

I want to say I know those whispers are true, because if you pick up an old Plastics Encyclopedia, say from 1941, your eyes will bug out as you watch workers handling balls of asbestos with their bare hands, no gloves and no masks. Other workers manually stirring large vats of hot steamy chemicals without a face mask.

PostCardsfromtheEdge on Etsy offers this chemical post card. Old chemical plant.

What were they thinking? I would think that back then gloves and masks of some sort (even if they did look a bit big and rubbery) were available! Were the factories just not giving them or workers just not wearing them?  I don't know.

Chemicals dumped in nearby lakes or streams, polluting the water and giving people within a radius the ill side effects of them. Whole towns in fact, perhaps some without knowing.  Factory smoke not filtered, smog, hurting our ozone. Is this to blame for the hot weather of today?

Today of course there are so many more precautions companies take TODAY as they have learned from the mistakes of YESTERDAY but sadly at our relative's expense. New laws and safety precautions and awareness of what can happen have forced higher standards and safety measures.  Today, they have found a way to make factories. I can't imagine a world without plastics.

Plastic is everywhere. These letters are plastic. Look at your decor!  These at VintageJane on Etsy.

I am looking around just one room of my house as I type this. Maybe I'm a clutterbug but I've counted some things that are plastic or plastic type products just here in my living room!

Plastic lampshade on my lamp.
Plastic curtain rod on my window.
Plastic decorations on another lamp.
Plastic cup I'm drinking out of.
Plastic gadgets on the table.
Plastic Tube on some cream for my dog.
Plastic bookmark for my book.
Plastic cellphone cover and case.
Plastic keys on my keyboard, and case cover on my laptop.
Plastic all over my window air conditioning unit.
Plastic for the tv, ac, and cable remote.
Plastic casing on my tv.
Plastic housing for my cable box.
Plastic dog toys strewn about.
Plastic train car someone gave me. (decoration).
Plastic - Fiberglass Nystrom mannequin decoration.
Plastic picture frames.
Plastic clock on the wall.
Plastic pet steps.
Plastic light cover.
Plastic light switch.
Plastic cords on everything.
Plastic plug covers.
Wait, that's plastic on the bottom of my slipper!
Oh no, my bra has plastic hoojie-mabobs on the straps!
Ack! It's everywhere!
Okay, enough, plastic, plastic, plastic!

If I look hard enough maybe I'll find some more.  Imagine, a world without plastic? What would we do?   Look around you, count the plastic you can see, how much is there?