Vintage Recipe Box 004 is a delightful piece of kitchen history, featuring a charming white tin decorated with hearts and flowers. With its Scandinavian/Dutch-inspired design and sturdy hinged lid, this box is a lovely example of mid-century tinware. Measuring approximately 5 1/4 inches across, 3 3/4 inches high, and 3 inches wide, it’s a perfect home for cherished recipes that have been passed down through generations.
The Ohio Art Co. logo embossed on the bottom of the tin suggests that this well-known American company manufactured it. Ohio Art Co., founded in Bryan, Ohio, is best known for its production of the iconic Etch A Sketch toy, but it also produced a wide range of metal goods, including recipe boxes like this one.
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Vintage Recipe Box 004
A Connection to Shelby, Ohio
This recipe box holds a collection of recipes from an estate in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio. The estate belonged to a local veterinarian, though his name has been lost to time. The current owner is working with the auctioneer from the estate sale to uncover more details about the family behind the recipes. Recipes from estate sales like this one often hold sentimental value, reflecting the culinary traditions of the family and the region they lived in.
Among the names found in this recipe collection is Adelaide Christina Olsen Lanker, who was born on December 20, 1919, in Brooklyn, New York, and passed away on August 23, 2001, in Mansfield, Ohio. Although her direct connection to the recipe box’s original owner is unclear, Adelaide was likely a family friend who shared her favorite recipes over the years. Her name represents just one of the many hands that contributed to the legacy within this tin.
Unfortunately, information on Helen Hines, another name associated with this recipe collection, remains elusive. Nevertheless, her contribution to this collection hints at the close-knit nature of the community from which these recipes originated.
The Journey of Vintage Recipe Box 004
This white tin box was part of a larger lot purchased on eBay, including eight vintage recipe boxes made of wood and tin. Each box has its unique charm and story; together, they represent a rich collection of mid-century recipes.
I purchased this box from a lot sale on eBay
which contained 8 vintage recipe boxes made of wood and tin. Below are links to view the other vintage recipe boxes purchased within this recipe box lot.
- VRP001 – Wood Box
- VRP002 – Wood Box
- VRP003 – White Tin Box
- VRP004 – White Tin Box With Hearts & Flowers
- VRP005 – White White Tin Box With Flowers
- VRP006 – Shredded Wheat Tin Box
- VRP007 – Colorful Geometric Shapes Tin Box
- VRP008 – Green Metal Box
Each recipe box contains handwritten and clipped recipes, giving a glimpse into the kitchens of families across different regions. Collecting these boxes allows us to preserve and celebrate America’s rich culinary history.
The Legacy of Vintage Recipe Boxes
Vintage recipe boxes like this one are more than just kitchen tools—they’re vessels of family heritage. Before the digital age, recipes were often passed down through handwritten cards, making recipe boxes an essential part of a family’s kitchen. These boxes hold cherished recipes that remind us of family meals, holiday gatherings, and the simple joy of sharing food with loved ones.
Collectors of vintage recipe boxes often find them filled with recipes, notes, clippings, and small mementos that provide insight into the lives of the original owners. In the case of this white tin box, the recipes offer a look at Midwestern cooking traditions, with comforting dishes designed to feed families and friends alike.
Preserving these recipe boxes allows future generations to explore the food culture of the past, and every box tells a story through the recipes inside.
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Gyda
Sunday 6th of February 2022
The box is evocative of a Norwegian rosemaling design—given the names of the friends in the box (Erik, Adelaide Olsen), my guess is the owner was of Norwegian descent.
Christine Cwikla
Wednesday 13th of November 2019
Trying to find a recipe for what my mom and grandma called sauerkraut candy. I know coconut,brown sugar and vinegar were in it and Don'know what else. They made it in a skillet.
Billie Hillier at Vintage Recipe Project
Wednesday 13th of November 2019
We have not heard of this recipe but we have 1,000s to post so keep checking back.
Jean Wise
Sunday 22nd of November 2015
I also have this recipe box. It was my mother's recipe box she used all the years I was growing up. She just passed away in October of this year at 87 years young.