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Aluminum Tumblers (9)

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    Description

    By the late 1950s, American manufacturers and retailers were promoting new tools, clothes, furniture, and serving ware to go along with grilled meals on the patio. The set of serving ware, including an anodized aluminum tray, 9 tumblers, and pitcher, and 4 wicker holders, was a common fixture of the 1960s backyard or patio culture established in the U.S. in the 1950s. These “glasses” were among the most common and ubiquitous of the specialized tools for the new life in the outdoors. Many were giveaways given along with or filled with a desirable foodstuff or awarded for coupons in grocery store giveaways.
    Anodized aluminum tumblers were commonly used for serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at backyard cookouts. The anodizing process increased the thickness of the oxide layer on metallic parts, making the popular serving ware unbreakable, rust-resistant, and colorful—perfect for outdoor gatherings.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    ID Number

    2012.0125.02

    accession number

    2012.0125

    catalog number

    2012.0125.02

    Object Name

    aluminum tumbler set
    drinking set
    drink ware
    pitcher
    tumblers
    cups

    Physical Description

    aluminum (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 5 1/4 in x 3 1/4 in; 13.335 cm x 8.255 cm

    See more items in

    Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
    Food
    FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Subject

    Food Culture
    Drinking

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-9144-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_1422683

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