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Aluminum Tumblers (9)

National Museum of American History

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
National Museum of American History
Subject
Food Culture
Drinking
Record ID
nmah_1422683
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-9144-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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