Chloe Zhang
The first plastic egg carton was developed in the 1950s by British designer H.G. Bennett, who worked for the manufacturing company Hartmann. This design included a sealable lid and could hold 6 or 12 eggs. However, the history of the egg carton goes back much further, with several inventors contributing to its development. In 1903, Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, patented an improved method for packing eggs in cardboard cylinders. In 1911, Canadian inventor Joseph Coyle designed and patented the first egg carton, and in 1921, Morris Koppelman patented an improved version made from cut, folded, and glued cardboard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the inventor | Joseph Coyle |
| Other names | Joseph Leopold Coyle, Joseph Coyle (newspaper publisher) |
| Birth and death | 1871-1972 |
| Profession | Canadian painter, surveyor, reporter, businessman, and inventor |
| Known for | Founding the newspapers Omineca Herald, Bulkey Pioneer, and Interior News in British Columbia, Canada |
| Year of patent | 1918 |
| Date of patent | January 15, 1918 (in Canada), June 11, 1918 (in the US) |
| Place of patent | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Name of the carton | Coyle Safety Egg Carton |
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What You'll Learn
Early 20th-century egg transportation
Early methods of egg transportation in the 20th century included the use of crates filled with straw or hay, baskets, tubs, and wooden crates or cases. These methods were often unreliable and resulted in broken eggs.
In the early 20th century, paper mills began to expand, and the first method for moulding wood pulp was introduced in 1890. This led to the creation of paper pulp moulded trays, which replaced older methods of egg transportation. These early trays provided individual compartments for each egg, improving protection and reducing breakage during transportation.
In 1903, Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, England, patented an improved method for packing eggs in cardboard cylinders for transit. His Raylite Egg Box provided better protection for high-priced eggs during transit, advertising that it "insures against breakage".
In 1911, Canadian inventor Joseph Coyle designed and patented the first egg carton. Coyle's invention was inspired by a debate over broken eggs between a farmer and a hotel owner in his newspaper office's vicinity. The "Coyle Safety Egg Carton" began production in Vancouver, British Columbia, and later moved to Los Angeles.
In 1918, British inventor Thomas Peter Hand created a paperboard egg box with individual cells, allowing for better organisation and protection of eggs, making them easier to count and handle. This invention marked a significant step forward in the evolution of the egg carton.
Today, egg cartons are typically made from polystyrene plastic or moulded pulp/cardboard, with various sizes, designs, and materials catering to different market needs. Plastic egg cartons offer superior impact resistance, easy cleaning, and minimal contamination risk.
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Thomas Peter Bethell's Raylite Egg Box
In 1903, Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, England, patented an improved method for packing eggs in cardboard cylinders for transit by post or rail (UK Patent GB190221677A). He was already known for his prize-winning butter packages and other postal boxes for perishable products.
In 1906, Bethell invented a predecessor to the modern egg box, which he marketed as the Raylite Egg Box. The Raylite Egg Box was designed to protect high-priced eggs during transit, with its advertising proclaiming that using a Raylite box "insures against breakage".
The Raylite Egg Box was made of cardboard, with frames of interlocking strips. This design provided individual compartments for each egg, reducing the risk of breakage during transportation. This invention marked a significant advancement in egg packaging, as it replaced older methods of egg transportation, such as using crates filled with straw or hay.
The Raylite Egg Box was a predecessor to the modern egg carton, which is typically made from polystyrene plastic or moulded pulp/cardboard. Today's egg cartons usually consist of a flat tray with an attached lid designed to hold 12 to 18 eggs. While Bethell's Raylite Egg Box was a notable milestone in the development of egg cartons, there were also contributions from other inventors, such as Herbert Harvey Cummer, Joseph Coyle, H.G. Bennett, J.S. Litton, Morris Koppelman, and Francis H. Sherman, who made further improvements to the design and materials of egg cartons over time.
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Joseph Coyle's patent
Joseph Coyle, a Canadian inventor, was the first person to patent the egg carton. Coyle, a newspaper editor, publisher, and journalist, designed the egg carton in 1911 and patented it in 1918 (Canadian Patent CA181662A).
The story of the modern egg carton began in 1911 at the Telkwa Hotel in Aldermere, British Columbia. A local farmer, Gabriel Lacroix, had delivered a basket of eggs to the hotel proprietor, Jack McNeil, who was frustrated to find many of them broken. Neither man wanted to pay for the damage, and Coyle, who had overheard the argument, decided to devise a solution.
Coyle's design was a rectangular cardboard package with an individual slot for each egg. It was lightweight and capable of folding flat, making it easier to transport and store than the bulky wooden crates previously used. Coyle began making these cartons by hand, upon request from friends and neighbours. By 1915, he was advertising "perfection egg cartons" in the Interior News for 35 cents per dozen boxes. In the summer of 1917, Coyle submitted his design to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and his patent was officially issued on January 15, 1918.
After patenting his invention, Coyle sold his newspaper and moved to Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles, setting up factories as he went. He also sold part of the shares in his patent to businessman Leon Benoit, who opened an egg carton factory in Chicago. Coyle's carton-making business eventually spread to Mexico, South America, Europe, and South Africa.
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H.G. Bennett's design
In 1952, British designer H.G. Bennett, working for the manufacturing company Hartmann, developed the first plastic egg carton. This design adapted the egg tray design to include a sealable lid, allowing for easy stacking and transportation of 6 or 12 eggs. These are the egg boxes still seen in supermarkets today. Bennett's design built on previous innovations, such as the \"Litonette\" egg carton, which featured a hinged lid that could be closed and secured, providing additional protection and facilitating stacking. This innovation allowed consumers to purchase eggs in smaller quantities without requiring additional packaging materials.
The evolution of the egg carton can be traced back to the early 20th century, with several individuals from Great Britain, Canada, and the United States contributing improvements to its design and popularity. Before the advent of moulded paper egg cartons, eggs were transported and stored in baskets, tubs, and wooden crates. The first known modern egg carton is credited to Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, England, who patented his design in 1903.
Over time, new materials and manufacturing methods were adopted by the egg industry, leading to the exploration of different carton designs and materials. Today, egg cartons are typically made from polystyrene plastic or moulded pulp/cardboard, with some variations using clear plastic or recycled paper. The standard carton holds 10 to 12 eggs, but they can come in various sizes, accommodating up to 30 eggs.
The development of the plastic egg carton by H.G. Bennett was a significant milestone in the history of egg packaging, providing a practical and widely adopted solution for the safe transportation and storage of eggs.
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$19.99
Plastic and foam cartons
The story of the birth of the egg carton involves the contributions of several inventors and entrepreneurs over time. The first known modern egg carton is credited to Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, England. In 1903, Bethell patented an improved method for packing eggs in cardboard cylinders for transit by post or rail.
In 1918, a patent was granted to a British inventor named Thomas Peter Hand, who created a paperboard egg box with individual cells. His design allowed for better organisation and protection of the eggs, making them easier to count and handle.
Canadian inventor Joseph Coyle also patented his egg carton design in Canada and the United States in 1918. Known as the Coyle Safety Egg Carton, it was produced in Vancouver, British Columbia, and later moved to Los Angeles.
In the 1920s, further improvements were made by H. G. Bennett and J. S. Litton, who developed the "Litonette" egg carton with a hinged lid that could be closed and secured, allowing for easy stacking. In 1921, Morris Koppelman patented an improved version of the egg carton made from cut, folded, and glued cardboard, similar to today's egg cartons.
In 1931, American Francis H Sherman of Palmer, Massachusetts, patented an egg carton formed with pressed paper pulp that is recognisable as the modern egg carton. In the 1950s, British designer H. G. Bennett adapted the egg tray design to include a sealable lid, allowing for the easy stacking and transportation of 6 or 12 eggs. These egg boxes are still commonly seen in supermarkets.
Today, standard egg cartons are typically made from polystyrene plastic or moulded pulp/cardboard and hold 10 to 12 eggs, although they can come in various sizes, holding up to 30 eggs. Plastic egg trays are used by egg processors to wash and sanitise eggs.
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Frequently asked questions
The first plastic egg cartons were introduced in the 1950s. However, the first known modern egg carton is credited to Thomas Peter Bethell, a cardboard box manufacturer in Liverpool, England, in 1903.
Plastic egg cartons were introduced in the 1950s, alongside the transparent plastic "window" egg carton.
Before plastic egg cartons, eggs were packaged in baskets, tubs, wooden crates, and paper pulp moulded trays.
The first paper egg carton was invented by Thomas Peter Hand, a British inventor who created a paperboard egg box with individual cells in 1918. However, Canadian inventor Joseph Coyle patented his paper egg carton in Canada and the US in 1918.
