Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Souvenir - Money box, OXO Ltd, ca. 12-5-1937
... Vintage money box... box Coronation King George IV 1937 Vintage money box OXO cube ...
Metal money boxes shaped like common familiar objects became popular in the 18th century. In the 20th century, they were used to promote and advertise events and businesses. In the 1950s metal money boxes shaped like a bank building were given away to children by their parents' bank to encourage them to save money.
This metal money box was produced for the company of OXO Ltd of London. It was made specifically as a souvenir of the Coronation of King George VI of England, which happened on May 12, 1937.
OXO Ltd. still makes OXO stock cubes, which contain a concentrated meat extract. The cubes are used to flavour soups, gravy, casseroles and other food recipes to enhance their flavour. The cubes are removed from their foil wrapper then crumbled into the dish and mixed with the ingredients.
Chemist Justus von Liebig worked with engineer George Gilbert of Uruguay to produce Liebig’s Extract of Meat, the forerunner of OXO . In the late 1890s, OXO produced a liquid form of the meat extract and in 1899 registered the OXO trademark worldwide, and in 1900 in the UK. In 1910 the OXO 'penny' cube was in production and proved very popular. The money box is significant for its connection to British Monarch, King George IV, who reigned from 1932-1952. It is also significant for its connection to the OXO cube, a very well knon brand of food additive from the mid-19th century to current times.Souvenir money box, oval cylinder with domed, pull-off lid and framed coin slot, with seams on each side. It once contained six OXO Cubes. The red tin with gold tin has the Royal Insignia of King George VI and Elizabeth on one side and the Royal medallion-style portrait of King George VI and Elizabeth on the other side. There is an inscription on the base and floral decorations on the sides. It was produced for OXO Ltd, Thames House, London, England, to commemorate the coronation of King George V1 and Elizabeth on May 12th 1937.Logo, Royal Insignia: "[Crown] over "G VI R"
Medallion-style Portrait image: "GEORGE VI AND ELIZABETH MAY 12TH 1937" around " (Image of King George VI and Elizabeth) "
Printed on base: "CORONATION / SOUVENIR MONEY BOX / CONTAINING / 6 OXO CUBES / BRAND / OXO LTD., THAMES HOUSE, / LONDON, ENGLAND."flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, money box, money safe, commemorative money box, coronation king george iv, 1937, vintage money box, oxo cube, numismatics