<p><strong>Does anyone know what this vintage aluminum container was called and used for?</strong></p>
<p>Personally, I believe it to be an old <strong>milk jug</strong>!</p>
<p>Having milked cows back in the days gone by, I am sure this is a milk jug.</p>
<p>This <a href="https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Aluminum-Milk-Can-with-Lid-Made-in-USA/324452846098?hash=item4b8ae58a12:g:R9QAAOSwIlRgALZ8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">eBay site</a> demonstrates where I am going.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-18T03:41:16.397Z
2021-01-18T03:41:16.397Z
Ken Graham
<p>I suspect it is a vintage milk jug if you picture search on Google &quot;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&amp;rls=en&amp;source=univ&amp;tbm=isch&amp;q=vintage%20aluminum%20milk%20jug&amp;client=safari&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj507Gn4p7uAhWVcc0KHbweD68QjJkEegQIAhAB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">vintage aluminum milk jug</a>&quot; you'll get a lot of similar hits. Every growler I've seen has been glass although I'm no expert.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-15T22:33:10.090Z
I think you hit the nail on the head, Eric. It does indeed look like a milk jug. Absoulutely no odor or residue in it though.
Walter
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-15T23:23:16.117Z
Well, yours is a good looking one and I think they have some value on eBay.
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-16T01:31:58.783Z
Old milk cans were much larger though, up to 25 gallons. Newer cans were smaller, but still at least 5 or 10 gallons. See [How to Date Old Milk Cans | LoveToKnow](https://antiques.lovetoknow.com/antique-price-guides/how-date-old-milk-cans#:~:text=Older%20milk%20cans%20from%20the,the%2019th%20or%2020th%20centuries.).  Growlers are typically 64 fluid ounces, which is about the size of the pictured can.
Ray Butterworth
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-16T02:06:45.717Z
@RayButterworth I’m not an expert, but I think milk jugs come in various sizes. Never seen a growler look anything like what the OP pictured. Not in a Google image search either.
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-17T21:43:01.453Z
@RayButterworth Also, I doubt you’d design a growler with a wide lid since it would make containing the pressure much harder.
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-17T22:32:07.137Z
"In the late 1800s, fresh beer was carried from the local pub to home by a small, galvanized pail. The term “growler” is rumored to come about when the beer sloshed around the pail; it created a rumbling sound as the CO2 escaped through the lid." — [Growler History](http://growler-station.com/about/history). In particular see the first photo from the 1800s. Unlike modern growlers, they were intended for transporting draft home to have with dinner, not for storage.
Ray Butterworth
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-17T22:45:53.087Z
To me it looks like a sealed lid. A sealed lid of that diameter times the pressure of beer could be dangerous. As I said, I’m just guessing.
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-15T20:26:48.463Z
2021-01-15T20:26:48.463Z
Eric S
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sCb5z.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sCb5z.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a>Hello. I found this aluminum container in a  recycling bin.
It is about 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide at the bottom.</p>
<p>Someone told me its called a growler and was used to take home beer from a bar,
but I don't know if that's accurate.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-15T15:08:14.750Z
Are you sure it’s for alcohol? Looks like a milk container to me.
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-15T15:09:40.993Z
For instance https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Yr-Old-Arden-SLC-Vintage-Milk-Can-Jug-Rare/192991228550?hash=item2cef2c7286:g:YcgAAOSwoyhdKqLJ
Eric S
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-16T04:49:31.523Z
Are you sure it's aluminum?  It looks a little rusty just under the lid (but perhaps it's only dirt).
Ray Butterworth
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-16T10:22:28.597Z
Definitely aluminum due to the low weight, but the main handle systems to be steel. Aluminum does tarnish, but it looks more whiteish.
Walter
<alcohol><distribution>
Does anyone know what this vintage aluminum container was called and used for?
Walter
# Does anyone know what this vintage aluminum container was called and used for?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-14)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/sCb5z.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/sCb5z.jpg)Hello. I found this aluminum container in a recycling bin.
It is about 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide at the bottom.

Someone told me its called a growler and was used to take home beer from a bar,
but I don't know if that's accurate.

Thanks!

**Tags:** alcohol, distribution

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you sure it’s for alcohol? Looks like a milk container to me.  
> **username_1**: For instance https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Yr-Old-Arden-SLC-Vintage-Milk-Can-Jug-Rare/192991228550?hash=item2cef2c7286:g:YcgAAOSwoyhdKqLJ  
> **username_2**: Are you sure it's aluminum?  It looks a little rusty just under the lid (but perhaps it's only dirt).  
> **username_0**: Definitely aluminum due to the low weight, but the main handle systems to be steel. Aluminum does tarnish, but it looks more whiteish.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-01-18. Score: 1

**Does anyone know what this vintage aluminum container was called and used for?**

Personally, I believe it to be an old **milk jug**!

Having milked cows back in the days gone by, I am sure this is a milk jug.

This [eBay site](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Aluminum-Milk-Can-with-Lid-Made-in-USA/324452846098?hash=item4b8ae58a12:g:R9QAAOSwIlRgALZ8) demonstrates where I am going.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-15. Score: 1

I suspect it is a vintage milk jug if you picture search on Google "[vintage aluminum milk jug](https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&rls=en&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=vintage%20aluminum%20milk%20jug&client=safari&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj507Gn4p7uAhWVcc0KHbweD68QjJkEegQIAhAB)" you'll get a lot of similar hits. Every growler I've seen has been glass although I'm no expert.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think you hit the nail on the head, username_1. It does indeed look like a milk jug. Absoulutely no odor or residue in it though.  
> **username_1**: Well, yours is a good looking one and I think they have some value on eBay.  
> **username_2**: Old milk cans were much larger though, up to 25 gallons. Newer cans were smaller, but still at least 5 or 10 gallons. See [How to Date Old Milk Cans | LoveToKnow](https://antiques.lovetoknow.com/antique-price-guides/how-date-old-milk-cans#:~:text=Older%20milk%20cans%20from%20the,the%2019th%20or%2020th%20centuries.).  Growlers are typically 64 fluid ounces, which is about the size of the pictured can.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 I’m not an expert, but I think milk jugs come in various sizes. Never seen a growler look anything like what the OP pictured. Not in a Google image search either.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Also, I doubt you’d design a growler with a wide lid since it would make containing the pressure much harder.  
> **username_2**: "In the late 1800s, fresh beer was carried from the local pub to home by a small, galvanized pail. The term “growler” is rumored to come about when the beer sloshed around the pail; it created a rumbling sound as the CO2 escaped through the lid." — [Growler History](http://growler-station.com/about/history). In particular see the first photo from the 1800s. Unlike modern growlers, they were intended for transporting draft home to have with dinner, not for storage.  
> **username_1**: To me it looks like a sealed lid. A sealed lid of that diameter times the pressure of beer could be dangerous. As I said, I’m just guessing.  

---

