Strange Restorations
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    • Antique Packaging 1900- 1960's
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griffiths bros 1879- 1960's

In 1879 Brothers James and John Griffiths started producing Australian-grown tea in the Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne. Griffiths Brothers was established as one of Australia’s first coffee and tea distribution businesses based in Melbourne, in 1915 they built their Sydney outlet and Tea rooms.
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Griffiths made the company a household name through the clever use of outdoor advertising the blue and white enamel “Griffiths Tea”  signs were visible Australia wide on railway fences, stations and other buildings.  These signs let the rail travellers  know the distance to  where the tea could be enjoyed, with a distance shown as “— miles to Griffiths Tea”, These signs were well known along the eastern states railway lines.

We have a large collection of the other common promotional item. The 2lbs Tea Tin is one of our favourites. Griffiths made tin canisters in the 2lbs size for their tea with common kitchen consumables  listed on the front .  The tins, when emptied, became useful kitchen canisters and helped promote the brand. Example of the names include Flour, Rice, Sugar, Sago, Candied Peel, Tapioca, Spices, Starch, Biscuits, Currants, Barley, String and of course Tea .
Consignment Tins for sale
​PROP HIRE ENQUIRIES
We are interested in buying and selling Griffiths Brothers Antiques and can help sell your tins on consignment if you wish.  We also have tins for prop hire as needed. Please contact us using our contacts page if you have any Griffiths related sales or purchase requirements.

COMMERCIAL TINS (Hinged Lid Design)

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Paper Labelled

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Red & Silver
​7lbs, 14lbs, 28lbs

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Blue & Silver 5lbs, 6lbs, 7lbs, 14lbs

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Victoria's Centenary
1834-1934

ROUND PUSH LID DESIGN

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Blue & Silver
7lbs, 10lbs, 16lbs

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Round Canister
6lbs

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Pure Blend Tea 2/9
​1 lb

COFFEE WITH CHICORY

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Coffee with Chicory

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1 lb Sunbeam
​With Original Paper Label

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Cardboard box
Never been used

COCOA TINS

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Malted Cocoa
Front

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Malted Cocoa
Back

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1 lb Cocoa
Missing original label 

CONFECTIONERY TINS

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6lbs Sugared Peanuts
with Original Label

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1lbs Confectionery Hinged Tins
Decal Embossed on Silver tin

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN TEA CANISTERS

These tins would have been sold containing 2 lbs of tea in each. The idea behind these tins was for re-purposing in the household kitchen, with the convenience of commonly used consumables written on the front of the tin, the other three sides had pictures of Sydney Waratah, Melbourne Pink Heath and Adelaide Sturt's Desert Pea, these are the state flowers from the locations Griffiths Brothers operated.
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Currants, Oatmeal, Tea, Sago Tapioca, Barley, Starch, Spices

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Christmas Greetings 1933

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Greeting were sometimes printed onto the tins

SAMPLE TINS

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Cocoa, Tea
​& Coffee

TEA ROOM TABLEWARE

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Bread Knifes

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Small Tea Pot

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Serviette Rings

WAR EFFORT

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Timber Note Book & pencil

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Sent to the Men & Women During World War 2

HOUSEHOLD PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

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Shopping Bag carrier 

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1908 Calendar (Front)
With 534 George Street Sydney Building

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Calendar Dates (BACK)
& Business information for the coming months

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Small Thimble

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1906 Postcard
Griffiths Bros'
George street Sydney 

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Griffiths Bros'
​(Tea Merchants) Series.
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide.

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Tinned Matches

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Camp Fire Billy with Cup

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Tin Cup

TEA SCOOP, TEA STIRRER, PAGE TURNER (Debatable Purpose)

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ORIGINAL PAPER LABELS

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Get in touch

Telephone

Andrew:        0414 692 867
​Cora-Ann:    0447 068 675

Email

Mail
strangerestorations@gmail.com
PO Box 161
Macquarie Fields
NSW      2564
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved
  • Home
    • What We Offer
  • About
    • "NEW" Custom Decals on Clothing and Stickers for Surfaces
    • Custom Work to order
    • Cast Iron Rescue
    • Children Workshop Safety Equipment
    • Electrical Restorations
    • Prop Hire & Sourcing
    • Vapour Blasting (Coming Soon 2021 )
  • Some Past Work
  • Our Collections
    • Antique Packaging 1900- 1960's
    • Australian Glass Bottles
    • Enameled Kitchenware 1927- 1950's
    • Griffiths Bros 1879-1960's
    • Willow Bakeware 1920 - 1950
    • The Vehicle Collection
  • Contact
  • Store
    • Antique Kitchenware >
      • Enamelware
      • Retro Items
      • Vintage Bakeware
    • Custom Gnomes
    • Heritage Railways Sales >
      • Cloth Patches
    • Kids Safety Equipment
    • Tins for Sale
    • Veteran Vehicle Accessories
  • "NEW" Custom Decals
  • Black Dirt Shirts
  • Vapour Blasting (Coming Soon)