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.

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)

Paper Labelled

Red & Silver
7lbs, 14lbs, 28lbs

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

Victoria's Centenary
1834-1934

ROUND PUSH LID DESIGN

Blue & Silver
7lbs, 10lbs, 16lbs

Round Canister
6lbs

Pure Blend Tea 2/9
1 lb

COFFEE WITH CHICORY

Coffee with Chicory

1 lb Sunbeam
With Original Paper Label

Cardboard box
Never been used

COCOA TINS

Malted Cocoa
Front

Malted Cocoa
Back

1 lb Cocoa
Missing original label

CONFECTIONERY TINS

6lbs Sugared Peanuts
with Original Label

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.