For many, the mere mention of lunchboxes sparks a flood of childhood days and a rush of nostalgic memories.  Whether a metal James Bond lunchbox in 1966 or vinyl Wonder Woman lunchbox from 1977, children's lunchboxes define generations unlike little else. 

What was your favorite show in 1979?  Maybe it was Mork and Mindy or Buck Rogers....lunchboxes let kids express themselves...who they were, what they liked.  Like an album of photos, a lunchbox collection is like a trip back in time...and great fun for folks of all ages! 

Lunchbox collectors, also called "paileontologists", come in every variety....much like lunchboxes, where there is always something for everyone...from Barbie to G.I Joe!  A window into this world is opened by eBay through providing lunchbox collectors the convenience to discover a great selection of lunchboxes and to build their collections.

A Quick Peek at the History of Children's Lunchboxes

In the late 1800s, as technology took people off the farms and into factories and school rooms across America, lunch-on-the-go became a necessity.  Often, workers carried their lunches in plain tin pails along with a container of coffee.  Children stowed their lunches in pails decorated with bright colors, shapes and flowers.  For years, lunches were eaten and pails carried home to begin the cycle again.

Through a flourish of marketing inspiration in 1935, Walt Disney introduced the first lunch box targeted specifically for children.  By adding the image of his feature character, Mickey Mouse, to the pail, the concept of character lunchboxes for children was born. 

However those Mickey originals were only sold for two years.  It would take the dawning of television programming for children in the 1950s to rekindle the demand for children's lunchboxes.  When the Hopalong Cassidy show gave a company known for their lamps named Aladdin Industries the right to produce lunchboxes featuring Hopalong, and there was no turning back.

Children begged for these colorful lunch carriers.... and a new facet of American culture had begun. 

Tips on Buying Lunchbox Online

• Condition - Unless you are looking for a crayon box and do not care about holes, dents, rust, or other damage, then please be sure to ask questions about the lunchbox.  A picture may tell a thousand words, but poor lighting can change every word.  Suddenly a box that seemed pristine in the picture arrives at your door with skid marks, no handle, and a complete coat of rust.  By asking questions first, you always be happier later....

                        Is the box rusted?  Any dings?  Scratch marks...of any kind?

                        Are all the parts original and secure?   Thermos?  Handles?  Straps?

                        Is the door hinge intact?  Original?  Has any part been chewed?  Burned? 

• Pictures -  Pictures allow buyers the opportunity to judge for themselves the condition of the box.  If possible, get pictures from varies angles and views.  Notice the two pictures of the farmyard lunchbox pictured above....the rust is visible, however you cannot see the back or other side....could be better, or much worse.  Natural light photography will often bring out flaws and damage that get lost in the shadowing of flourescent lighting.   Any help to accurately judging the condition of the box is a great asset. 
• Age - New lunchboxes featuring old television shows from the 50s and 60s pop up on occasion.  Just because a box illustrates The Brady Bunch, does not guarantee that it is a 1970s era lunchbox.  Know what your box should look like beforehand and confirm that it is prior to buying.  The seller may just not know and presume that its old.  Always best to ask first about copyright dates on the lunchbox.
• Know Grades - Many sellers will feature a grade from C1 to C10 on their lunchbox, with C10 being the highest.  The letter C stands for condition.  This simply means that the lunchbox, in their opinion, fits within those parameters on the chart listed below.  A good way to grade is to have individual grades for the front, back, and sides of the box....then divide the total by 3. 

                     Pristine - Absolutely no use, no damage....has not even made it to the store shelves. Consider these to be boxes that came straight off the assembly line.  Very, very few actually exist although many mistakenly identify boxes as pristine.

                  Mint+ (C10+) - Almost pristine with one very, very minor scratch about one millimeter or less.
                  Mint (C10) - "Mint" is a very popular term and often misused.  Although the box may look nice, it's probably not mint.  A truly mint box would only have the tiniest flaw.

                   Near Mint + (C9.5) - Near Mint+ boxes may have three or four little flaws, very minor blemishes on an otherwise mint box. 
                   Near Mint (C9) - Now this is likely the grade of a lunchbox that seems quite nice, nearly perfect...but not quite.  Perhaps minor scratches or maybe a ding, but nothing major. 

                   Excellent (C8) - These lunchboxes have some wear, perhaps a little rust staining (not holes) or wear to the image.  However, they still display nicely and are nice starter pieces for collectors.

                   Fine (C7) - C7 lunchboxes look like they have been used.  The surface wear is visible and maybe rusting along the edges.  They still have life in them, but are a far cry from pristine.

                   Very Good (C6) - Now, "very good" has a nice ring to it, but don't be fooled.  This is just a nice way of saying.... Damage!  Heavier rusting sometimes, dings and dints are common, and the image is often scratched noticeably.

                   Good (C5) - They seen better days, but are still fun pieces and great conversation starters available at low prices.  Handles may be missing and boxes misshapen, but they still have a story to tell...albeit one of a rough life.

                   Fair (C4) - Now we are getting to the barely hanging on categories.  Fair is a generous term as these boxes have usually suffered greatly.  Holes, dings, complete rust spots, and heavy damage to the image is to be expected

                  Poor (C3) - These lunchboxes have been so damaged, life as a lunch carrier or display piece ended long ago.  These are better for holding Matchbox cars.

                 Bad (C2) - These aren't even worthy of Matchbox cars....but if you need a place to stick your spare nails...this will work!

                 Terrible (C1) - A hunk of junk...no more, no less. 

• Value Quotes - Many seller's will often quote the "market value" of a particular lunchbox.  Take any such valuing with a grain of salt by keeping in mind that the value is very dependent on the condition.  For example, a mint 1954 Superman Lunchbox is valued in the thousands, but a poor condition is worth a fraction of that amount. 

Sampling of Children's Lunchboxes and Styles

Metal Lunchbox Kits - Metal lunchboxes like this Green Hornet lunchbox are amongst the most popular of collectible lunchboxes.  They were popular with moms for their durability and with kids for the great color images of their favorite television shows and cartoons.  Rust is very common with these steel lunchboxes and impacts their value greatly.

Vinyl Lunchbox Kits - Vinyl lunchboxes like Bullwinkle gave a unique look and feel to the lunchbox craze.  Vinyl lunchboxes were often distributed with girls in mind and many of the images found reflect that direction.  Take note of any gouges in the vinyl or the presence of any vinyl repair patches.

Dome Lunchbox Kits - Some of the first lunchpails featured a dome top to hold the coffee thermos of a worker.  This feature carried itself over into the children's market as well.  This dome-shaped lunch box  by Walt Disney was the top selling lunchbox for kids in history...produced over 14 years from 1961 through 1975.  Interestingly enough, Disney placed different characters on the bus lunchbox over time.

Plastic Lunchbox Kits - Plastic lunchboxes had been around for years, but really bolted into into fashion in the 1980s, as moms saw the appeal of the durable plastic lunchboxes.  When buying plastic lunchboxes, be sure to check for scratches, gouges, and even melted plastic marks.  A box may look good from afar, but close inspection is always needed to confirm the condition.

Soft Lunchbox Kits - The latest in lunchboxes feature soft lunchboxes with a collapsible nylon case with a zipper to close and handles for easy carrying.  Some boxes (like the Spongebob lunchbox pictured above)  have a side mesh pouch for a water/juice bottle.  These soft lunchboxes are easy to store and fit easily in kids' backpacks after lunchtime.

Resources for Lunchbox Collectors

We may have learned everything we need to know in kindergarten, but books are sure a great help for those of us who have forgotten a thing or two.  Through years of hard work and research, there is a selection of books that give buyers an insider's guide to the world of collecting lunchboxes.  Lunchbox reference books empower buyers with an informed ability to spot great buys on eBay for vintage lunchboxes!     

• Collector's Guide to Lunchboxes - by Carole Bess White, L.M. White
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Metal Lunch Boxes - by Allen Woodall and Susan Brickett
• Pictorial Price Guide to Metal Lunch Boxes & Thermoses - by Larry Aikins
• The Fifties and Sixties Lunch Box - by Scott Bruce
• The Official Price Guide to Lunch Box Collectibles - by Scott Bruce
  

A few last reminders before buying

• Do Your Research - Learn as much as you can about your desired lunchbox.  Not all sellers are knowledgable of the importance of the condition of lunchboxes.  If their description and/or photo leaves a question in your mind, then remember to ask the seller before the auction ends.  This lets you clear up things before the sale and keeps both you and the seller on the road to a successful transaction. 
• Understand eBay Jargon - Check out the list of eBay acronyms so that you can more quickly distinguish NM (near mint) from BIN (Buy It Now).  Informed buyers make smart buyers! 
• Use different keywords - The Advanced Search option provided by eBay lets buyers search titles or the title and description or completed items. Keep in mind that not everyone will precisely list an item as a 1966 Batman Lunchbox by Aladdin Industries.   Rather than getting discouraged...expand your search, you might discover a piece listed simply under batman lunchbox or batman aladdin.   Another helpful hint is to change your search terms...like lunch box instead of just lunchbox.  Changing your search increases the chances of finding your item. Save your search on your personalized My eBay page and receive an email notification when a new listing is posted.
• Remember eBay Stores - eBay offers buyers another area for lunchboxes through eBay Stores featuring lunchboxes. With great inventory selections and frequent updates, you just might find the perfect lunchbox for your collection.  If you are still in search of a particular lunchbox that was your favorite as a child, be sure to post a notice to sellers in eBay's Want It Now section.
• Bid Safely and Smartly - Review the seller's feedback rating are their customers consistently happy with their purchase?  Do they have experience selling lunchboxes?  Are items sold "as is" or with a "satisfaction guarantee"?  Is there a shipping/handling fee? If you win the bid, keep in mind that PayPal provides buyers with a safe and secure means to purchase items without revealing their credit card numbers to sellers....this is a welcome (and free!) alternative.
• Enjoy Yourself - At the end of the day....always have fun with it! eBay is a great way to peek through an amazing selection of metal, vinyl, and plastic lunchboxes.  Discover pieces you did not know existed, meet other collectors, and remember....your dream lunchbox and blast from the past awaits!