Crates Collection

Milkman and his Float
A milkman taking bottles from the crates on his float to deliver to someones doorstep

British Army messager pigeon service
Taking birds out: to the trenches by despatch-riders to let the pigeons fly for training. Regular going and coming supply service of birds between the pigeon homing lofts at Divisional

Covent Garden Market
Crates of fresh fruit and vegetables from Norfolk etc. being unloaded in the morning at Covent Garden market, central London. Date: circa 1950

Porters at Billingsgate Fish Market, London, c. 1950
Photograph showing a group of porters outside Billingsgate Fish Market in London, c.1950. The porters are shown carrying crates of fish on their heads. Date: c.1950

Smithfield Market 1870
The arrival of an early meat train at Smithfield Market in London: porters unload and move baskets and crates

Aberdeen Fish Market
Two market traders walk through Aberdeen Fish Market, Scotland, where thousands of fresh fish are set out in crates and wicker baskets

Aberdeen Fish Market
Market traders chatting amongst the wooden crates of fresh fish at Aberdeen Fish Market, Scotland

Neyland Fish Market, Neyland, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
View inside the Fish Market in the coastal town of Neyland, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. The Ice Factory and Fish Market were opened on 16 November 1908

Covent Garden Market
COVENT GARDEN A view of the market setting up early in the morning with piles of crates and sacks lying around. Date: Spring, circa 1930

The astronomers waiting for the eclipse
The eclipse expedition in India to observe the total eclipse of the sun. Mr. Norman Lockyer is shown seated a little to the left beneath the umbrella

Covent Garden Market
COVENT GARDEN Early morning; a 21 year-old chap (Alfred John Lewis) in a flat cap, stands surrounded by baskets and crates of apples, fruit and vegetables

Sloop Inn, St Ives, Cornwall. 1904
Buying fish on the quayside opposite the Sloop Inn. Photographer: John Charles Burrow

Unloading Ships at London Docks, 1908
Illustration showing various cargoes coming ashore at London Docks, in the East End of London, 1908. Elephants tusks, barrels

Covent Garden CXP01_01_156
COVENT GARDEN, CITY OF WESTMINSTER, GREATER LONDON. Market traders setting up the fruit and vegetable market at Covent Garden outside St Pauls Church

27 Cases of Apples from just one tree - Victoria, Australia
27 Cases of Apples from just one tree - the State of Victoria, Australia Date: circa 1908

Morocco, North West Africa - Street Bread sellers Casablanca Date: circa 1950s

French Customs officers X-Ray for smuggled goods 1897

Street Banana Seller, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Date: circa 1910s

Fishmonger - Port of London
A fishmonger carrying boxes of fresh fish unloaded at the Port of London, close to Tower Bridge, visible in the distance

Food being unloaded in the Channel Islands; Second World War
Photograph showing the unloading of crates of food in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, 1945. After nearly five years of German occupation the civilian population of the islands had very little food

Covent Garden / Crates
Fresh fruit arrives on a Spring morning at Covent Garden market. A man carries a crate of oranges on his head

A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media)
8736176 A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media) by English School, (19th century); 13.7x10.7x3.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Tea in box and bag neatly displayed (b/w photo)
8647505 Tea in box and bag neatly displayed (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tea in box and bag neatly displayed)

"Do not you take her, either" (litho)
8639158 "Do not you take her, either" (litho) by Richardson, Frederick (1862-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Do not you take her)

Guckkastenmann / Peep Box Man (colour litho)
8666249 Guckkastenmann / Peep Box Man (colour litho) by Christophe (Colomb, Georges) (1856-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Guckkastenmann)

Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house
3587258 Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house; (add.info.: Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house 1860.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Choice between the Three Baskets, Illustration for "The Merchant of Venice"
AIS5354596 The Choice between the Three Baskets, Illustration for "The Merchant of Venice", by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), 1881 (engraving); (add.info.: Election among the 3 baskets)

The Bootleggers (Charcoal and gouache on board)
8766707 The Bootleggers (Charcoal and gouache on board) by Frost, Arthur Burdett (1851-1928); High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; © High Museum of Art .

St. George on horseback slaying the dragon, 14th century, 1889 (chromolithograph)
5912628 St. George on horseback slaying the dragon, 14th century, 1889 (chromolithograph); (add.info.: St. George on horseback slaying the dragon in front of a kneeling princess while a king)

A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media)
8736188 A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media) by English School, (19th century); 13.7x10.7x3.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media)
8736162 A lacquered brass microscope belonging to the Darwin family, c.1826-30 (mixed media) by English School, (19th century); 13.7x10.7x3.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

African attendants of David Livingstone
864599 African attendants of David Livingstone; (add.info.: The African attendants of David Livingstone (1813-1873) Scottish missionary and explorer of Africa

Gold box in which the Freedom of the City of London was presented to Sir John Lawrence (engraving)
8676798 Gold box in which the Freedom of the City of London was presented to Sir John Lawrence (engraving) by English School

A little dictionary of art in 100 pictures (litho)
8673176 A little dictionary of art in 100 pictures (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A little dictionary of art in 100 pictures)

Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho)
8630771 Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho) by Foster, William (1852-1924); Private Collection; (add.info)

Oxford: A 'Box' in the SE Corner of the Sheldonian (b/w photo)
8625316 Oxford: A 'Box' in the SE Corner of the Sheldonian (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho)
8669522 Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

When the Black Watch won the Red Hackle (colour photo)
8668616 When the Black Watch won the Red Hackle (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: When the Black Watch won the Red Hackle)

Still Life with Sweets, 1622 (oil on canvas)
XOS5879803 Still Life with Sweets, 1622 (oil on canvas) by Hamen y Leon, Juan van der (1596-1632); 83x122 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH

Otto II and his wife Theophano being blessed by Christ, ivory carving on a box, reliquary
7278134 Otto II and his wife Theophano being blessed by Christ, ivory carving on a box, reliquary; Private Collection; (add.info.: Otto II and his wife Theophano being blessed by Christ)

Chicago policeman telephoning from a police box to bring help to an injured pedestrian. From E
537744 Chicago policeman telephoning from a police box to bring help to an injured pedestrian. From E. Hospitalier Les applciations de l'Electricite, Paris, 1882

Continental tyres, c.1900 (print)
8698411 Continental tyres, c.1900 (print) by Mich (Michel Liebaux) (1881-1923); (add.info.: Transport. Car. A tramp on a DIY car)

Magician, 1924 (print)
5975759 Magician, 1924 (print); Private Collection; (add.info.: Article 1. Show. The magician Abudadullah. Illustration published in the magazine: Aller Lapja, Hungary, 1924. Coll)

Odalisque, c.1830-35 (oil on panel)
8775284 Odalisque, c.1830-35 (oil on panel) by Deveria, Achille (1800-57); Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, CA, USA; (add.info.: By Achille-Jacques-Jean-Marie Deveria).

Scene of activities on the docks in a British port, English and Dutch ships loading goods from warehouses and shops
MMM5459752 Scene of activities on the docks in a British port, English and Dutch ships loading goods from warehouses and shops, onto the docks, and the entry of various ships into the port by Knyff

Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house
3587257 Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house; (add.info.: Swiss Chalet music box; dolls house 1860.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Representative types of animated display devices (b/w photo)
8647515 Representative types of animated display devices (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Representative types of animated display devices)

Representative types of animated display devices (b/w photo)
8647514 Representative types of animated display devices (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Representative types of animated display devices)

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"From Milkman to Messenger: The Versatility of Crates" they have long played a significant role in various aspects of our lives, serving as reliable carriers and storage solutions. Take, for instance, the iconic image of the milkman and his float. As dawn breaks, he carefully places crates filled with fresh bottles on doorsteps across neighborhoods, ensuring households wake up to creamy goodness. But it doesn't stop there. In times gone by, even the British Army recognized the value when establishing their messenger pigeon service. These feathered heroes would carry vital messages within specially designed crates, swiftly delivering crucial information across enemy lines. Beyond wartime exploits, crates found their place in bustling markets like Covent Garden Market. Here they stood tall amidst vibrant displays of fruits and vegetables - sturdy containers holding nature's bounty while awaiting eager customers. In "Waiting for the Hour, " an intriguing artwork from 1863 attributed to unknown creator William Tolman Carlton, we see mysterious figures gathered around wooden crates shrouded in anticipation. What secrets lie within these enigmatic boxes? Only time will tell. The maritime world also embraced crates' practicality at Aberdeen Fish Market. Amidst salty air and seagull cries, fishermen unloaded their catch into robust containers before being whisked away to satisfy seafood enthusiasts far and wide. Meanwhile, porters at Billingsgate Fish Market in London during the 1950s relied on trusty old crates as they maneuvered through chaotic scenes with remarkable finesse - a testament to both their strength and versatility. Neyland Fish Market in Pembrokeshire witnessed similar scenes as fishmongers deftly sorted their wares into neatly stacked wooden receptacles ready for sale or transport - each crate telling its own story of oceanic abundance. Smithfield Market circa 1870 saw butchers skillfully utilizing sturdy wooden containers to transport meat cuts from stall to stall – a symphony of efficiency amidst the hustle and bustle of commerce.