How to Collect Vintage Lunch Boxes

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Starting a collection of vintage lunch boxes is a fun way to begin a lifelong hobby. There are numerous genres of vintage lunch boxes and differing themes that offer a huge variety collecting options. Oftentimes, the hunt for just the right lunch box is as rewarding as finding it!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Determine into what area of collecting the items will fall. There are tin lunch boxes and plastic lunch boxes.
Step 2

Find the genre of lunch boxes most appealing to the collector. The lunchboxes might include cartoon characters, television shows or musically-themed lunch kits.
Step 3

Decide if the collection will be a cross-collectible item, such as a Beatles lunch box. These are appealing to Beatles fans, as well as collectors of vintage lunch boxes.
Step 4

Conclude if the collection will include lunch kits that have the thermos. Vintage lunch boxes that contain their original thermos can add as much as 50% to the item's value.
Step 5

Make every attempt to actually hold and handle any lunch box being considered for the collection. Look at and inspect the vintage lunch box with a discriminating eye to determine its value and possible future worth.

Tips & Warnings

Look for vintage lunch boxes that exhibit little or no visible damage. Lunch boxes in the very best condition command the highest premiums.
Make certain that the thermos bottle included with the vintage lunch box is truly the original, not a newer reproduction bottle.
Many vintage lunch boxes, lunch-pails and lunch-kits are newer reproductions of much older items and can be made to look distressed and vintage.

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