Vintage Disinfectant Powder Shaker Tomlinson & Hayward Lincoln

A scarce vintage disinfectant powder shaker retaining its original printed label advertising “Disinfectant Powder – For Drains, Lavatories, Urinals, Dustbins, Stables etc.” Manufactured by Tomlinson & Hayward Ltd., 51 Newland, Lincoln.

The container is a tall cylindrical cardboard shaker with embossed decorative paper covering and a metal base. The original label remains clear and legible in dark green and yellow, promoting the product’s germicidal strength and household uses. The perforated shaker top allowed the powder to be sprinkled directly where required.

Products like this were commonly used in the early–mid 20th century to control odours and sanitation in domestic lavatories, outdoor toilets, drains, bins and stables. Most were discarded after use, making surviving examples with their original packaging increasingly uncommon.

With its bold typography and unusual tall form, this piece displays particularly well and would appeal to collectors of vintage household packaging, chemist and sanitary advertising, social history items, or film and television prop departments.