I still love milk out of glass bottles

[austinado16]

The recent popcycle/icecream truck.....turned milk truck......thread got me thinking; I still love milk out of glass bottles.

We have 4 milk bottles with plastic snap caps, and continue to use them. The milk just seems colder and tastes better, and they fit in the '52 Philco much nicer.

Anybody else still enjoying milk out of glass bottles?

 

[rp2813]

Back in the late 80's we were lucky enough to move to a home within the territory of what I believe was the last of the local milk delivery services in our area.  Once I arranged for delivery, I got my little 1939 Westinghouse fridge from my parents' patio and put it in the garage by the side door.  One day each week, we'd leave the side door unlocked for the milk man, he'd put the full milk bottles in the fridge and then lock the door when he left.  I have an old metal bottle carrier so would leave the empties for him in that.  I also had one of the old fans you'd place in an empty bottle to make special requests.  We got egg nog and other fun stuff delivered that way.

 

I think if I had a vintage fridge in a vintage kitchen I'd go to the trouble of transferring milk from a carton to glass because as Todd stated, milk bottles were certainly factored into shelf design. Just having it delivered already in the bottle was so convenient.  Too bad we moved away, and out of the guy's territory.  I loved never being out of milk.

 

Somewhere, I have a picture of that fridge with milk bottles in it, but no soft copy.  Attached is a picture of a 1939 Westy, although it's about 30% larger capacity than the one I had.

 

[58limited]

In Texas there is a dairy called Promised Land that sells milk in the old bottles in quart and half gallon sizes. The milk is organically produced Jersey cow milk. When I first started buying it over 10 years ago, they used the original style foil and paper caps, but then they switched to a plastic cap. Unfortunately, within the past year or so, they started using plastic bottles instead of glass bottles - same shape though. They make the best chocolate milk I've ever had.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Though milk delivery ended in our area back in the lat 60's maybe early 70's. We still had a Dairy that you could go in and buy milk in the glass bottles. You had to bring back the bottle each time for exchange or you were charged a dollar extra for your milk.

It was heaven to buy the fresh milk with about an inch of cream on top.

The state eventually shut this little dairy down with regulations. There is now a giant church sitting on that land. It's one of those big expensive show off churches, we call it "Six Flags over Jesus." I don't want to sound anti-religious because I'm not, but I just don't get the same feeling when I drive by now as I used to when all the cows were lined up for milking.

 

[kevin313]

Here in the Detroit area there is still a dairy that delivers milk to homes in glass bottles - Calder Dairy. The give you a galvanized metal box that is insulated and it sits on your porch. You can get varieties of milk - 2%, whole, chocolate, buttermilk - they make their own butter, sour cream and ice cream. You can also leave a note if you want eggs. Half gallons and gallons are all in glass.

In the summer, the driver will put a big scoop of crushed ice on top of the milk in the delivery box if no one is home - it's really cool. A few markets in the area also carry their products for those who don't want home delivery.

Here's Calder's website:

Calder Dairy | A Family Tradition Since 1946

www.calderdairy.com

 

[franksdad]

Six Flags over Jesus

LOL! OMG Harley, love it! There's a bunch of those big mega-churches in our area. They will now forever be referred to as Six Flags Over Jesus! Currently they are called the "feel good churches." Back in the 80's when Jim and Tammy Bakker had their big mega Jesus land and water park in Fort Mill, SC (suburb of Charlotte, NC) everyone around here called thier water park the "Slip and Slide Baptism Ride." Didn't mean no harm to anyone. ).

Everything is better in glass bottles vs. plastic or cans...especially beer. Back in the early 60's we had Leak Brothers Dairy in Greenville. They would deliver milk, cream, orange juice, and chocolate milk every Monday. One summer Monday, without my parents knowledge, I told the milkman Mama said I could have a half-gallon of chocolate milk which he left. I drank it all that day and thought I had gotten away with it. What I failed to realize at my young age was the milkman added that chocolate milk to the bill. When Mama got home I was told in no uncertain terms that I was to never do anything like that again. And I didn't. Jim

 

[3beltwesty]

"You can have worry free, home delivery, CALL TWIN PINES

In the Detroit area eons ago when I lived there our house had a special two sided door through the houses wall for milk and ice creme that was insulated. One side opened to the outside; another to the inside.

That advert jingle is etched into my brain forever.

Some folks can taste the plastic, thus a glass container makes for a better taste

 

[rp2813]

We had a milk door but when my dad reconfigured the side entrance, it was eliminated.  A house down the street had a more literal version.  The back door had two large compartments that had their own panels that opened up on the inside and outside.  The fresh milk would go into one compartment, and the empties were in the other one.  That door always made the sound of rattling glass bottles when it closed.  The milk man actually came in the house and put the milk in the fridge for them, but the empties were stored in the door.

 

In this neighborhood alone, there were several dairies making deliveries to the various homes:  Peninsula, Edelweiss, Foremost, Berkeley Farms and Santa Clara Creamery to name a few.

 

The more specialty independent and smaller supermarket chains locally still sell milk in bottles, but it's expensive.

 

I remember the verbiage on the back of the bottles from Santa Clara Creamery:  "If  it's packaged in glass, you don't have to guess about the quality."

 

[polkanut]

When I was a kid we had Witter's, a family-run dairy north of town that sold skim, 2%, homogenized whole, and buttermilk.  They also had whipping cream, chocolate milk, 1/2 & 1/2, buttermilk, ice cream, cheese, eggs, and orange juice.  They had home delivery until the early 1960's, but we remained loyal customers until they quit their retail store in the early 1980's.  They had quart, 1/2 gallon, and gallon bottles.  We would always get 8 1/2 gallons about once a week, plus cheese and eggs!

 

[austinado16]

I had no idea houses were built with special doors...

This is really great to hear about the special metal boxes, the homes with special milk doors, and especially, that the milkman was allowed to come into a home and put the milk in the fridge. That just blows my mind.

Although I grew up with milk delivery in the 60s, it was just left at the front door.

The milk bottles I use are "modern" from a CA dairy that sells through Vons/Safeway grocery stores......or at least they did. The bottles bare the slogan, "Milk so fresh, the Cow doesn't know it's missing." My daughter loves that saying and it's fun to watch her get exposure to the old ways of doing stuff; all of which she takes for granted because it's just how we are...vintage appliances and all.

 

[rp2813]

Milk Doors

I couldn't find a picture of the neighbors' type of actual door with built-in milk storage.  I've only seen one other home with a similar door.  Here's one of the more typical types of milk doors found on most older homes.

 

[appliguy]

Austinado16

For many years right into the 1960's houses were built with the electric and gas meters inside the basement and the meter readers would come in and read the meters if you were home or not. My folks first house that they had built as newlyweds in 1963 was that way and mom said the meter man would come in through the basement door and read the meters and then leave....PAT COFFEY

 

[bugsyjones]

I am too young to remember milk delivery. But I do enjoy immersing myself in things from days gone by. Our local chain grocer used to carry milk in the glass half-gallon. It was from a farm near Lawrence Ks called Iwig Dairy. Since 1910 (or something).

I was ecstatic when I saw that and I had to buy it. It was more expensive than the regular plastic gallon, but it tasted alot better. It was on average $2.00 more than the gallon. Part of that a return deposit which I heartily participated in.

The only problem I saw with the Iwig was it's popularity was so that the 2% would sell out and all that would be left was either whole or skim. Even the skim milk was about the consistency of 2%. Rich and creamy. Sometimes there would be flavors like chocolate, strawberry, Mocha, Cappucino, and Egg Nog.

One other problem was that the supply wasn't replenished on a steadier basis because sometimes you would see that the milk was to expire in a few days. Even though the Iwig dates were well beyond that of the plastic jug equivalent.

When they built a new 'Marketplace' style store, they eliminated the Iwig milk.

Too bad. I would have kept buying. But I do like the idea of decanting it into glass. I may have to do that when I get that ever ellusive and alluring 56 Foodarama.

~Tim

 

[washerboy]

We had milk delivered when I was growing up. In the summer time Mr. Milkman always gave me an orange popcicle...great memories!!! There was a dairy here in the nothern part of the state that was bottling milk in glass bottles/jugs. The milk was a little higher in price than what was in the plastic; but the odd thing about it was the milk lasted several days longer; so it was almost worth paying a little extra for the taste and shelf life. What was strange was the grocery stores could not keep the stuff on the shelf; I dont know what happened but the dairy just closed. I have 2 quart size glass milk bottles and the plastic caps that are from the mid 50's when my parents married. When I remember I'll transfer the milk from the plastic to the glass....I dont know if it's a mental thing or not...but it sure taste better out of the glass!!

 

[xraytech]

I'm too young to remember the home milk delivery, but our town had The Avella dairy, which serviced Avell aand a few surrounding towns, they delivered until the mid 70's I elieve.

 

I now buy my milk strictly at Kauffmans  Atlasburg, which is a Mennonite grocery or from Janoskis Farm Market in Clinton.

They both carry milk from a local dairy in Aliquippa called Brunton Dairy. They have skim, 2%, and vitamin D whole milk for $2.99 per 1/2 gallon plus a $2.00 deposit or your returned jug. They also have chocolate and strawberry milk for 50 cents more per 1/2 gallon.

 

[yogitunes]

Sam....its been a while since I have been back home.....but when we visited, I remember seeing at Peachin's you could get 1/2 gallons of milk and OJ in the glass jars....Gallons were plastic, smaller sizes (quart and pint) was cardboard....

My sister in Vermont brings me a few 1/2 gallons of milk when she comes to visit, and it may be a mental thing, but it just seems better tasting....she has the deposit return program up there....but I keep the Jars for nostalgia, and use....
also I love the maple syrup from Vermont...

great times growing up remembering the milkman and the egg man....home deliveries

 

[austinado16]

That's an other thing we've switched too...

Real Maple syrup from Vermont, in glass bottles. I think I switched us over to that about 6 or more years ago. I notice that it's getting harder to find the Vermont labels, and easier to find the Canadian product. Nothing against out Canadian friends, but I prefer my $$ to go to the folks in Vermont.

A few months ago, a buddy in WI sent me some that he made from his trees. That was really good.

 

[xraytech]

Martin,

 

I've never been to Peachins, but have heard of it. The old store sounded like it was a real sight. Anyways that seems like a place where milk in glass jars would be available

 

[appnut]

I vividly remember 4 or 5 of my mom's friends who ended up with serious cuts from gallon and half-gallon milk bottles breaking or shattering for some reason by the time I was 13 or 14.  I would imagine my parents were afraid I would fall with said jugs and hurt myself or accidentally drop them, so one of several reasons why they chose not to have home delivery or buy the glass jugs at the store.  I still cringe thinking about those women when I see the stuff in the store here.  In Houston, I do remember Borden, Oak Farms, Shepps, carnation, and Westmoreland Dairy all doing home delivery.