World · North America · 3 hrs ago
The Chinese takeout box began as an American oyster pail
The Chinese takeout box familiar in the United States has American origins.
In 1894, inventor Frederick Weeks Wilcox patented a folded cardboard pail designed to carry oysters.
Chinese immigrants built communities and restaurants in the United States, helping develop an Americanized style of Chinese food.
After World War II, Chinese restaurants spread and takeout became part of their appeal, offering food seen as affordable and convenient.
In the 1970s, packaging company Fold-Pak added a pagoda design that helped associate the box with Chinese American food.
The carton later became an icon of Chinese American dining, even as takeout packaging and the range of foods inside it diversified.
The Chinese takeout box commonly used in the United States began as an American container for carrying oysters.
Inventor Frederick Weeks Wilcox received a patent for the design in 1894.
Chinese restaurants later adopted takeout as part of a growing, more convenient American Chinese food culture.
A pagoda design was added to the container at a packaging company in the 1970s.
The box became associated with Chinese American food, despite its origins as an oyster pail.
- Who
- Inventor Frederick Weeks Wilcox patented the container design. Chinese restaurants later used the box for takeout.
- What
- An American oyster pail design became the familiar Chinese takeout container.
- When
- Wilcox received the patent in 1894; the pagoda design was added in the 1970s.
- Where
- The design originated in the United States. The article describes its later use by Chinese restaurants in the United States.
- Why
- The folded design provided structural stability, limited leaks and incorporated a lid. Takeout also offered convenience and helped restaurants appear accessible.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Chinese immigrants began coming to the United States, including during the Gold Rush and to work on railroads.
Frederick Weeks Wilcox was granted a patent for an improved pail for carrying oysters.
Chinese restaurants proliferated and interest in Chinese food grew.
A pagoda design was added to the container at a packaging company then known as Fold-Pak.
- Patent year
- 1894
- Inventor
- Frederick Weeks Wilcox
- Original use
- Carrying oysters
- Pagoda design
- Added in the 1970s
- Packaging company
- Fold-Pak
What people are saying
After World War II, there was a “real profusion of Chinese restaurants, diversifying away from just chop suey and chow mein ... we see this explosion of interest and growth in Chinese food,
It kind of becomes claimed as a Chinese American food eatery item, like the pizza box or something like that might be for Italian food