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If you've ever doubted the enduring power of Beatlemania, look no further than the vintage lunchbox market.
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hide captionI want to hold your lunch! This 1965 lunchbox — considered "one of the Holy Grails" of lunchbox collecting — sold for $936.10 in 2013. It came with a thermos. Another mint condition sample sold for $1,625 last fall.
Courtesy of Hake's Americana & Collectibles
I want to hold your lunch! This 1965 lunchbox — considered "one of the Holy Grails" of lunchbox collecting — sold for $936.10 in 2013. It came with a thermos. Another mint condition sample sold for $1,625 last fall.
Courtesy of Hake's Americana & Collectibles
The Beatles are not only considered the top of the heap when it comes to musical acts of the 20th century, they're also apparently the kings of the lunchbox.
After John, Paul, George and Ringo shook their little mop tops on The Ed Sullivan Show, 50 years ago this Sunday, American lunchbox manufacturers figured out, hey, the kids dig 'em. Let's put these boys on lunchboxes. Iin 1965, manufacturer Aladdin released the light-blue metal ode to The Beatles you see above, widely considered "one of the Holy Grails" of the lunchbox-collecting world, says Barbara Crews, the collectibles expert for About.com.
It came with a thermos and some serious street cred, says Beatles historian Bruce Spizer. Last year, a mint condition version of that lunchbox sold for $1,625. Yeah, you read that right.
"Anyone who is despondent they didn't keep theirs" from childhood, says Spizer, "they need to remember how cool it was to go to school carrying that lunchbox and be the envy of their friends."
If you did keep yours but, you know, actually used it, don't despair. Even a beat-up version of that lunchbox can sell for $200 or $300, Crews says.
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hide captionThis 1968 Yellow Submarine Beatles lunchbox sold for $851.60 in 2011.
Courtesy of Hake's Americana & Collectibles
This 1968 Yellow Submarine Beatles lunchbox sold for $851.60 in 2011.
Courtesy of Hake's Americana & Collectibles
A second Beatles lunchbox was released in 1968 to mark the release of Yellow Submarine, that trippy cartoon phenomenon based on the band's music. Those babies will fetch $400 or more these days, says Crews.
And it wasn't just lunchboxes. Apparently, food manufacturers would use the Fab Four's image to sell just about anything – ice cream bars, Nestle Quick (this vintage tin of the chocolate drink mix went up for auction starting at $1,200!), even bubble gum. (Although whoever thought it wise to make Ringo Starr the heartthrob focus of this gum wrapper, while leaving Paul McCartney off completely, had some serious judgment issues.)
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hide captionWhile an original Beatles lunchbox will cost you hundreds of dollars, fans can pick up a version made in the '90s or later in the $10-$25 range. Here's one based on the 1965 album Help! It's being sold on eBay as part of a set of 13 lunchboxes, each based on a different Beatles album cover.
mrapp123/eBay
While an original Beatles lunchbox will cost you hundreds of dollars, fans can pick up a version made in the '90s or later in the $10-$25 range. Here's one based on the 1965 album Help! It's being sold on eBay as part of a set of 13 lunchboxes, each based on a different Beatles album cover.
mrapp123/eBay
More recently, cookbooks have offered up recipes — like "Strawberry Pie Forever" and "Can't Buy Me Fudge" — inspired by the lyrics of Beatles songs.
"It's amazing how they managed to infiltrate every part of pop culture," says Spizer.
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hide captionThe Beatle's 1966 album Revolver is depicted on a retro-style, modern metal lunchbox.
mrapp123/eBay
The Beatle's 1966 album Revolver is depicted on a retro-style, modern metal lunchbox.
mrapp123/eBay
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hide captionTake Abbey Road (1969) to lunch.
mrapp123/eBay
Take Abbey Road (1969) to lunch.
mrapp123/eBay
For those of us who want to rock a retro Beatles lunchbox without selling an organ to pay for it, there are always the reproductions and new versions that hit the market starting in the the 1990s. You can pick one of these up in the $10 to $25 range.
