Perhaps not with sustainability in mind, J Peek & Son of 40 Gray’s Inn Rd, London, sold this decorative little hook tin to their customers. Established in 1896 they entered the tackle business in the boom times.

Tackle shops were practiced in the principle of bulk buying. Take hooks; common sense says buy big, sell small. Peek bought hooks by the pound weight and then once the “Saturday lad” had counted out say 50 hooks, they weigh the rest and pack them into retail lots.

Peek had the foresight to realise that if you send the angler out with this lovely little advertising tin, he would not discard it like a paper wrapper but would return to the shop advertised on the lid for a refill. Certainly, during both world wars when packaging was short, the principle of refillables became popular. It’s now called sustainable marketing, it’s not new.

Other companies such as Allcock’s supplied the little Handy Outfit tins holding split shot, rolled lead, and floats rubbers. The same principle applies, that’s why they are still to be found in tackle boxes and bags 100 years on.

All of this brings an opportunity to build an interesting collection of micro-advertising tins. They look great and require little room to display in your collection which by now is full of Thomas Turner purchases.