{"product_id":"cws-high-class-varnish-can","title":"CWS High Class Varnish Can","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"39\" data-end=\"455\"\u003eThis vintage C.W.S. High Class Varnishes can is a wonderful survivor from Britain’s industrial and retail past, produced by the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd at their Paint, Varnish \u0026amp; Colour Works in Derby. It represents the long history of the Co-operative movement’s manufacturing arm, which supplied high-quality household and trade products across the UK throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"457\" data-end=\"478\"\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"951\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"533\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"481\" data-end=\"533\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e C.W.S. (Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"534\" data-end=\"567\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"536\" data-end=\"567\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct: \u003c\/strong\u003eHigh Class Varnishes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"568\" data-end=\"648\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"570\" data-end=\"648\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e C.W.S. Paint, Varnish \u0026amp; Colour Works, Stockbrook Street, Derby\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"649\" data-end=\"676\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"651\" data-end=\"676\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trade varnish can\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"677\" data-end=\"706\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"706\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Circa 1920s–1930s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"707\" data-end=\"771\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"709\" data-end=\"771\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tin with original printed label and painted finish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"772\" data-end=\"812\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"774\" data-end=\"812\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Green with gold and red text\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"813\" data-end=\"951\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"951\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eExcellent original condition with some surface wear, minor scratches, and age-related patina consistent with industrial use\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"980\"\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"981\" data-end=\"1270\"\u003eThe Co-operative Wholesale Society (C.W.S.) was founded in 1863 as the manufacturing and supply division of the British Co-operative movement. Its mission was to produce and distribute goods ethically, affordably, and of dependable quality for Co-operative stores and members nationwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1272\" data-end=\"1588\"\u003eBy the early 1900s, the C.W.S. had established a vast network of factories, mills, and workshops across Britain, producing everything from food and clothing to hardware and household goods. The Paint, Varnish \u0026amp; Colour Works in Stockbrook Street, Derby, was one of the Society’s most successful industrial ventures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1590\" data-end=\"2017\"\u003eOpened in 1886, the Derby works specialised in paints, enamels, varnishes, and distempers for both domestic and trade use. C.W.S. products were known for their consistency and high standards, qualities that made them trusted by tradesmen, decorators, and households alike. The Derby factory continued to operate well into the mid-20th century, supplying products across Britain through the Co-operative’s vast retail network.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2019\" data-end=\"2044\"\u003eDesign and Features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2045\" data-end=\"2378\"\u003eThe can features classic early 20th-century design and typography, with decorative borders, serif lettering, and an ornate label style typical of the interwar period. The label proudly identifies the manufacturer’s address — “Stockbrook Street, Derby” — which became synonymous with C.W.S. paint and varnish production for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2675\"\u003eThe slogan “High Class Varnishes” reflects the Society’s emphasis on quality craftsmanship and the importance of reliable materials in both domestic and industrial applications. The green and gold colour scheme, accented with red, was chosen to convey both trustworthiness and premium quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2677\" data-end=\"2931\"\u003eThe metal can’s conical spout and sturdy construction are characteristic of containers used by tradesmen for varnish or polish during the early part of the 20th century. The remnants of varnish around the spout add to its authenticity and period charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2933\" data-end=\"2953\"\u003eCollectibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2954\" data-end=\"3360\"\u003eC.W.S. items are increasingly popular among collectors of early British advertising, industrial antiques, and Co-operative memorabilia. This varnish can is particularly appealing due to its strong colour, intact label, and clear factory identification. It provides a tangible link to Britain’s Co-operative manufacturing heritage and the self-sufficient ideals that shaped working-class consumer culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3362\" data-end=\"3594\"\u003eCollectors value such items for their historical interest, craftsmanship, and decorative appeal. Its condition, with natural wear and patina, tells the story of decades of honest use, making it an authentic and characterful piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"3596\" data-end=\"3609\"\u003eSummary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"3942\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"3660\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3612\" data-end=\"3660\"\u003eOriginal C.W.S. High Class Varnishes trade can\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3661\" data-end=\"3722\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3663\" data-end=\"3722\"\u003eProduced by the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd, Derby\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3723\" data-end=\"3753\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3725\" data-end=\"3753\"\u003eDates from the 1920s–1930s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3754\" data-end=\"3813\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3756\" data-end=\"3813\"\u003eTin construction with painted finish and original label\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3814\" data-end=\"3859\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3816\" data-end=\"3859\"\u003eExcellent condition with age-related wear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3860\" data-end=\"3942\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3862\" data-end=\"3942\"\u003eA rare and charming example of early 20th-century British industrial packaging\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3944\" data-end=\"4147\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThis C.W.S. varnish can is a superb piece of Co-operative history, offering both decorative appeal and a fascinating insight into the craftsmanship and integrity that defined early British manufacturing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilia Magpie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58839852515677,"sku":"AM415","price":280.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/1625\/3789\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-10-18at15.18.22_152f5a10.jpg?v=1760975473","url":"https:\/\/www.automobiliamagpie.com\/products\/cws-high-class-varnish-can","provider":"Automobilia Magpie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}