H84.217.1

Ball. Description: "silver" colored tin foil, with bits of magenta and red, rolled into a ball Dimensions: approx. 2 7/8" diam History: Tin foil was collected as scrap metal. This was popular activity for children on the home front during World War II. (See file - Catalogue information sheet.) References/Remarks: For World War II Housing Unit in 20th century gallery project. From the History Information Station: Object: Ball of tin foil. This is real tin, not aluminum! This little ball weighs about three pounds. History: During World War II, everyone was encouraged to collect tin foil wrappers from food packaging and chewing gum, so the tin could be recycled for war manufacturing. This is a real wartime foil ball which never made it to the recycling center. It was collected by an Oakland Museum curator when he was a boy in Sacramento. Gift of L. Thomas Frye

Used: children | World War II