Chelsea dubbin

On the label

Chelsea Royal Boot Dubbin
for black or brown boots
Called the football dubbin
Caswell & Co Ltd, Kettering
on reverse
Directions for use: The best waterproof Dubbin for Golf, Fishing, Shooting, Hunting, and Football Boots, Leather &c. Use freely with hand or small brush, especially round soles & seams as it will dry tacky in a short time. Footballs keep light in heavy weather if freely dressed before and after use.

This 75mm diameter by 30mm deep tin, printed in red, orange, light blue and dark blue on a white ground, still has some of the golden grease remaining (its constituents parts now somewhat separated and with the pleasant marzipan smell like Wren’s polish).
Its gilt base carries instructions for use printed in black.
Photos: David Pratt

Photo: David Pratt

On the label

Chelsea Royal Boot Dubbin
for black or brown boots
Known as the football dubbin
Caswell & Coy. Ltd., Kettering, Eng.
Made in England since 1890

The wider and flatter tin (85mm x 20mm) is more simply printed in just red and dark blue on a white ground and is now ‘known as the football dubbin’, not ‘called the football dubbin’.

Chelsea Dubbin known as “The football dubbin” – made in England since 1890. This 3½ inch tin is printed in red, light blue and dark blue on a white ground although the print has yellowed a bit with age. Contents are a golden grease.