As we embark on another cold snap, the importance of being prepared to combat the cold comes into focus once again. While clothing is usually our first port of call for such a conundrum, the impact of a really warm drink shouldn’t be underestimated. Whether it’s your early morning caffeine-infused coffee hit, your healthy vegetable soup at lunchtime or some sweet and sticky hot Vimto, no journey in the chilly months should be undertaken without a good, solid flask.
First used by scientists to store vaccines, serums and other experimental chemicals, the concept of a vacuum flask is said to have been discovered and developed by James Dewar towards the end of the 19th century.
Simply by placing a glass bottle inside a larger glass bottle, then evacuating the air that sat between them, he created a mechanism to ensure a stable temperature, meaning hot liquids could be kept hot, and many years later, your life-preserving liquid lunch or your hot hydration habit would be all the more enjoyable.
By the start of the 20th century, Dewar’s discovery was developed further, and in 1913, the Stanley brand was founded. The first to fuse the strength of steel with the vacuum concept in one portable bottle, their history is one that is steeped in early innovation.
William Stanley Jr was an American physicist born in Brooklyn in 1858. During his life he specialised in research, development and ultimately creating things that didn’t exist before. His aptitude in the field of electricity was especially noted, as he obtained 129 patents for a range of electrical devices and products. His legacy is much more than this though. In 1913 he founded his eponymous Stanley company with the steel vacuum bottle at its core. His knowledge of welding and soldering gained in electrical research led him to substitute Dewar’s glass with steel, making it airtight and perfecting the technique in metal.
Stanley had certainly made his mark, though his untimely passing in 1916 led to the company being acquired by a New York City investment firm. In the century since its formation, the ownership of Stanley has changed hands on a number of occasions, but the name has remained constant, as has the reliable reputation and the spirit of innovation that led to its formation all those years ago.
Today, Stanley provides drinking vessels in a range of shapes, sizes and shades. Perhaps the best example for everyday usage is the 0.35L Trigger Action Mug. Simple yet considered, it boasts a leakproof lid with push button mechanism that opens the mouthpiece on the top. It’ll keep hot liquids hot for up to 5 hours, while cold things will stay cold for slightly longer. In keeping with the demands of the modern, earth-aware consumer, it’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe.
Frankly, we can’t think why anyone would leave home without one.
See the full range here
