Metal lunch boxes first appeared in the 1930s, with the introduction of the first officially licensed lunch box featuring the iconic Hopalong Cassidy character in 1950. These early models were typically adorned with popular cartoon characters, TV shows, and movies, making them much more than just functional food carriers; they quickly became a form of expression for children. The evolution continued over the decades, with designs shifting to represent everything from superheroes to rock bands, thus capturing the imaginations of countless generations.
