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Half gallon carton 'handle' - do they still make these?

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Kalmia

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Nov 12, 2012, 4:08:09 PM11/12/12
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I'm trying to locate one for an older person who has trouble gripping a slippery, damp, waxed carton of milk or OJ. Do they still make these? What kind of stores carry? What is its proper name?

I've marched thru a few thrift shops, but nothing. Dollar store - nothing.

Chemo

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Nov 12, 2012, 4:15:51 PM11/12/12
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On Nov 12, 1:08 pm, Kalmia <tweeny90...@mypacks.net> wrote:
> I'm trying to locate one for an older person who has trouble gripping a slippery, damp, waxed carton of milk or OJ.  Do they still make these?  What kind of stores carry?  What is its proper name?
>
> I've marched thru a few thrift shops, but nothing.  Dollar store - nothing.

Google it...I did and there's a ton of 'em out there.

Jim Elbrecht

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Nov 12, 2012, 4:21:39 PM11/12/12
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I found some on ebay [searched Google for "1/2 gallon carton handle"-
but you're right-- They aren't everywhere anymore.

I'd call a medical devices store & see if they have something- or at
least some ideas. It might be cheaper to get 2 quarts. They are
easier to grab and weigh 1/2 as much.

I wonder if the advent of all the plastic cartons with handles built
in made them obsolete?

Jim

Steve Freides

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Nov 12, 2012, 5:00:11 PM11/12/12
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Easier to buy plastic half-gallons rather than cardboard? Many places
sell them.

-S-


Malcom "Mal" Reynolds

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Nov 12, 2012, 4:07:32 PM11/12/12
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In article <47adbc6e-abad-4d09...@googlegroups.com>,
I'd search OXO. most of their products are geared to handicapped
Message has been deleted

jmcquown

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Nov 12, 2012, 5:54:56 PM11/12/12
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On 11/12/2012 5:40 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:08:09 -0800 (PST), Kalmia wrote:
>
>> I'm trying to locate one for an older person who has trouble gripping a slippery, damp, waxed carton of milk or OJ. Do they still make these? What kind of stores carry? What is its proper name?
>>
>> I've marched thru a few thrift shops, but nothing. Dollar store - nothing.
>
> Look for a store that sells half gallons in plastic jugs just like the
> gallon jugs. My store sells them - always has. Also available in
> quart sizes - which may be even better for this person (1/2 the weight
> of the half gallons).
>
> -sw
>
Yep, I've never seen a store that didn't have half gallons that weren't
in plastic with a handle. In fact, I can't think of the last time I saw
a wax coated milk carton. (OJ, maybe, but I don't drink orange juice so
I don't really notice. I'm pretty sure they sell it in jugs.)

The more difficult problem my mom had as she got older was opening cans
with pop tops. Oh, and bottles ginger ale. Right before I got here in
2008, a neighbor was going to the the store and asked if she could bring
her anything. Ginger ale. She brought back a six pack of individual
bottles with screw top lids. Hell, even *I* couldn't get the plastic
screw top off!

Then I remembered this handy gadget... and since I knew Mom rarely threw
anything out I knew I'd find it in her kitchen drawer. Something from
the 1950's, a jar & bottle opener. It's made of steel, has a handle to
open and close the "teeth". It screws open or closed to fit everything
from a wide mouth Ball jar to a stubborn screw cap on a bottle of soda.
She was so surprised I remembered (and knew she'd still have) it!
Works like a charm.

Jill
Message has been deleted

S Viemeister

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Nov 12, 2012, 6:27:36 PM11/12/12
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On 11/12/2012 6:10 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:54:56 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Then I remembered this handy gadget... and since I knew Mom rarely threw
>> anything out I knew I'd find it in her kitchen drawer. Something from
>> the 1950's, a jar & bottle opener. It's made of steel, has a handle to
>> open and close the "teeth". It screws open or closed to fit everything
>> from a wide mouth Ball jar to a stubborn screw cap on a bottle of soda.
>> She was so surprised I remembered (and knew she'd still have) it!
>> Works like a charm.
>
> Sounds like a "Top Off"(tm). Here's mine:
>
> http://i50.tinypic.com/2ilegcm.jpg
>
> I think Mark has one, too. I think he eBay'd it after he saw mine a
> few years ago. I use it just yesterday on a jar of Mrs. Renfros Hot
> Chow Chow (who knew it was so... cabbagey?).
>
My mother had one of those openers. I found one at a house sale, but my
mechanically-minded son decided to disassemble it - and lost one of the
bits.

jmcquown

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Nov 12, 2012, 6:39:25 PM11/12/12
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On 11/12/2012 6:10 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:54:56 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Then I remembered this handy gadget... and since I knew Mom rarely threw
>> anything out I knew I'd find it in her kitchen drawer. Something from
>> the 1950's, a jar & bottle opener. It's made of steel, has a handle to
>> open and close the "teeth". It screws open or closed to fit everything
>> from a wide mouth Ball jar to a stubborn screw cap on a bottle of soda.
>> She was so surprised I remembered (and knew she'd still have) it!
>> Works like a charm.
>
> Sounds like a "Top Off"(tm). Here's mine:
>
> http://i50.tinypic.com/2ilegcm.jpg
>
> I think Mark has one, too. I think he eBay'd it after he saw mine a
> few years ago. I use it just yesterday on a jar of Mrs. Renfros Hot
> Chow Chow (who knew it was so... cabbagey?).
>
> -sw
>
Yep, it's a Top Off. Mine has a wooden handle but that's basically the
only difference. They work great.

Jill

sf

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Nov 12, 2012, 8:57:26 PM11/12/12
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I had a cheaper, slightly different looking version of this
http://www.abcmobility.co.uk/pics/571universal-opener.jpg
It was fully plastic and only fit on soda bottle type twist caps.


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

Brooklyn1

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:13:48 PM11/12/12
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On Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:08:09 -0800 (PST), Kalmia
I rarely see the cardboard cartons anymore, all the brands have
switched to plastic and those have handles. A lot of older folks had
trouble opening the old cardboard cartons (even younger folks), the
plastic bottles are very easy to open. Tell your older friend to buy
the plastic bottles, the half gallon size is very user friendly. I
buy OJ in half gallons and save a bunch of those plastic bottles, they
come in handy of lots of things... good for gardening project, I use
them to carry water to my barn cat... when I find OJ in full gallons
at a good sale price I pour it into half gallon bottles, easier to
handle and fits the fridge better.

pltrgyst

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:31:39 PM11/12/12
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On 11/12/12 4:08 PM, Kalmia wrote:
> I'm trying to locate one for an older person who has trouble gripping a slippery, damp, waxed carton of milk or OJ. Do they still make these? What kind of stores carry? What is its proper name?
>
> I've marched thru a few thrift shops, but nothing. Dollar store - nothing.

You mean like

http://www.etsy.com/listing/107479703/evlo-vintage-1960s-handi-holder-milk?

-- Larry

Kalmia

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:47:49 PM11/12/12
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I guess she will have to decant from the OJ carton into a clean half gallon leftover milk jug. Of course, some will now argue about vitamin C being exposed to light etc. I guess it beats dropping the whole thing on the floor.


gloria p

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:57:35 PM11/12/12
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On 11/12/2012 8:47 PM, Kalmia wrote:
> On Monday, November 12, 2012 10:13:48 PM UTC-5, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> On Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:08:09 -0800 (PST), Kalmia
>>
>> <tween...@mypacks.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I'm trying to locate one for an older person who has trouble gripping a slippery, damp, waxed carton of milk or OJ. Do they still make these? What kind of stores carry? What is its proper name?

>
> I guess she will have to decant from the OJ carton into a clean half gallon leftover milk jug. Of course, some will now argue about vitamin C being exposed to light etc. I guess it beats dropping the whole thing on the floor.
>
>



I Googled and found it available at a site for aids for the disabled,
but it's in Maryland. I suspect that if you call around to medical
supply stores or those that specialize in products for the disabled or
elderly, you may track one down.

gloria p

pltrgyst

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Nov 13, 2012, 5:33:07 PM11/13/12
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>> I rarely see the cardboard cartons anymore, all the brands have
>>switched to plastic and those have handles....

The plastic holders fit the current plastic bottles perfectly (as well
as the waxed cardboard cartons that some stores still use for milk and
juice), and the larger handles are much easier to use. I still use a
couple of them regularly -- their only downside is that the handle takes
up more space in refrigerator door trays.

You can find them on ebay under the names "Handi Holder" or "E Z
Holder", at various (mostly rip-off) prices.

-- Larry

Brooklyn1

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Nov 13, 2012, 8:42:22 PM11/13/12
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On Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:33:07 -0500, pltrgyst <pltr...@xhost.org>
wrote:

>
>>> I rarely see the cardboard cartons anymore, all the brands have
>>>switched to plastic and those have handles....
>
>The plastic holders fit the current plastic bottles perfectly.

One word, redundancy.
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