eBay Tuesday: Mohegan Dairy Can

When you see a New London milk can with the initials "M.D." on it, what's the first thing you think it refers to? Odds are you said Michael's Dairy, but you're incorrect in this case.

This 10-gallon antique milk can, offered by user cmp2270, is painted red with a golden patriotic eagle on the side. A stamp on the front reads "Dairymen's League" while the lid contains the stamp "N.L. & M.D. New London." 

That stands for New London & Mohegan Dairies, a company that was once based at 73 Jefferson Ave. Records show that they used to be part of the Dairymen's League, an organization started in 1907 by a group of New York dairy farmers to seek fair prices for their products. The organization became directly involved in running its own processing and manufacturing plants to achieve this goal, and still exists today with the shortened name "Dairylea." 

One 1939 advertisement features an endorsement from one of the New London & Mohegan Dairies' cows, who boasts that his mother produces the best milk around. "Only spotless barns and equipment are good enough. But then again, mother hasn't anything to worry about," the calf says. "Those New London and Mohegan Dairy folks sure know how to select a dairy for their milk, believe me!" 

The company merged with Brock-Hall Dairy Co. of Hamden in 1964. Fourteen years later, the building once used by the dairy had been replaced by a plumbing business, which was heavily damaged in a fire.

The milk can is 23 inches tall with a 13-inch base. The lid has been painted shut, and the whole thing weighs 23 pounds. There are some dents and scratches on the can. The asking price is $38.50, plus $58.97 for shipping, and the auction ends at about 4:21 p.m. on Wednesday.

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