City Dairy Alamogordo NM Milk Box & (4) Half-Gallon Bottles, c.1950s

From the heart of Alamogordo, New Mexico, this vintage City Dairy milk delivery set beautifully preserves the spirit of small-town American dairying. The insulated metal milk box—marked City Dairy – Alamogordo and produced by Muckle Mfg. Co., Owatonna, Minn.—is accompanied by four glass half-gallon bottles, each approximately 10 inches tall. Two bottles display the bold red City Dairy logo, and two bear the yellow and red All-Jersey “Queen of Quality” labels. Three original paper caps remain intact, printed Grade A City Dairy Pasteurized Fat Free Milk, Alamogordo, N.M., and all feature Snap Lock #216 closures. The non-magnetic, insulated construction suggests aluminum or similar mid-century alloy, typical of local dairy delivery boxes.

Founded in 1925, City Dairy served Alamogordo for more than fifty years, growing under the McMurry family’s stewardship. Its postwar success and cheerful branding, as seen in the All-Jersey campaign, reflected the optimism of 1950s home delivery—when glass bottles on the doorstep were a morning ritual and a symbol of local pride. This complete set, with original hardware and lids, captures that nostalgic era with remarkable authenticity.

A rare and evocative ensemble of regional dairy history, uniting craftsmanship, advertising design, and community heritage in one enduring collection.

Condition

Good overall. Bottles are free of chips or cracks, showing light surface wear consistent with age. Three paper lids are present and legible. Metal closures are functional with minor oxidation. The insulated box retains clear stenciling and structural integrity, exhibiting typical scuffs and patina from use.

Dimensions / Weight

• Box: 13" H × 12.5" W × 10" D
• Bottles: 10" H (each, half-gallon size)
• Weight (with bottles): 13 lbs 8 oz

Historical Note

Operating from 1925 to 1977, City Dairy was Alamogordo’s longest-running and most successful dairy. Owned and managed by the McMurry family, it supplied homes, schools, and Holloman Air Force Base with Grade A milk. By the 1950s, it had adopted modern pasteurization, launched the All-Jersey brand, and proudly joined the S&H Green Stamp program. City Dairy’s distinctive bottles, caps, and insulated boxes—like the set offered here—are now among the most recognizable relics of mid-century New Mexico dairying.