Do you remember those days in winter when you had to walk to school, even though the wind felt like it was cutting through your warm coat? Maybe you were the kind of kid who loved playing outside until it was time to go back home. You would spend hours building snow forts or ice skating on the pond, even if your fingers were almost frozen despite wearing gloves. For people who were kids in the 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s, the cold winter weather was just something they had to handle. Many of them used a charcoal hand warmer to stay warm.
Charcoal warmers were popular before disposable heat packs and battery-operated warmers became available. They were a great invention for people who spent a lot of time outdoors in cold weather.
The hand warmer was not only for keeping hands warm but also for giving comfort. You grabbed a charcoal stick, placed it in the metal box with felt inside, and then put it in your pocket. The heat would radiate from it, enough to warm the hands, and somehow make the otherwise chilly winter days more bearable.
Even though it may seem old-fashioned now, the technology was very useful in this situation. A metal container was designed in a specific way, and charcoal sticks were burned and placed inside it. It was usual to have a soft material on the sides of the case to prevent direct contact with the heat while still allowing warmth to pass through. The charcoal lasted a long time and gave off heat for hours. Also, the ventilation at the back of the case didn't make the charcoal go out quickly.
