Can you recall those days when during winter you had to go to school on foot even when the wind seemed to pierce through your wool coat? Perhaps, you were that child who would go out to play and play until it was time to come in; whether it was in building snow forts or ice skating on the pond while your fingers were almost frost bitten even with gloves on. For those of us who grew up in the ’50s, ’60s, or ’70s, the winter chill was something we simply dealt with—and for many, there was a special trick to staying warm: Next to it were a charcoal hand warmer.

Charcoal warmers were popular before disposable heat packs and battery operated warmers came into the market, and they were a great invention for anyone who would be spending a lot of time outside during the cold months of the year.

The hand warmer was not just about keeping the hands warm it was about providing comfort. You took a piece of charcoal, put it into the felt-lined metal container and put it into your pocket. The warmth would spread out from it, enough to warm the hands, and for some reason make the otherwise cold winter days not as bad.

Despite the fact that it seems quite outdated today, the technology was quite helpful in this regard. A piece of metal container was designed in a particular manner and charcoal sticks were burnt and inserted into it. It was also common to have a felt or some other material along the sides of the case to avoid the direct contact with the heat but at the same time letting the warmth through. The charcoal was not only long lasting and produced heat for hours but also the ventilation at the back of the case did not put the charcoal out quickly.

Consider it as a mini furnace for your hands – something that is useful, efficient and can be used time and again. This was an era when individuals did not want to dispose of items, and this is when the charcoal hand warmer was developed to be long lasting. It was a tool used generation after generation by the hands of the father, and by the hands of the mother, and held dear for its timelessness.

In those days hand warmers were not a luxury but a requirement in day to day life. It was somehow colder in winter and outdoor work didn’t cease in the cold of the season. If you found yourself the lucky owner of one of these hand warmers you could look forward to facing the cold with a bit more ease. No matter whether you were fishing, hunting or just going to a store, the charcoal hand warmer was in your pocket performing its task discreetly.

These warmers also helped our parents and grandparents at their long and cold working days at work. For those who can recall the time before the modern and efficient heating systems or the ones which were unreliable, these warmers were rather helpful.

One cannot help but have a smile in his or her face especially when they think of such tiny gadgets. They were a sign of readiness and stepping back to ensure that the other aspects in the life were well taken care of to make the big tasks easier to tackle. They were passed on; from generation to generation, from one pair of hands to another or borrowed from a friend in need of a warmer pair to protect his hands from the cold.

It’s comforting to have a charcoal hand warmer that is constantly emitting warmth and which you can be sure will last as long as you need it to in the middle of the winter. It’s a memory of strength, of creativity, and of people’s ability to maintain comfort even in the face of such discomfort.