Remember Charles Chips?
I have been posting brief histories of York County potato chip makers and fellow blogger Jim McClure has touched on them too. Jim took the subject to the York Daily Record online Exchange community forum, which has stirred up more chip discussion. One exchanger commented on the home-delivered Charles Chips. That brings up memories for my family.
When my children were growing up, the Charles Chips man stopped by our house regularly, bring a one pound tin of very fresh chips and picking up the empty tin. We kept it on top of the refrigerator, probably to save space as well as to keep short young people from overindulging. I remember them as being similar to Utz chips, my favorite.
My husband remembered helping a relative who had a Charles Chips route deliver to homes in Red Lion, including the day a tin escaped and rolled the whole way down East High Street from Main Street to the borough limits, scattering chips as it rolled.
Who made Charles Chips and what happened to them?
Charles Chips were made by Musser's Potato Chips in Mountville, Lancaster County, just across the Susquehanna River. Some sources say they started out in 1942, which coincides with most of the local brands origins in the 1930s and 1940s. My husband remembered them first being called Musser's Chips, but the name was changed, probably in the 1950s, to Charles Chips.
An internet search brings up innumerable hits on Charles Chips, but most are people remembering how good they were and lamenting that they are no more.
Even after they left Lancaster County, you could still get them for a while. Some people said they ordered them online from Vermont Country Store, but a visit to that site shows that they are no longer listed. The last retailer I could find was Cracker Barrel Restaurants, who sold them in their shops. I called the York one and they said they no longer have them and they too think the company is out of business.
A company called Charles Chips Enterprises, Inc. may still exist in New Jersey. They were involved in a copyright case for the name in 2005, but I couldn't find a website for them. If the name is ever relicensed to a chip maker, I hope they make a chip worthy of the name.
Click below for more on local chips:
Click here for info on Senft's potato chips.
Remember Charles Chips?
Utz to be sold to Snyder's of Hanover.
We had the Charles Chips home delivery in Arlington, Va. for many years before my parents sold their home in the mid-eighties. I saw a Charles Chips truck just a few months ago, but don't remember where in PA and was very surprised because I assumed they no longer were in business.
Thanks Jo. It would be nice if there is still a Charles Chips maker out there somewhere. If you see a truck again, flag them down.
June
Has there been any updates in regards to the information on the company itself?
I grew up in Louisville, Ky. I remember when I was growing up, a Charles Chips truck would come and deliver the tins of either pretzels or potato chips. In the 1980, you could still buy them in Kroger's stores.
Thanks Stephen. They must have been distributed over quite a wide area at one time. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find that anyone is making them now. They were really good chips.
No, I did extensive Google searching and it looks like the name is still owned but that no one is using on any chips at this point. I have had more hits on my Charles Chips post than any other subject I have included in my blog. Shows people just can't forget that good chip.
As a child growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, I fondly remember Charles Chips. They would magically appear in the brown mottled can every
two weeks or so. I would kidnap the can,
retire to the closet in my bedroom and overindulge to the point of delirium.
Although Lays and Wise chips are a distant
second, Charles Chips will always provide a comfort food memory
I raised my family on Charles Chips and Utz. I still love Utz, but there was just something about those Charles Chips. We kept the tin on top of the refrigerator. The kids couldn't reach it easily, but Mom and Dad could.
I remember visiting my aunt in Gastonia,North Carolina. Charles Chips was our special treat. It was delivered by truck with the logo, we took the famous tin to truck for a refill. You could also refill pretzels and buy Linden's cookies.
Thanks Doris. They certainly did cover quite a territory. I think we did get pretzels sometimes, but I don't remember our Charles Chips man carrying cookies. Maybe I was too obsessed with the chips to notice other products.
I was too obsessed with the chips to remember other products too. My Mom had them delivered when I was a kid growing up in Clearwater, Florida. We always looked forward to delivery day and when we spotted his truck would come in yelling that the "Charlie Chip man" was on his way. What a good memory!
They were the best! Our family had distribution rights, first in New Jersey and then California from the early 60's till the mid 90's. The manufacturer went out of business and a group from Florida, bought the name. they went under and a group from NJ bought the name. Do not think they are doing anything anymore. The product was no longer the same once the 2 plants in Mountville, PA and Calhoun, KY shut down. In the day, nothing compared to the quality and taste of Charles Chips!
Good to hear from you Steve. I did that blog post nearly a year ago, and it still gets the most hits each month. Seems like a lot of people out there are searching the internet for Charles Chips. Alas, in vain!
I just bought a Charles Chips tin from an estate sale in Sun City Center FL. I wanted to know more about it since I had never heard of it. I'm originally from WI and we didn't have that brand. Thanks so much for all of your comments! I remember the milkman but never heard of a chipman! This tin will have a prominant place in my kitchen along with my other treasures from the past! JoAnn
Thanks JoAnn. They chips were awesome--thin and kind of light, not too greasy as I remember. It didn't take my family long to go through a tin!
I rarely got the chips. The Charlie Chips man that came to my house sold cookies and candy and nuts as well. We would get two tins of cookies every other Wednesday. My favorite were the chocolate covered Grahams. They were only available on holidays. Bunnies for Easter and Wreaths at Christmas. As a special treat my mom would let me go to the truck and pick out a bag of candy....usually Swedish Fish. This was probably almost 30 years ago. I am 35 now and I was in elementary school.
Thanks Kerry. Brings back good memories. At least Stauffer's still makes chocolate stars at Christmas and chocolate bunnies at Easter. They are basically chocolate covered graham crackers--can't wait for Christmas.
I remember charles chips from grandmas house!! I've recently come across a origional tin from an old shed....does it hold any $ value?
So many people remember Charles Chips so fondly. It's too bad such a good chip went by the wayside. I have seen the tins at flea markets and antique malls. They are usually pretty reasonably priced. There are probably a lot around because the chips were so popular.
We lived in Pennsylvania in the 80's and had delivery from "The Charlie Chip Man" as we would say. We'd get chips, pretzels, cookies, and these things called pretzel perfects (chocolate with crunched up pretzels). Those were the days! I guess home delivery is a thing of the past. So glad we got to experience such a sweet part of history!
Thanks for sharing, Denise. Those chocolate and pretzel concoctions sound good. We just mostly got the chips. I've been amazed at the number of people that still fondly remember Charles Chips. I did the original blog post nearly a year and a half ago, and it is still number one just about every month with the most hits on my blog report.
i made those chips for 17years in moutville plant i was the fryer there ,i loved that job but everyone lost their jobs due to the mussers family addictions ,,they lost alot of good people some people were there for over thirty years its a shame because they had a great product ...sincerely gerald walton sr
Thanks for commenting, Gerald. I'm sure I had some of the chips you fried over your 17 years. You are right about making a great product--it's amazing how many people still miss Charles Chips.
some company named hillside bought old charlie out of jersey.. if anybody knows how to get their hands on this product hit me up please.. CHARLIE CHIPS & THREE STOOGES epicsodes now that old school.. st.pete fla....
I remember Charlie Chips my grandma use to have them when we visited her they were always fresh and kept in the can. I sitll have the original
can if anyone is interested in buying it let me know.
Thanks Susan--if anyone contacts me, I'll pass them along to you.