The Vault Hour — Public or Private
An hour in the archive vault — shared with whoever else booked, or bought out for your group alone.
Duration
1h
Scheduling
By time
Pricing
—
Party size
1+
An hour among what is not on display: pre-war bottling equipment, the advertising archive, prototypes that never reached a shelf, and the ledgers explaining why. The archivist opens cases and hands over what is safe to handle.
Booked publicly, you share the hour. Booked private, the vault is yours and the archivist follows whatever your group is interested in. Same room, genuinely different hour.
Take the private version if anyone in the group actually collects.
Before you arrive
Cotton gloves are provided and must be worn for handling. No food, drink or pens in the vault — pencils are on the table. Bags go in a locker at the door.
Things to consider
The vault is kept cool and dry for conservation; bring a layer. Step-free throughout.
Included
- Archivist-led vault access
- Handling of selected items
- Choice of public or private booking
Not included
- Photography of restricted items
- Merchandise
Frequently asked
What is the difference between public and private?
Public means a shared session on a fixed route. Private means the vault is closed to everyone else and the hour follows your questions. The price and the cancellation window differ accordingly.
Can I photograph the collection?
Most of it, yes. A few loaned items are marked and cannot be photographed — the archivist will point them out at the start.
Can I handle the items?
Selected ones, with the cotton gloves provided. The archivist decides what comes out of the case, and that varies by session.
Something not answered here? Ask us directly.