The Unsung Heroes of NYC Film Industry: The Myton MTE-H5 Production Hamper
If you’ve spent any time walking the streets of New York City, you’ve undoubtedly passed by them: large, plastic carts being wheel out of production trucks or parked outside buildings where film crews are working. These ubiquitous containers—known in the industry as “hampers,” are the unsung heroes of New York’s thriving film industry.
What Are Those Wheeled Containers on NYC Film Sets?
The carts you’re seeing are most likely Myton Production Hamper Carts (also known by their model number MTE-H5s), manufactured by a company few New Yorkers have heard of but whose products are fundamental to the city’s film and television production infrastructure.
These sturdy, mobile containers serve as the backbone of film set logistics, transporting essential equipment from lighting rigs and cables to grip hardware and set dressing materials. The distinctive wheeled containers can be spotted throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens wherever film production is happening.
The Florida Company Behind NYC’s Film Production
Surprisingly, these quintessentially New York objects are not manufactured in the five boroughs at all. Myton Industries, the company behind these workhorses, operates out of a small manufacturing company in Hallandale Beach, Florida, run by two NYC ex-pats.
Founded over fifty years ago by, Myton Industries has maintained a low profile while becoming indispensable to major NYC film production studios including Silvercup Studios, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Steiner Studios, and equipment rental houses across the tri-state area.
Why Film Production Crews Rely on Myton Containers
The Myton MTE-H5 container’s design has become so integral to New York film production that the trucks used by studios are specifically built around their dimensions. Their durability, mobility, and standardized sizing make them perfect for the fast-paced, equipment-heavy demands of film production.
A Rainbow of Colors with a Purpose
One of the most distinctive features of Myton MTE-H5 containers is that they come in 14 different colors. This isn’t just for aesthetic appeal—it serves a crucial practical purpose on busy film sets. Each production team or department is assigned their own color, making their containers instantly recognizable in the organized chaos of a set.
This color-coding system helps prevent the common problem of equipment “borrowing” between departments—a diplomatic way of saying it stops teams from stealing each other’s gear when time is tight and resources are scarce. When a gaffer spots someone wheeling away their blue container, they know immediately that their equipment is on the move.
Built to Last: American Manufacturing at Work
The impressive durability of these containers isn’t accidental. Myton Industries manufactures them in America using a rotational molding process with 100% recyclable materials. This commitment to quality construction means that a single Myton container often remains in service for 20 years or more—a remarkable lifespan in an industry that puts its equipment through punishing conditions.
If These Containers Could Talk
Consider this: a single Myton container that’s been in service for two decades has likely supported the production of hundreds of movies and television shows you’ve watched and loved. These silent workhorses have been present for some of the most iconic scenes filmed in New York City over the past half-century.
Imagine the stories these containers could tell if they could speak—of Oscar-winning performances they witnessed from the sidelines, of famous directors pacing nearby, of night shoots in the pouring rain, and of the countless crew members who’ve depended on them day after day, production after production.
These containers have probably held equipment for everything from major blockbusters to indie darlings, from long-running television series to one-day commercial shoots. They represent the unseen infrastructure that makes the magic of filmmaking possible.
The Identity Crisis of the Film Industry Hamper
Despite their ubiquity on film sets, these containers suffer from an identity crisis. Ask ten different film crew members what to call them, and you might get ten different answers: production hampers, hamper carts, grip carts, grip trucks, set hampers, or those blue boxes full or my stuff. This can make finding them difficult even though their true superpower is their endless customizability to meet the needs of your teams exacting needs.
How to Get Your Own Myton Production Hamper
For production companies, independent filmmakers, or those looking to incorporate these industrial classics into their operations, Myton Industries sells their MTE-H4 containers directly through their website with endless options to fit your needs.
While primarily designed for film production, these versatile containers have found use in other industries requiring mobile, durable storage solutions, from event production to warehouse operations.
Hidden in Plain Sight
The story of the Myton MTE-H5 container exemplifies how specialized industrial products can become integral to a city’s cultural identity while remaining anonymous to the general public. Next time you’re walking past a film set in New York City, take a moment to notice these essential workhorses of the industry—now you know their name, their origin, and their importance to bringing New York stories to screens around the world.
For film crews, equipment managers, and production coordinators looking to source these essential containers for your next production, the Myton MTE-H5 production hamper remains the industry standard for New York City film sets.