This well-known take-out food container was originally designed for?

The paperboard oyster pail was invented at a time when fresh oysters were more popular, more plentiful, and less expensive than they are at present (Early patents date to 1890, 1894 and 1908). Since shucking oysters takes some amount of skill and can be difficult and dangerous, it was common to have the oyster seller open the oysters so they could be taken home for use in cooked dishes. The oyster pail provided an inexpensive and sanitary way to accomplish this. In the mid-20th century, overfishing of oysters left manufacturers with a significant number of unsold oyster pails. However, in the US after World War II, there was a huge increase in sales of prepared foods that could be purchased from restaurants, and heated or finished at home. Chinese food proved to be a popular choice, since it was tasty, unusual, fairly inexpensive and traveled well. The oyster pail was quickly adopted for "Chinese takeout".