4 replies to this topic

[Mr. M]

I picked this up today, random find in a tony antique gift store, only $45. I collect wood boxes of exceptional construction, must be old and have fine construction. This one was dovetailed and well made. No cigar boxes or recipe boxes. Many finds are old machine tool or industrial parts boxes. Not sure what I am going to do with this one, but posted here because it look like a Hoffman type, it is not, slot car box. Interesting find for sure.

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[Bill from NH]

Nice box! Is it some type of mahogany? I like the morticed top clasp. Is it keyed? Do you refinish your boxes, or leave them as you found them? In the photos, this one looks dry, if it ever had an exterior finish. I don't collect boxes, but I still have the wooden one my Unimat lathe came in during 1970.

[Mr. M]

Not sure of the wood. It is keyed, but the clasp has been cut through. I leave them like I found them, just take off the dirt. It has a finish, real light, maybe oiled. It is heavy for its size, so the wood is dense. No markings of any kind.

[Bill from NH]

That handle looks strong too. Perhaps it once carried a heavy load. If those narrow pin dovetails were hand-cut, they required a lot of work & time.

[Mr. M]

A lot of times boxes like this had some kind of industrial fixture in it. Odd here that there are no markings, so it may be general purpose of some kind. It really is a nice piece.