Slat Sided Chest

[ScottMcIntire]

This Chest has been in my Oregon family for a long time. I've been told it was used on a stagecoach as a bread box. Not sure if I believe that.
The lid is opened by shoving a pencil in the hole to release the catch. The hinges are a eye and hook.
Anyone here ever see something like this and can you give me a clue as to what it was used for?

Thanks

[mart]

Stage coach,, no but cattle trail chuckwagon or covered wagon for settlers,, sure could have been !  What is the size of the box ?
Oil is used when baking bread and looks like something oily or greasy has sat on the bottom !  Did you get the possible use from your family ? What history do you know of it ?
Mmm,, is that metal banding I see on the interior ?

[KC]

Looks like metal banding to me Mart.

[mart]

Same to me KC !  KC ,, enlarge and take  a look at the screws ?? on the corners of the interior lining !!  They look strangely like Phillips screws !!  Can`t see them well enough to tell !!

[Rauville]

To me, it looks like a pretty typical "Delivery Box" that was used by commercial bakeries to deliver fresh baked bread to customers daily. I guess it could have been used on a stage coach in remote areas, but most date back to early to mid 20th century, and were carried by trucks or rail.

Here's an example on ebay (What a long address!) https://www.ebay.com/i/123908131861?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=123908131861&targetid=4580977766998583&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=403204665&mkgroupid=1238050308086972&rlsatarget=pla-4580977766998583&abcId=9300377&merchantid=51291&msclkid=e38f113bd97512fc7cb14eead920cda7

[mart]

Possible I guess but I have never heard of bread being  delivered by stagecoach !  Stagecoach went town to town !!  just seems unlikely !!   Could be days between towns !  Stale bread is not great !  I bake my own bread frequently and two days at the most for good  bread !!

If those screws are Phillips you are right Rauville !  That would date from 1930`s !

And another thought,, stagecoach era would be when most bread was baked at home !!  May have had bakeries in larger towns but stagecoach would not be needed to deliver it !!