?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment

[cb87]

Hi all,

I know nothing at all about antiques and probably don't have one.

I've just moved into a new house and the owners (who were in their 70s) left some items lying around. I noticed one is considerably heavier than the others and it's silver in colour, and the bottom looks like chrome. It's a boot, about 5 inches in length, with a mouse sitting on top of the boot. As I turned it over, I noticed a screwable compartment (which was empty, to my disappointment!) and I could make out '...& A, England" on the underneath. I can't quite tell what the first initial was, it just looks like a dot.

Does anyone know whether this is anything special? It's pretty heavy, for it's size.

Many thanks!

[ghopper1924]

Please post a photo, cb!

[cb87]

Here you go!

[cb87]

Here is a photo of the boot's underside. I hope the reflections aren't too off-putting.

You can see the unscrewable compartment and also the ". & A, England"

[mart]

No idea but great hiding place for mad money !!

[KC]

How neat!!!!!!!!  Never seen one before....but like the compartment idea!

[cb87]

I was surprised to find it; the previous house owners left some ornaments on top of a door frame. I was getting them down today, to be taken to a charity shop but noticed that was really heavy, so decided to take a closer look. I was really hoping for a forgotten stash of money inside the compartment!

[mart]

Is it heavy enough for a door stop ?? Better be careful what you give away !!  What you may think is junk,,, may not be !!

[KC]

Mart, my first impression was a door stop as well.

[greenacres]

Yes, maybe it's a place to hide an extra key.

[cb87]

From what I've been able to find on places like Ebay, I now think the compartment is a match holder. It seems pretty strange though, being as it's screwable - not exactly easily accessible, should you need the contents quickly! Similar ones seem to be going for around £12-20, although some don't have the compartment.

[ghopper1924]

Around $20-$25 U.S. That sounds right.

[mart]

Matches must have been rare and expensive !!