like wendy said the receipt has nothing to do with the box !! i didn`t know they had money orders in the 20`s but guess they did !! the receipt was just that they had purchased one from their rural carrier, the carrier wrote the receipt, gave it to the person, and they then put it in the box for safekeeping as all people did back then !! i think thats what this box was used for,, keeping receipts, stamps,papers and such !! as to its original use,, it looks very similar to what surveyers transits came in !! you didn`t give size so not sure about that !! it has had many coats of paint/finish over the years !!