Author Topic: the box  (Read 5508 times)

sugarcube5419

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the box
« on: May 27, 2013, 11:07:31 am »
half certain big wull will tell me to burn it, but i really like this box.  Outside of the obvious its old, what do you think of the edges and is that a common thing to do?

any ideas of how old?  hoping all pics will show

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2013, 11:10:33 am »
ok the edge pics were too much for one post so here they are

gg27

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Re: the box
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2013, 11:22:48 am »
Not sure that I want to wander into another "discussion" about joinery but I've always called these "butter box dovetails"  Out here it's pretty common for mid 20th C boxes.  GG

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2013, 11:25:12 am »
yeah i tried to wait out the controversy but that is what made me ask too....I think it adds to what is an ordinary box

ghopper1924

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Re: the box
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2013, 11:28:31 am »
I like this form of joinery, and "butter box" is a good name for it!

I've got a portable desk and a commodity box from the 1890s, both with this type of joinery.
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2013, 11:30:46 am »
me too--until this one I havent seen it--except on the previous posts made me curious about mine.  Would there be a reason for the four dots on the top?  more decoration?

gg27

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Re: the box
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2013, 11:32:42 am »
I don't know when they would have started using that type of joinery, but I would think late 19-early 20th C.  Out west here the only thing we really see them on is old butter boxes brought out here by dealers who shop at the auctions in the eastern US.  ;)  GG

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2013, 11:34:20 am »
so is butter box a really general broad term because this is huge--

gg27

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Re: the box
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2013, 11:40:28 am »
For me it's a generic term.  Whether it's right or not, I don't know.  What size is it?  I think I've seen that joinery on old rattan covered trunks that are stripped down, but that's the wrong shape.  Not sure what that would have been. 

fancypants

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Re: the box
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2013, 11:43:23 am »
Looks like an American (american made , that is) Dynamite box to me (1920's-1950's) with a pretty modern lock hasp screwed to it !
« Last Edit: May 27, 2013, 11:56:45 am by fancypants »
" Methinks me the 'mental' in sentimental .... "

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2013, 11:49:17 am »
wow=thats an interesting thought--

it is 27 1/2 inches length, 22 inches wide and 17 inches tall

no markings

gg27

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Re: the box
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2013, 11:58:09 am »
Looks like an American Dynamite box to me (1920's-1950's) with a pretty modern lock hasp screwed to it !

No kidding "WOW"  never thought of that! 

Sugarcube  What are you using it for?  Just curious.  GG

sugarcube5419

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Re: the box
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2013, 12:03:52 pm »
when I got it off craigs list from a lady who used it in an antique store for holding items it had a musty smell--I read somewhere to leave it outside for a few days and it seemed to do the trick, now it is lined all pretty with tissue paper, and i use it for storage and blankets--set things on top--its really not cookie cutter

wouldn't it be funny if it was used for ammunition at one time because it's got a killer girl look to it now

Rauville

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Re: the box
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2013, 12:24:16 pm »
The size of the box equates more to what maybe could have been for wooden matches...or almost anything that was shipped by railroad back then.
It's probably no surprise that those are referred to as "box joints".

(Or maybe even for a typewriter?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-1926-Wooden-Dovetailed-Crate-For-Remington-Typewriter-12-/261212509901?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd17a96cd#ht_2645wt_1182)
« Last Edit: May 27, 2013, 12:37:08 pm by Rauville »

gg27

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Re: the box
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2013, 12:34:18 pm »
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bold the whole thing.   Glad that it's being used for storage & not as firewood.   ;)  GG