Author Topic: silver case...what is it?  (Read 2274 times)

marcylove

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silver case...what is it?
« on: November 21, 2010, 10:59:09 pm »
  ;D I got this silver case and I have no idea what it was used for... ???

As you can see, it's significantly smaller than a business card, but on the inside it has the tabs to hold something...Hubby is saying that something went across the tabs, like a bar, and held ladies cigarettes...but as an ex-smoker myself, there's no way I would be satisfied with small, dainty, fairy-sized cigarettes, and I have never seen cigarettes that size.

I think it's too thick to hold a single photograph, and wouldn't help by just holding one side of the photo...

On one of the tabs, it says 'sterling' followed by a mark that looks like a crown, or an arrow across...something. ..but it's confusing because I didn't think sterling silver was plated, I always thought something sterling was solid. :-\

The outside is obviously silver, but the inside looks like brass or gold...my first guess was copper but it has more of a yellow hue than pink.

 ???

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2010, 12:05:06 am »
Hmm... My first reaction was that it was a vinaigrette because they are about that size and gold washed on the inside. But it's not thick enough to hold a sponge inside. Can you get a photo of the hallmarks? It may be a holder for dance cards or calling cards.
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talesofthesevenseas

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2010, 12:13:44 am »
Here's a similar dance card holder, but not as pretty as yours:
http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina200.html

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mariok54

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2010, 12:33:17 am »
As Tales says, a clear pic of the marks would help. I can't quite work out the dimensions, is that card alongside some sort of loyalty card (credit card size?) ... if so, then a possibility might be a stamp case?

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2010, 12:54:16 am »
Scroll down on this page for a similar example of a card case:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=385147&page=21
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waywardangler

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2010, 01:29:14 am »
The maker's mark is a "W" with a big "C" and a small "o" and an arrow going through it for Webster Co.
http://www.925-1000.com/ax_webster.html  I am not sure what the object is but I think Tales is correct on being a calling card holder.  
« Last Edit: November 22, 2010, 01:31:42 am by waywardangler »

waywardangler

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2010, 01:45:11 am »
Here is a card case on ebay with a similar interior with the 2 "ears". http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360312354892
« Last Edit: November 22, 2010, 01:59:58 am by waywardangler »

sapphire

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2010, 07:00:44 am »
Marcy, what are the dimensions of you case?

Came across this interesting site....

http://www.thecardcaseforum.co.uk/welcome.html

And here's a bit on size......

"The cardinal rule was that cases for ladies were always larger than those for gentlemen: a standard lady's case measured about 75 x 100mm (3" x 4"), whilst a gentleman’s case was generally no larger than 48 x 88mm (2" x 3½")."
 

KC

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2010, 09:26:52 am »
Totally love the old card holders.  Unique that this one doesn't have a place for a chain! Which my first inclination was for a dance card.....




However, it was very proper and the "in" thing to have calling cards.......Which would fit nicely in a purse or a muff when calling on friends, acquaintances.  So leaning this way.....
« Last Edit: November 22, 2010, 09:29:52 am by KC »
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marcylove

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Re: silver case...what is it?
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2010, 06:22:15 pm »
Oh My Gosh!  Thank you for all the input people!   ;D 

Tales:  That must be exactly what it is

Wayward:  thanks for the hallmark identification!

Sapphire:  The dimensions are 1.5"x2.5"  and thanks for that site!  There are WONDERFUL examples there!...I may have just found my collecting niche!

 ;D