Army Matchbox Cover?

[mpostma]

Found this near a logging camp and old farm in Northern Michigan.
It is about 2 3/8" x 1 9/16" x 11/16". On the edge is the name "American Military Novelty Co., Grand Haven, Mich"
I can see a round patent mark on the edge, can just make out "patent".
Since it says "Strike for Liberty" I am guessing a matchbox cover.
I believe it is brass, because of the color, and the reading on my Quattro when I found it. It was about 10" down.

Called Grand Haven's library and museum, neither had any information on the company.

Anyone else find one of these, ever?
Thanks,

[Monty]

I'd have to venture a definate maybe! M nty

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here is a watch fob on e-Bay from the American Military Novelty Co., and it is World War I.
http://cgi.ebay.es/WW-1-GOOD-LUCK-ME...QQcmdZViewItem

[curbdiggercarl57]

Seen some, never dug one. Does look like a wooden matchbox holder, it would slip around the box. Love the military stuff!
CurbdiggerCarl

[Bigcypresshunter]

Interesting little squares on the Liberty side. Crossed sabres, crossed rifles, a bomb, a medical insignia, crossed flags? ... Could we get a larger pic?

It looks like it says PATENT APPLIED in the circle. I wish we could read the word above patent. Try a pencil etching (or whatever its called)

Very nice possible WWI find.

[mpostma]

Interesting little squares on the Liberty side. Crossed sabres, crossed rifles, a bomb, a medical insignia, crossed flags? ... Could we get a larger pic?

It looks like it says PATENT APPLIED in the circle. I wish we could read the word above patent. Try a pencil etching (or whatever its called)

Very nice possible WWI find.

Thanks for the interest. I have a sign shop and have tried to get a good detail rubbing of the the patent circle. Cannot seem to get any more detail.
My guess on the little square was that they signified the different branches of the army. I will attach a larger pic of that side.
Thanks
mpostma

[nhbenz]

Neat little box. Correct about the different branches of the Army: Cavalry, Medical Corp.,Signal Corp., Infantry, Artillery, Engineer Corp., Ordnance, and Quarter Master corp.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Neat little box. Correct about the different branches of the Army: Cavalry, Medical Corp.,Signal Corp., Infantry, Artillery, Engineer Corp., Ordnance, and Quarter Master corp.

Ah OK. Thats what it is. Do you think its WWI?

[mpostma]

Several things point to WW1 I guess. 1. The other artifact from Ebay from that company was a WW1 fob. 2. I was told by an archivist a little while ago that by WWII soldiers were using lighters, so matchbox holders or match safes were nearly obsolete.

When did Zippo lighters come into use?

Have to admit, I like the idea of a WWI relic more that a WWII, but I try not to let wishful thinking get in the way of finding the actual age of something.

Thanks,
Mpostma

[mpostma]

I just looked up Zippo history and the following is directly from their website.

"World War II had a profound effect on Zippo. Upon America’s entry in the war, Zippo ceased production of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated all manufacturing to the U.S. military. The military initiative led to the production of the steel-case Zippo with black “crackle” finish. The fact that millions of American military personnel carried the lighter into battle was a significant catalyst in establishing Zippo as an icon of America throughout the world. Supplying the military market resulted in full production for the plant. This enabled Zippo to be strong financially and made it a viable company. "

Maybe it is WWI

Mpostma

[ZeroCool]

Matches were much more common in WWI, obviously, although present in WW2. Patent search anyone?

FYI for fun:

THREE ON A MATCH -- : Third on a match. Meaning: bad luck. Origin: possibly WWI. A sniper would see a match, take aim at the second soldier lighting up, and pick off the third. People are superstitious about the number three anyway: "All good things come in threes. People still believe that good or bad luck may follow someone three times in a row. The word bad may substitute for good. Things (death, luck, trouble, misfortune, murders, disasters) come in threes is a variant of the proverb. First attested in the United States in 1927..."

[nhbenz]

Neat little box. Correct about the different branches of the Army: Cavalry, Medical Corp.,Signal Corp., Infantry, Artillery, Engineer Corp., Ordnance, and Quarter Master corp.

Ah OK. Thats what it is. Do you think its WWI?

Very possibly. At the very least I feel sure its pre-WWII, since there is no representation of the Army Air Corp. or Armored divisions (except that the Cavalry essentially became the Armored division). Although stylistically I'd guess 1920's.