Lipstick Tube, Maybe, UPDATED PHOTOS!

[wolcottdigger]

I found this today in a local park over four inches down.
I think it is a lipstick tube but I'm not sure. it seems quite
heavy and made of brass and has some floral designs
under the hard sandy stuff stuck to it. I think most lipstick
tubes are meant to be disposable today, I wonder if this
one was meant to be refilled because of the heavy construction
and designs on it. has anyone ever herd of refillable lipstick
tubes. What do you guys think is the best way to clean the
hard encrusted stuff off without damaging it.

UPDATE!
I got the top
off and cleaned it up a little, it was filled with mushy red lipstick.
here are some updated photos, there appear to be people in
oriental clothing standing under Chinese or Japanese style structure.
one appears to be a man with a fu manchu mustache the other
is harder to make out. there are also floral designs.
Joe

 

[jgas]

Re: Lipstick Tube, Maybe!

Yep that is for sure what it is. Cool ornate design. As far as cleaning them, I have used the peroxide method and a tooth bruch. But yours appears to have some copper disease or something. that crust might fall off with the rest of the design. I have never heard of them being refilled though either. But I suppose they might have. They sure are hard to get open after being in the ground for 60 or 70 years. Can you get any words off the flat end cap. That is usually where you might get the manufacturer or any other numbers that you can look up...Nice find though. I have found 4 or 5 of them. Wherever you found it, you are in the silver zone....Get back there and grab some up...Thanks for posting....jgas

 

[elle]

You are extremely lucky in finding a vintage lipstick holder...refillable maybe...1950's or earlier.
I would much rather find one of those than a coin.
If you clean it up well you might be able to sell on Ebay for a good price!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Yep.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I didnt know they were refillable.

 

[elle]

Good note...Bigcypresshunter.
There are lipstick holders that go way back...even to the 1920's.
These enable one to just put the lipstick in a fancy container and then store in your purse.
In 1955, Revlon came out with their first refillable lipsticks.
So, sometime in the 1950's, there were fancy brass or silver containers holding the actual lipsticks...that were refillable.
When done...one could buy the same color and insert it into this brass/silver casing.
Then there were lipsticks one could buy in fancy brass/silver cases that were not refillable.
Some of my lipsticks I still buy...like from Estee Lauder...are still made in beautiful brass tubes...and I feel awful throwing away these tubes when the product is gone.
I am not sure if Wolcottdigger's is a refillable...it could have been. But we do know the casing is vintage because of the ornate drawing on it.
The brass lipstick tubes I have from Chanel, etc, made in this century...do not have elaborate designs like that one.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Nice complete ID! Thanks

 

[wolcottdigger]

Thanks for the great info elle!
Joe

 

[traderoftreasures]

is that kissing kate's off of the movie holes?

 

[timekiller]

Can't tell what is on yours. But here is one I found awhile back that cleaned up purdy good.I'd guess 1920ish for this one.
They are neat little finds!

 

[elle]

What a beautiful piece!
Looks like a "Paris" theme going on. There is a waitress, a man painting, two people dancing...
I wish my lipsticks would tell a story!

 

[baylorhall]

Can't tell what is on yours. But here is one I found awhile back that cleaned up purdy good.I'd guess 1920ish for this one. They are neat little finds!

i found the same one. Haven't seen any others like it.

 

[DocBeav]

Here are two I found recently. Don't know much about either one.

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Yup lipstick tubes