Mystery Box ---Solved--- Mystery Box #2 ???

[Fryy]

Found this box in my mother in laws attic. It's 5" x 5" square with a worn circle on top. Thought that would be an odd place for a handle. Any ideas? Age?

 

[Tony in SC]

Re: Mystery Box

Looks like a turn of the century capacitor box for a telephone. Tony

 

[mellowcheddar]

Re: Mystery Box

Maybe it had a knob instead of a handle.

 

[wildrider]

Re: Mystery Box

Looks like a turn of the century capacitor box for a telephone. Tony

I'm pretty sure Tony is right.

Good call.

w

 

[cosmic]

Re: Mystery Box

Possible humidor for pipe tobacco and cigars..

 

[bradgny]

Re: Mystery Box

Possibly some sort of music box .Could have had a dancer spinning on top .the keyhole for winding the mech.

 

[Fryy]

Re: Mystery Box

No marks on it anywhere. I think it's too small for cigars. No screw holes inside for music box or phone parts. Where's PBK?

 

[Fryy]

Re: Mystery Box

And I cant figure why it needs a key lock...

 

[ballbuster]

Re: Mystery Box

It looks like a lockable "Tea Chest". At one time tea was a very valuable commodity. It was often kept in lock boxes in the home to prevent theft. The dovetail work and construction appear to be hand done. Very nice box. I'm guessing but I say dates from the early 1800's.

Try this site http://www.salleaantiques.com/tea_caddies.html


Jim

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

Re: Mystery Box

i was just at an antique store that had a magneto to fit that box...early ma bell. this mag was mounted on a piece of oak that would fit that box...
there are four screw holes in the lid...something was fastened there...the magneto i looked at did not have the four screw holes? maybe insulation to prevent dust entering the magneto?

 

[NGE]

Re: Mystery Box

I would just take the whole tea box, if I wanted in it so bad I say it was granny's treasure chest.......NGE

 

[watercolor]

Re: Mystery Box

There's been some really good answers here so far but I'm leaning toward Tony's ID.



Neat box though!

 

[mojjax]

Re: Mystery Box

It might be a container for a Quack Medical Device

 

[wildrider]

Re: Mystery Box

Another Pic
Western Electric were early wooden phone makers.

Could also be American Telephone and Telegraph (ATT).

This pic depects one kind of transmitter attachment, not like the one in the original photo.

 

[mojjax]

Re: Mystery Box

And I cant figure why it needs a key lock...

Yes, the fact that it locks ... bugs me . Ive never seen an old phone that had a lock-box . I don't think they had to worry about wire-taps back in those days ?

 

[watercolor]

Re: Mystery Box

And I cant figure why it needs a key lock...

Yes, the fact that it locks ... bugs me . Ive never seen an old phone that had a lock-box . I don't think they had to worry about wire-taps back in those days ?

Probably to keep it from "spilling it's guts" when the kids raced to the phone to listen in on the "party line"

 

[Fryy]

Re: Mystery Box

Here's a thought. What if a guy working at the box phone plant ask his boss for a box unfinished so he could use it at home. Then put a lock on it and gave it to his wife for Christmas. Stranger things could happen. I mean this box has darn near the same profile.

 

[wildrider]

Re: Mystery Box

It's not a lock as you would think as a lock
It had a screw that went through it that had a latch attachment on the inside of the box to keep the "guts" inside.

 

[Fryy]

Re: Mystery Box #2

Tony, Wild rider,
Nice job. My wife is amazed! How about another mystery box challenge?
This one is 8" wide, 2.5" deep and just less than 2" high on inside when closed.
My first thought was a cigar box. There is a push button to open. Or could be specialty tool box.
Happy New Year!

 

[wildrider]

Tony, Wild rider,
Nice job. My wife is amazed! How about another mystery box challenge?
This one is 8" wide, 2.5" deep and just less than 2" high on inside when closed.
My first thought was a cigar box. There is a push button to open. Or could be specialty tool box.
Happy New Year!

Well, I can say I've seen the telephones, but I haven't seen a box like that.
Maybe someone else can jump in and ID it for you.

wildrider