✅ SOLVED Strange makeup box with skeleton key

[history hunter]

found this at a house tear down. Did anyone ever see something like this before?

 

[Silver Searcher]

That's weird it looks as if the key is fixed in, and not meant to come out is the band over the key fixed down.

SS

 

[kuger]

Pretty sure its a cigarette box

 

[DCMatt]

Pretty sure its a cigarette box

Or a pocket notepad holder...

DCMatt

 

[kuger]

Or a pocket notepad holder...

DCMatt

very well could be

 

[taz42o]

I dont think its really a key but the latch to open it, pull it out a bit and turn it. You would think something like that would have a patent.

 

[Archeodeb]

found this at a house tear down. Did anyone ever see something like this before?

I don't think it was for holding cigarettes, but for making them. It looks like an antique cigarette roller. The paper would be somehow inserted into that key-like cylinder, then after sprinkling in the required amount of tobacco, you would turn the key to wind the paper around the tobacco. You could store papers and tobacco in the box portion. Google "antique cigarette roller" and do an image search -- you will see a lot of similar looking machines.

 

[kuger]

I think you just nailed it!!

 

[history hunter]

Yes it is fixed down.

 

[Breezie]

I'm thinking it's a Victorian ladies compact with perfume holder. Of course, your perfume holder is missing, as well as the area that holds the holder.The pictures below show one similar to yours, and as you can see, it has a key-wind to remove the perfume holder. What are the dimensions of the full case as well as the inside? Interesting finds Breezie

 

[Archeodeb]

I'm thinking it's a Victorian ladies compact with perfume holder. Of course, your perfume holder is missing, as well as the area that holds the holder.The pictures below show one similar to yours, and as you can see, it has a key-wind to remove the perfume holder. What are the dimensions of the full case as well as the inside? Interesting finds Breezie

I still think it is a cigarette roller, but this perfume thing intrigues me. How does that work exactly? I have never heard of such a thing!

 

[taz42o]

You cant wind that key it has a tab . You can only turn it 180 degrees. Im pretty sure it made to flip the lid open.

 

[Archeodeb]

You cant wind that key it has a tab . You can only turn it 180 degrees. Im pretty sure it made to flip the lid open.

Possibly, but it could also deliberately be made to pull out for winding and then pushed back in to hold it in the non-use position. Think of old-fashioned wind-up watches.

 

[Breezie]

I still think it is a cigarette roller, but this perfume thing intrigues me. How does that work exactly? I have never heard of such a thing!

Deb, Look at the last pic I posted. You will see a long silver cylinder; this is what held the perfume. It fit in the top round opening, and the key-wind is what locked/unlocked it from that area.

Some Victorian compacts held as many as 5 items: powder, rouge, lipstick, perfume, and coins. The first one pictured below held loose powder, (the round disk rotated to keep it from spilling), lipstick and rouge. The 2nd one held rouge, loose powder, and coins. There are so many varieties of vintage compacts. Breezie

 

[kuger]

Great conversation ladies!!

 

[Breezie]

I dont think its really a key but the latch to open it, pull it out a bit and turn it. You would think something like that would have a patent.

Taz, I think you're right about the key as a latch to open the case. I'm also thinking it could have been a perfume holder on top of that area, and there may have been another key latch on the other end for that. It's really hard to tell from the pics, and we don't have any measurements. Breezie

 

[Archeodeb]

Great conversation ladies!!

How do you know I am a "lady"?

 

[Archeodeb]

Deb, Look at the last pic I posted. You will see a long silver cylinder; this is what held the perfume. It fit in the top round opening, and the key-wind is what locked/unlocked it from that area.

Some Victorian compacts held as many as 5 items: powder, rouge, lipstick, perfume, and coins. The first one pictured below held loose powder, (the round disk rotated to keep it from spilling), lipstick and rouge. The 2nd one held rouge, loose powder, and coins. There are so many varieties of vintage compacts. Breezie

View attachment 720744

View attachment 720745

I'm still not seeing it. The compacts are interesting, but they do not explain the original artifact. For example, if these things held so many cosmetics, why the large square space (original photos from OP) and not some of those tiny compartments in your other photos? I also do not see a "key-like" device on any of those. I'm still having trouble picturing why anyone would need a "key" to unlock their perfume as well.

 

[kuger]

How do you know I am a "lady"?

Well I knew a guy named Sue,but never a guy named Deb Then again some think I am an older woman seeking young men,and that is wrong on all counts....

 

[Archeodeb]

Well I knew a guy named Sue,but never a guy named Deb Then again some think I am an older woman seeking young men,and that is wrong on all counts....

Yeah, but it is Archeodeb, not Deb (as Breezie said).