thing?

[mechgirl]

very small case or large locket?

Found this and picked it up. It was all rolled up, thought it was a crushed piece of copper pipe, got back to the house, washed it, looked closer and carefully unrolled it to find ? it is hinged and has a small clasp. inside looks like two clips. there is a very small catch under the clasp, that would fit together if the whole thing weren't bent up. I see copper but also see a small silver-ish circular spot where maybe rubbed off or something else? The edges all around are curved in a little but neither side is any thicker than a penny, it would still be very thin even if closed all the way. doesn't seem like much space for anything to be stored inside. Just noticed in the first picture that there are lines, a design.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Maybe it was an aspirin tin or a little pill box.

 

[mechgirl]

see the lines, and a design (a flower?) .

 

[HuntinDog]

Business or calling card holder

 

[mechgirl]

It's only 1 inch by 2 inches and only about as thick as a penny if it could close all the way.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

This will be a difficult one to I.D. but you never know someone might know it immediately.And yes I see the design.But you have given a lot of good pictures and dimensions hopefully we can figure it out for you.

 

[Anduril]

Total guess:
Maybe an antique pencil lead case, or a needle case?

 

[relicmeister]

Maybe for hiding away folded emergency $20
Bill

 

[rick67]

I found something similar last fall and about the same size. It was made by Tiffanys as a picture holder/pill box. Yours is a little thinner.

 

[tamrock]

That design on it looks a little Art Deco to me, so maybe it's something from the 1920? I think rick67 is on the right track of what it was used for.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Maybe to hold postage stamps?

 

[tamrock]

Maybe something to hold anything that will fit inside of it and still be able to close the lid.

 

[coinman123]

You IDed it, it certainly is a thing! I don't know why you need to put the question mark after thing when that is what it clearly is! LOL


Kidding aside, I agree it is some type of tin!

 

[BullBat]

With the small dimensions, it might be an old cigarette paper case. Some shown in a Google search had a penny in the shot and they look close.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I wonder if it could also be a book clasp the hanger looking part might have hooked over a knob on book cover.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

paper money clip...?
The rolled inside edges imply possibly it had another mated piece, a second half...??

 

[mechgirl]

I thought about it maybe being a needle case too, you could clip in the paper that holds the needles?

 

[mechgirl]

money clip was one of my guesses also. I think it is the whole piece, when folded at the hinge it looks like the little catch fits together and then the clasp folds down and should hold the two sides together and the edges should meet up. It doesn't even look like there is a place for a chain to hook on like a compact purse.

 

[mechgirl]

ok here is another pic with some of suggestions given. how big are cigarette papers? 2 postage stamps fit the dimensions almost exactly. a paper bill folded in 6ths doesn't fit unless I fold it in half the again and then it might hold two and close tightly (the metal is too crinkled to tell for sure). and the needles would fit well stored in both sides but kind of awkward getting them under the clips.

 

[Bruce R]

How about a tie-clasp ?