I wonder if any of our hugely knowledgeable forumites might help identify this box? It was given me many years back by the proverbial “bloke down t’ the local” who then, sadly, disappeared off the radar, not to be seen again. I would have to suppose that he is no longer with us by now (Blue Skies, mate).
Any road, this is a silver sheet covered box, obviously adorned with RAF logo. Recalling the various stories, I reckon it must have come from his father, a long serving NCO. One can see in the photos here that it is well worn and dented. The interior is lined with wood, and I have the suspicion that this might be cedar (from the smell and colour). The box measures appx. 11cm x 8.5cm x 5cm.
[ATTACH]171878[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]171879[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]171880[/ATTACH]
The only markings I can find anywhere on the item are shown in the scan photo. I suspect these are silver hallmarks. There seems to be a Lion Passant (England) next to an ‘M’. The other two marks I cannot make out. Could this identify ‘1947’ as the year?
Can anyone shed any more light on this interesting box? I have always wondered what it might be, what significance it had on issue, and such like.
Cheers
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th April 2009 at 22:12
Ah, good detective work there!
Regarding size, I reckon in inches the box is roughly 4 1/2 in. by 3 1/2 in. by 2 inches. It certainly could have fitted cigarettes, or such like.
By: Jon H - 7th April 2009 at 15:54
Well having blown up the picture to get a better look and trawled the internet have had an educated guess at deciphering the lower row of 4 stamps –
1st – Manufacturer’s stamp and will come back to later
2nd – Looks like an Anchor which would mean the Birmingham assay office
3rd – Lion indicating the silver content which in this case is Sterling .925
4th – if Birmingham makes the year 1936.
So if all the above is correct then looking through companies in that area the one that looks likely is W. Neale & Son Ltd – http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham6.html#M (about two thirds down on the right). In fact the more I look at the one on the box the more I am sure you can just see the top of the W and the N.
Or, I am completely wrong 😀
As for it purpose, what are the dimensions? Wondering if it was something like a cigar or cigarette box in the officers mess or similar.
Jon
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April 7, 2009 at 3:08 pm