Featured Information about this antique box

Thank you so much for all your input. I had looked at some antique writing boxes online, but most of those fold into a lectern of sorts which this one does not. It also doesn't have a spot for an inkwell, at least it doesn't seem so. But the secret compartment, as well as the upper compartment seem to be meant to store some kind of paper. You couldn't fit much of anything else in there. I like the idea of the grill holding a book open to a certain spot, I was curious what those grills were for but never really considered that.

I will post pictures of the release mechanism for the lower box and the secret compartment. To open the compartment in the lid, you turn the brass knob shown in the pic. When the compartment drops, it hits the smaller brass knob in the lower compartment. The knob in the lower compartment turns to release that little panel and expose the compartment underneath, although that one isn't secret by any means.

In the main latch, there are two knobs. The top knob is removable. I'm not sure it is supposed to be like this or if it's broken, but it makes sense as it would act as a key. That latch does not work so I'm not exactly sure of it's function.

 

Are there carrying handles we can’t see? I agree with mid-20th C. Birth. Looks like maybe made in English-ruled India at end of that period? No idea on purpose.

 

A captain's humidor?

 

Nope, no handles on this box. The first two pictures show the steps for releasing the secret compartment.

First remove the foot..

Then turn the latch.. it barely moves but you feel the compartment release.

View of the compartment open

Here's a shot of the lid springs. There is one on each side. They help to not only pop the latch but keep it from relatching until you push it down. They aren't made of brass of course, so you can see the corrosion. They hit an inset brass strip on the bottom on the lid so they slide smoothly while closing.

Here is the latch for the secret compartment

As requested, a shot of the top compartment latch. The rectangular brass piece in the middle slides into a cutout in the wood when you turn the knob

Here's a shot of the bottom compartment latch. Same idea. You can see the cutout the latch slides into in the spring picture.

Finally, here's a shot of the main latch with the "key", if that's what it is, removed.

 

Is there any obvious odor to it, such as a humidor might have?

 

Nope, no tobacco odor. Just wood. Turns out the key isn't a key at all. I disassembled the lock to find out why it wouldn't work, and found the broken piece inside. If the broken piece were attached to the knob you could not remove it. Gonna have to find someone with fine welding skills to fix this. The lock also is in desperate need of cleaning and lubrication (internally). After examining the internals of the lock closely, I determined it is a type of puzzle lock. You have to know an exact sequence of turning the knobs, in addition to moving them in and out, to open or close the lock. It is an 8 step sequence. I'll post pics of the lock internals soon, and once I get it fixed a video of how it opens.

 

Curioser and curioser.

 

I love a good mystery!

 

Members of A.com trying to solve the mystery of the wooden box...

 

Another piece of the puzzle. After disassembling the lock to fix it, it seems some parts of the the lock was made out of scrap sign pieces. I'm not exactly sure what kind of sign, but there is writing on it. One side also seems to have been chromed or painted. The cursive part says "Park Row", and the you see "NEW YORK" to the right hand side. Those are two separate parts, so the writing must have been repeated or there were multiple signs with the same lettering. There seems to be a number before Park row, maybe ending in 82 or 92. You also see a large 4 and 5 on the full pic, as well as a curved "LSE" on another part. I checked google and Park Row is a street in Manhattan, in the financial district. I also attached a few pics showing the lock internals as well as the broken part I need to get welded.

 

Hi,
You need someone who can silver soldier that. I had a very thin key that needed it. It was only 5 or 10 bucks to have it fixed and it has been used a lot but still is fine. Park Row was a large manufacturing section of old NY it is near City Hall.
greg

 

Park Row still exists, directly across the park from city hall to the southeast. It was the home of the the World Building and Richard Morris Hunt's building that some called the first skyscraper. Both are sadly now gone. There are still some historic buildings there, however.

 

I'm loving this more & more but pretty much as mystified as ever. This was not just utilitarian, it was a piece of furniture. It sat in the office of someone who would have had a very nice office. It held cash or something with cash value. Thought I might be on track when the term 'banker's box' popped into my head, but it seems to be fairly synonymous with cash box, sometimes metal painted to look like wood. Did find this one:
http://www.usedcowichan.com/ReportSelectUsedAdPhoto2?used_ad_id=29239677&position=2&hb=3

Without the springs, looks like the lid of the lower compartment would be difficult raise. Is a key required for the main lock? Everything about it strikes me as intended to keep people out rather than simple storage.

Wish I could see it in person to see how all the locks & latches work.

 

Turns out that what I thought was a key was actually not supposed to be removable. Someone had turned it too hard and broke the metal arm off of it. After that it was possible to just slide it out. I just dropped off the part to get it repaired. Once I get it back I'll reassemble it and post a video of how it opens. I'm excited to try it!

And yes, without those springs the secret compartment lid would be very hard to open, and would close too easily.

 

I'll be excited to see it. Have more than once been given the final push to buy a cameo by an interesting convertible setting. Love trying to figure out what something does/how it works, but this is sure a stumper.

 

Hey guys, sorry for the delay but it took him longer to fix the key than expected. We also had to modify the knob a bit to relieve some fitment issues. The lock works great now! Took a video of the lock in action and I'm waiting on it to upload to YouTube. I'll post it this afternoon when I get off work.

 

As promised, here's the video. Enjoy!

 

That's great, Craig!

 

Hi,
What a wonderful mystery box.
greg

 

I like your idea, Bronwen, that this box is some form of portable cash register, and quite possibly used for paying staff or crew. The coins may have been kept in some sort of bag or pouch to stop it all rattling and together and the grills to keep any paper from blowing away. Perhaps the fact that the shield or whatever it is called on the lid isn't engraved may indicate that the box was used by more than one person so technically didn't belong to an individual, just the company or business??