Tin box

“ Many years ago, when your great-grandmothers were children, in many New England communities a cow’s horn, sawed across the top, and fitted with a wooden stopper, was used to hold the tinder, but later, the more stylish and luxurious tinder-box took its place. This box, made of tin, and somewhat larger and deeper than a 139good-sized blacking-box of to-day was fitted with an inside cover, a simple disk of tin with a ring of wire in the top for a handle, and was filled with a quantity of cotton or linen rags, which were set on fire with a brand from the hearth. ”

“ The first to make is the lamp house or box to hold the light. Our illustration shows the construction for an electric light, yet the same box may be used for gas or an oil lamp, provided the material is of metal. A tin box having dimensions somewhere near those given in the diagrammatic sketch may be secured from your local grocer, but if such a box is not found, one can be made from a piece of tin cut as shown in Fig. 1. When this metal is bent at right angles on the dotted lines it will form a box as shown in Fig. ”

“ One member of my company had some whiskey sent for his enjoyment, sealed up in a tin can; but when the box was nailed up a nail was driven into the can, so that the owner found only an empty can and a generally diffused odor of “departed spirits” pervading the entire contents of food and raiment which the box contained.
It was really vexing to have one’s knick-knacks and dainties overhauled by strangers under any circumstances, and all the more so when the box contained no proscribed commodity. ”

“ When you sketch you must have a proper box, and why not have one which is equally serviceable in the house? Those most commonly sold to amateurs are of tin, and they are various in size and construction, and not too expensive. ”

“ Contrive a six-sided box, six inches in diameter and ten deep, lined with tin or other polished surface, and with a double convex lens in the centre of one side. On the opposite side, exactly in its middle, cut out a hole to receive the face of a watch, with a little shelf outside to hold the case firmly.
Support the box in the centre on a hollow leg, which is watertight and is filled with water, to float a night-light, and let the leg fit into a stand to go on a table by the bed-side or on a shelf at the foot of the bed. ”

“ For this purpose tin cases are made, with straps to hold them from the shoulders, in which to keep the plants cool and fresh; but there is no need to wait for the possession of one of these. An ordinary box or basket will, if you have not very far to walk, serve equally well. You will also need a press, which can be simply a couple of boards about a foot long and six inches wide, with a good supply of blotting-paper between. The flowers are pressed by spreading them very carefully, to show their beauty to best advantage, between the blotting-paper, and then piling a few books on the boards. ”

“ For ordinary purposes the box should be about twelve or fourteen inches square, with a depth of about eighteen inches. A platform consisting of a piece of tin should then be procured. This should be just large enough to fit nicely to the outline of the interior of the box without catching. On two opposite sides of this piece of tin, and at the middle of each of those sides, a small strip of the same material should be wired, or soldered in the form of a loop, as shown in the separate diagram at (b) . These loops should be only large enough to admit the end of a shingle-nail. ”

“ First you must have the tinsmith remove the bottom of a new, inexpensive, tin kettle, one that has a lid to fit and will hold several quarts. Then in the bottom of a square wooden box, about as large as a small table, have a hole cut a trifle smaller than the bottom of the kettle. Knock out one side of the box, stand it bottom side up so that the round hole will be on top, place it in the position it is to occupy, and throw over it some kind of a cover which will reach to the floor and hide the box completely on all sides. ”

“ Each member of a party that I frequently camp with has a tin or wooden box in which fishing tackle, cartridges, tools, etc., are carried. When dinner is prepared a piece of spare canvas is laid upon the grass, the tin dishes and edibles are put upon this, then each man [Pg 49] brings his box to the particular corner of the cloth he selects, sits on the grass, crosses his legs, and has each his individual table in his own private box, the cover of which is large enough to hold a tin plate, tin cup, knife and fork, etc. ”

“ The side boxes (aa) have each a hole of four inches square in the centre of the top, into which is fitted a piece of tin pierced with small holes, and in its centre a hole of an inch in diameter, wherein is placed a - 90 - tube of tin of the same size, reaching nearly to the bottom of the Box, and supported by a shoulder resting upon the square tin, which is also perforated. ”

“ And by this arrangement alone, in one cracker (biscuit) bakery in the United States, consuming forty thousand tin boxes per month, forty men are now enabled to produce as large a product of boxes in a given time as formerly required fifty men; and, taken in connection with machinery, the labor of twenty-five men in the entire business has become equivalent to that of the fifty who until recently worked by other methods. And what has been thus affirmed of tin-plate might be equally affirmed of a great variety of other leading commodities ”

“ These temporary receptacles are, as may be easily imagined of various sizes and shapes, and are com [21] posed of various materials. On one side you may see a well and suitably constructed galvanized iron box, with handles and cover complete, on the other an old band box, cigar box, or tin saucepan. ”

“ Hardwick was a heavy-built man, but he was no match for the youth, who all his life had been used to hard labor, and whose muscles, consequently, were like steel. He struck Hal many times, but the youth squirmed and twisted, and suddenly hit him a crack between the eyes that made him see stars. ”

“ From the closet, which was damp and cold, he could hear the confused murmur of voices, but could not make out a word of what was being said. The murmur continued fully half an hour, and then all became as silent as the grave.
Hal was all but suffocated by the rude gag which had been forced into his mouth. All was dark, and his position was a painful one, not only mentally, but bodily as well.
What the rogues intended to do with him he did not know. If only he could free himself and get away! ”

“ The butchers, the bakers, the candlestick makers, the milliners, the druggists, the jewelers, the stationers, the grocers, and the dry goods firms, as well as all the others, are constantly sending boxes to your home. The shoe stores, and the book stores, and the toy stores, and ever so many others, are throwing boxes away just because nobody seems to realize what magic there lies in them for the children.
When Happy Thought, Nimblefingers, and Play first told me about boxcraft, I did not find any trouble in securing the kind of box that I needed for the toy-making. ”

“ She’s heavy. Reckon this man Gardner, who owns it, must have it full of scrap iron. Funny what stuff some people set values on, ain’t it?”
The partners repaired to the hallway where stood a big packing case, and David gasped with surprise when he saw the stenciled letters on the outside: ‘From Acme Mining Machinery Company, San Francisco. Handle with care.’
“Funny!” he exclaimed. “That’s the place where we bought our stuff from.”
“That so?” said Carruthers, and then brightening up with an idea, laughed, and said, “Say, it’s a piece of luck, that this box came from them some time, ain’t it? ”

“ Practically all of the large and successful box-making concerns are specializing in some particular line. For example, one large company is specializing on druggists’ pill and powder boxes. Another firm is making fine candy boxes of all kinds. Still another concern is making nothing except folding boxes. The specialty line seems to be “the thing” in these days, and one can easily understand why it would not pay a manufacturer in attempting to make every variety of paper boxes and folding boxes. ”

“ Round and oval boxes are often used for watches, rings, lockets, necklaces, etc., while long, oblong boxes are used for tie pins, fountain pens, chains, gold pencils, envelope openers, pen knives, dress pins, hair pins, etc. Square boxes are adapted to silver and gold belt buckles, ladies’ shoe buckles, match boxes, cigarette cases, mesh bags, etc. The progressive jeweler carries a wide assortment of fine paper boxes, of many different shapes and sizes, so that he may have a box suitable for any piece of jewelry, or novelty, sold. ”

“ Many set-up paper boxes, which are made for heavy usage, such as for holding hardware, tools, toys, glassware, etc., are wire stapled at the corners instead of having the corners strengthened with Kraft paper, or stay paper. Some box manufacturers are making all of their set-up boxes with wire-stapled corners. ”

“ For certain articles, like mattresses, for example, the dimensions of a corrugated box may be as great as 100 inches for acceptable freight shipment.
Some of the advantages of these large corrugated shipping containers over ordinary wooden boxes are: light weight, the prevention of breakage to contents, water and air-tight, easier to close and open and easier to handle by all concerned. On account of the corrugated container being firmly sealed with tape, the box is practically safe from freight robbers who find it an easy matter to “lift” the cover-boards of a wooden, nailed box. ”

“ With the aid of the pick we prized the stone up. A slot had obviously been cut for it in the rock. A shallow opening was revealed and at the bottom stood a black box.
It was of black leather, discoloured, but apparently in good condition, the corners bound with some dull metal which I took to be brass. It was about four feet long with a rounded lid studded with nails. Bard lifted up one of the lanterns whilst I, lying on my face, dropped an arm into the hole. My fingers closed on a handle at the side of the box. I heaved. The box was immensely heavy and I found that I could barely lift it. ”

“ CHAPTER VIII CUTTING AND CREASING FOLDING BOXES. ONE of the most important branches of the paper box industry is that devoted exclusively to the making of all kinds of folding boxes and cartons, and this branch of the business has been growing wonderfully during the last few decades. The manufacturers of folding boxes are in a class by themselves, and as a general rule, they have nothing to do with the making of set-up paper boxes, although some of the larger plants are producing both folding boxes and set-up boxes. ”

“ Many box-makers are specializing in fancy candy boxes. Their plants are equipped to handle this one line of product to the best advantage. By making a specialty of this line, a great deal of the work can be standardized in such a way that the blanks, wrappers, neck-strips, trimming paper, covering paper, extension bottoms, etc., can be cut to standard sizes. The operators, through working continually on the same styles and sizes of boxes, soon become very efficient, and are [83] capable of producing a larger output than would be the case in a plant that is not specializing on candy boxes. ”

“ Maybe you can suggest something else she’d rather have.”
“She’ll love it,” Pop said decisively. “She loves old things—antiques. And this sure looks old.”
“I think it’s old enough,” Richard Holt said. “Several hundred years, I’d guess. It was probably made originally to be used as a sort of home safe-deposit box.” His finger pressed one of the curlicues on the front of the box and the lid sprang open.
“Hey!” Sandy exclaimed admiringly. “A secret catch!”
“May I try it?” Bert asked. “Beautiful workmanship,” he muttered, as his fingers explored the front. ”

“ The box maker saves the pieces of cherry and black walnut, when old dies are broken up, and these pieces of wood are used again in building other dies.
Steel, iron and lead labor-saving furniture is also largely used in the construction of steel dies, and in many instances, series of small dies for drug cartons, etc., are entirely blanked out with labor-saving lead [126] or iron furniture. What is called “improved metal furniture” (lead) in the printing trade is very useful for the box maker. ”

“ It has been only during recent years that manufacturers, advertising men and salesmen have been giving closer attention to the selling power of high grade paper boxes. In days gone by the quality and appearance of paper boxes received little consideration. Some years ago, a plain, commonly-made box was considered good enough for the purpose, but not so in these days. In this age the average buyer would not be interested in a nationally-advertised product if it were packed in a mean-looking box, no matter how excellent the product may be. ”

“ The wood box made of old dry goods boxes should appeal strongly to the home. It can be kept by the stove or on the porch or in some convenient place to be reached, and to be filled by the man before he goes to his daily work. A lid will not only cover up the contents of the box, but it will serve as a comfortable seat to be used while preparing the meal.
[Pg 38] Materials:
1 packing box, 24” deep × 231⁄2” wide × 32” long. 1 pair 2” (butt) hinges with 5⁄8” screws to fasten on top. 1⁄4 lb. 8-penny nails to make box. Sandpaper and stain. Dimensions:
Body: 1 box 24” deep × 231⁄2” wide × 32” long. ”

“ You can use empty starch boxes such as Si throws on the woodpile, or cheese boxes, or even soap boxes, if they are not too large and heavy. You can fix partitions inside, and then nail perches on the outside under the entrances, then, last of all, you nail the cover on the box again and paint it. If you want a real fancy house, get some bark from a fallen tree and nail it on the outside with wire brads.”
“I’ll get the girls to help me and we’ll do it at once,” promised Norma eagerly. “You ask your husband to save some of those boxes for us, will you, Mrs. ”