Mystery steel box

[bearded bloke]

I think that the heaviness of the box indicates that the pop out arms would cradle part of the contents of the box which the bottom of the box would counter-balance,my guess would be medical,probably from the bag of a GP.

[Tripmeup]

Could it be that it once contained the Oracle...?? Which has been stolen by the Dark Overlords?

... what do you mean this is not the tangentisation thread?

More seriously, could it be for some female type accoutrements...?

[Hazel at the Hill]

More seriously, could it be for some female type accoutrements...?

My mind is boggling But I suspect that I may have lead a sheltered life!

[Plot10]

My guess would be a cigar lighter. A quick google can't find exactly what you describe but something like this might serve the same function

late-Victorian silver double - Miller's Antiques & Collectables Price Guide

The bit on the top shown in the picture could correspond to the "pop-up" bit in your friend's when you open the lid

[weekendwellies]

hmmm, sounds like a tinder box to me.. they sometimes contained a candle which it sounds like could have fitted into the 'cigar' groove.

[veggiechicken]

Tinderboxes, flint and steel, tinder, striking light and fire at home
The question is - who would need an engraved metal tinderbox when MH suggests it may have been a 20th century item?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Could it be a hand warmer with the charcoal stick being slotted into the two supporting bits?

I'm thinking along the same lines but I'm a bit thrown by the intricacy of the hinges. We need a pic and when do we need it?? Yups tis now

[mothhawk]

Could it be a hand warmer with the charcoal stick being slotted into the two supporting bits?

Now that's a very good suggestion, but wouldn't there need to be air holes somewhere to keep it burning when the box is shut? Hmmm....

Those popup bits are puzzling me - as if I've seen something like that before. Why would they pop up - to present the person opening it with whatever was resting in there - I presume. But would the thing in the box remain in place when the lid was opened and the pop up bits popped? or the reverse, when the box was closed

But the box part revealed when you open the lid does not, itself, open, or at least we couldn't see how it would come apart, except for the long narrow lid bit that has a screw to undo, revealing the pencil shaped depression.

I think that the heaviness of the box indicates that the pop out arms would cradle part of the contents of the box which the bottom of the box would counter-balance,my guess would be medical, probably from the bag of a GP.

The arms could cradle a big syringe, with the needle over the (I suppose) flame in the pencil shaped depression bit - interesting thought....

I'm thinking along the same lines but I'm a bit thrown by the intricacy of the hinges. We need a pic and when do we need it?? Yups tis now

Working on it, AP, working on it - won't see her again till weekend, so watch this space!

[KittyColdNose]

One of the tips to keeping the charcoal going is to open it a couple of times, but they can last anything up to 8hrs

[Potstubsdustbins]

When you next see your friend check the box for any details i.e. maker etc as this will surely help.

Don't know about Edwardian hand/foot warmers but modern charcoal ones have no air venting as this would make the charcoal burn to quickly and produce to much heat.

Potty

[SarzWix]

Could a tinderbox be something that a survival type would carry into the wilderness? Needn't be an antique? Also, I was wondering if it could have carried detonators or something like that?

[Aberdeenplotter]

One of the tips to keeping the charcoal going is to open it a couple of times, but they can last anything up to 8hrs

I had a hand warmer which took a stick of carbon. Was brilliant when fishing. It was only 3" x 2"x ¼" all approx. Metal box lined with summat probably asbestos and covered in reddish /purplish velvet.