OK guys, here is a mystery for you!
I bought this box a while ago and believe it to be period, I say that because when I recieved it it has lacquer on the exterior which had turned golden with time, had become britle and flaked off all over. Also the sports eale was rusted onto the lis and corroded "in place".
The interios was lined with a green felt which was only in about 10% of it's original state, beneath the felt was a layer of German newspaper. The newspsper had the olf German type font and was crumbling and yellow from age.
This box was one of the first collectables that I bought and I decided to "fix it up". I might re-think that decision today but, what is done is done.
I removed the felt and paper, I removed the eagle and sanded the entire piece removing the lacquer and many scratches. I cleaned the rust off of the eagle and polished it. I then put it all back together and re-lacquered the whole thing. I have to say it looks pretty cool and WOW WHAT COOL TIGER-STRIPES EH?????

OK, here are my questions:
1) Has anyone else seen anything like this.

2) What are the "flipper-like" things on either side of the box??? They flip up as if to hold the box open??? The odd thing is that the one on the right flips toward the BACK of the box, whole the one on the left flips toward the FRONT of the box!!!What could the purpose of these be???

ANY help is much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Johnny

Lid:

Bottom:

Left side of the box: NOTE the "flipper"!!

Flipper in motion:

Flipper, "flipped"!

The first photo really shows the colors of the box best, as well as the grain and tiger stripes. The tiger stripes are SO clear you almost become confused as to which grain is which!!!
It has such a nice red color (I was told it was cherry???) MAN, I wish I could find an SA grip like this!!!!

Is it the right size to hold cigars ?

It looks like something that an official might have on his desk. It could be left open so people could take one of whatever was inside. (?)

Great refinishing job, too.

Dave

Dave,
Yes, it is just the right size to hold cigars, however I woulod have thought that a box for cigars would have some sort of "air-tight-seal" to maintain humidity...
Thanks for the input!
Johnny

Looks like NSRL (physical training league) related item....

Show off your sports awards ??

Mark

Mark,
Your guess is the same as mine, some type of box to display sports awards...

Well whatever it is, I have to agree with Dave, you did a superp job on the finish. Beautiful item!

the method of keeping the box open puzzles me. if you were proudly displaying awards, wouldn`t you want the box open fully?. rather than just `cracked` open.

still a lovely bit of wood though!!.

Thanks John!
Blue- I agere completely, it seems very odd to nake these "flippers" so that the box is just open a few inches...???
I don't get it either...

Johnny,

What a shame that nobody can figure out what your piece of junk is....send it to me and be rid of it....

Best regards,

HA! Hey Lou!
When I got it originally I paid $50 for it. The lacquer was so old and cracked that you could not see any of the grain or the tiger-striping through it. The eagle was all rusted and nasty.
It was a very pleasant suprise as I cleaned it up! In the ens I think it was a DEAL!

Ain't it funny....you can go out and spend thousands on something and sometimes not get as much enjoyment as this 'mystery' piece...Hm-m-m-m.... It does somewhat resemble the elusive personal box that Eva Braun kept her pantyhose in !!! Could be worth millions!!!!

Hey Johnny, can you post a full picture of the open box? I mean a picture where we can see the entire box opened. Thanks!

OK, guys, more pictures. SORRY about the sizes, my re-sizing program is giving me FITS!!! I may have to take more pics.

NOW, the wierd thing is that the "flipper on the left side is on the "lid" while the flipper on the right side (as shown) is on the bottom. I REALLY don;t understand WHY THE DIFFERENCE!!!
Check it out:

Right "flipper" AS PREVIOUSLY PICTURED

Left "flipper" on LID!

Again left flipper:

opening:

LIKE THIS???????

Or like this??????

So to clarify, we have a flipper on the the right which is attached to the bottom od the box, and one on the left which attaches to the lid.
Now you may have noticed that the wood of the left flipper does not match the box, that is because when I recieved the box, this flipper was missing. I know there was a flipper there originally (like the one on the other side of the box) because half of the original hinge was still there, not to mention the "cut out" space for it.
It is very obvious when opening and closing the box why the left flipper broke off, because every time you open the box, when you go to close it you have to reach over and fold the left flipper up into its place. If you do not, it dangles down and as you close the box it jars the hinge (I have done it myself!).
But why two flippers that don't really hold the box open? Why one on the lid and the other on the bottom? It was clearly VERY old when I got it and I 99% KNOW is period due to the old yellowed lacquer and period newspaper backing...
The thing that is SO confusing is that it was MADE this way. It is not an assemblage of scrap parts. Someone went to some effort to put this box together with these little wierd-ass flippers????????
Confuses the HELL out of me!

... maybe it was a Nazi´s wooden backgammon case

... opened ... but no flippers