What is this box?

Rich · 28-07-2008, 11:25 AM

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help, and identify this wooden box.

It measures 24" long by 12" wide by 10" high. The inside of the lid has a crown and "A.M. 1940" stencil painted on it. There are four corners of thick paper nailed to the lid but the instructions or inventory have been torn off.

I'm assuming it is military, but is it?
If so what does A.M. stand for?
Any ideas what it would have been supplied or stored in it?

Nothing important, I'm just curious. It was my Grandads, he used it as a tool box for forty-odd years (and still got his old tools in it!).
The back of the box has original grey paint but the lid and front have had spray paint applied.

Link to pics: DSCF4276 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! [www_flickr_com]

Many thanks,

Rich.

airborne medic · 28-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Probably Air Ministry and the year of manufacture as a 'fitter's tool box' or something similar.....

Philip,ABRG · 28-07-2008, 11:37 AM

A M is Air Ministry, maybe a compass box

spidge · 29-07-2008, 08:04 AM

How much for the hammer Rich?

GPRegt · 29-07-2008, 08:28 AM

Looks like a standard ground crew toolbox. You can see the bevel for a top tray, which has obviously disappeared over time.

Steve W.

Rich · 29-07-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidge

How much for the hammer Rich?

Wouldn't be worth the postage to Australia for a mucky old hammer would it Spidge? ;o)

There are three in the box, of varying lengths, weights and head shapes. I wondered for a moment if they were military issue too, but there are no markings on them?
Isnt there a joke along those lines, a tool kit that contains a variety of hammers, so you can hit a broken component in a number of different ways, to "teach it a lesson"!?
On the longest one the shaft is warped sideways so its a bit unwieldy..

Sorry I wouldn't want to part with them.

Another pic here, but I only photographed two of them.
DSCF4279 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Rich · 29-07-2008, 11:21 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone, I guessed the A.M. could be Air Ministry, but was not sure. I knew it could not be Armaments Ministry!

I might give it a careful clean up, at least get rid of the surface rust on the metal corner reinforcing pieces. It has that brass stay to hold the lid open so I will reconnect that.
Its a shame the paper documentation is missing from the lid, but no surprise really!

My Grandad was Army, not RAF, so I guess he may have got it from a military surplus place after the war.

Cheers,

Rich.

28-07-2008, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rich Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sheffield / Nottingham, UK Posts: 45	What is this box? Hello, I wonder if anyone can help, and identify this wooden box. It measures 24" long by 12" wide by 10" high. The inside of the lid has a crown and "A.M. 1940" stencil painted on it. There are four corners of thick paper nailed to the lid but the instructions or inventory have been torn off. I'm assuming it is military, but is it? If so what does A.M. stand for? Any ideas what it would have been supplied or stored in it? Nothing important, I'm just curious. It was my Grandads, he used it as a tool box for forty-odd years (and still got his old tools in it!). The back of the box has original grey paint but the lid and front have had spray paint applied. Link to pics: DSCF4276 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! [www_flickr_com] Many thanks, Rich.

29-07-2008, 08:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,044	How much for the hammer Rich? __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

29-07-2008, 08:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
GPRegt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 170	Looks like a standard ground crew toolbox. You can see the bevel for a top tray, which has obviously disappeared over time. Steve W. __________________ The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945 Assault Glider Trust The Last Drop:Operation Varsity 24-25 March 1945

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28-07-2008, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
airborne medic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 249	Probably Air Ministry and the year of manufacture as a 'fitter's tool box' or something similar.....

28-07-2008, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Philip,ABRG Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 778	A M is Air Ministry, maybe a compass box

29-07-2008, 11:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rich Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sheffield / Nottingham, UK Posts: 45	Thanks for the replies everyone, I guessed the A.M. could be Air Ministry, but was not sure. I knew it could not be Armaments Ministry! I might give it a careful clean up, at least get rid of the surface rust on the metal corner reinforcing pieces. It has that brass stay to hold the lid open so I will reconnect that. Its a shame the paper documentation is missing from the lid, but no surprise really! My Grandad was Army, not RAF, so I guess he may have got it from a military surplus place after the war. Cheers, Rich.

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