Rock Island Vesta box promotional item, original or a reproduction?
The dimensions are - 2 3/16" x 1 3//8" x 3/8" tin box and I think with celluloid advertising panel.
On the side is written - The Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark N.J.

other side

side

I would say its original. A great piece.

regards,
bb

I agree with Buster, original and an excellent find.


You learn something every day. Vesta = The goddess Vesta, Roman diety of fire and the hearth. Vesta Case

Hello Buster and Lorne, thanks for your opinion. It is in very good condition which made me wonder about originality. I did read that the Whitehead & Hoag Co. closed business about 1965, this piece just may be a survivor.

Regards
Rick

Original.

Wonder what was in the box. Perhaps complementary soap?

Mike, the matches were in the box. I don't think they are original but are cut to fit the box.

Rick

Very good!
Makes perfect sense. Where is my cigar?

These were called match safes. Here's one I have advertising the Waltham Horological School

Hello Brian, that's a very nice one. I do like these items with the advertising.

Rick

Thanks Rick.

They're really nice items, and usually VERY expensive when found at antique stores or shows (at least when I find them).

Last one I saw that was watch related had an advertisment for a jeweler who sold Hampden watches, but they were asking $225 for the thing!

Needless to say, it was left where I found it.

Regards! Mark

Hello Mark, I get the expensive part, the asking price on this one wasn't that bad but so I made an offer I could live with and not offend the vendor. He said he had it in his collection for awhile and it was time for it to move on. So all was well.

Rick

WELL done!

Regard! Mark

Very Nice find!

I like it, Thanks for sharing.

Gary

Robert/Gary, thank you and you're welcome.

An "amuse bouche"- a small appetizer or more loosely translated - a small delight.
Some times it's just the small things in life that amuse us the most.

Regards
Rick

That is a special find , I keep an eye out for them , I find them called vesta's, with nice silver one's bringing 200 +

I've had these for a number of years now both are hallmarked and are sterling sliver, the smaller one is dated 1907 and made in Birmingham UK

Hi Rick , That is what I was talking about ! The silver one's are plentiful , the rock island is rare