What's this? Ideas wanted

[martinka]

I've had this about 35 years, given to me by an old lady when I moved into the flat she was vacating. Eveyr few years I pick it up to clean it and wonder what it is.

For years I assumed it was for letters, until I found out it was too small for standard letter size and even if they fit it would only take a couple. It's all brass, the compartment at the back is about 85mmx85mm and it is 130mm tall. The bottom is inscribed n.v. Bosma & Florack with A'dam below. Bosma & Florack appear to be from Amsterdam, but that's as much as I can find out.

edit: It says Hartwool on the base at the front.

Martin.

 

[Graham Orm]

Looks like a conventional microsoft keyboard with some brass ornament in front of it :lol:




Some sort of desk ornament connected to the wool trade? Bosma & Florack will be the makers of the ornament is my guess, nothing to do with the purpose of it. Could there be something that goes in the slot at the back. Some sort of stationery set?

 

[Chrispy]

My guess would be a menu /price list holder for a posh hotel or shipping company

 

[Flynnwood]

From The John Dickinson Lion Brand envelope catalogue for March 1961:

Old postal envelopes were 3¼" x 6" or 3⅛" x 5⅜".

Your initial thoughts might be correct.

 

[AndyT]

I like a nice guessing game!

It's decorative and designed to stand on a desk to hold something small and thin. I would think the company ID is unlikely to help and that it was made as a promotional gift.

Maybe it was to hold long thin wooden 'spills' used for lighting open fires or to get a light from a fire for your pipe or cigarette.

 

[ChrisR]

Andy T, was there first, as I was thinking along the lines of a holder for oil lamp lighting tapers.

Chris R.

 

[jpt]

My mother has one just like it as said it is for holding tapers.

john

 

[martinka]

Thanks all, another mystery solved.

Martin.