Help dating a baseball match box

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Posted By: zach

Hello all, I recently aquired the below baseball match box and was wondering about the date. From the picture I was guessing maybe the 1880s but i'm not really sure. The back of the box is included in the scan. The front says, For health, business, and pleasure use a truss. The reverse says, Man the pumps volunteers and depicts obviously some kind of pump but I don't know exactly off the top of my head. Thanks for any help in advance.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I think the matches are the clue to this being a modern product. As I recall, matches were very unsafe and volatile until the safety match was invented. The matches in the box look like modern matches.

Have you googled anything about the item?

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Posted By: jamie

check out this link:
http://users.ev1.net/~rmseditor/Matchbookhistory.html

if im reading it correctly, it doesnt look like this book couldve been produced before 1900 (and most likely much later)

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I know nothing of that particular matchbook, but a while ago, I purchased some matchbooks from the late 1880's at an antique store just because they looked interesting (they are not sports related at all). The 1890 matchbooks I have all have an "extinguishing" hole on the book to put out the matchbook. Also, the matches, themselves, are weaved string-like things with "pointed" ends. They really look nothing like your box. I hope that helps a little. Again i should wanr that I'm just comparing your box to a few 1890 boxes I own; I really am not an expert on this stuff!

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Posted By: Greg

To clerify a little on the style of the box, I have in my collection of old brewery advertising two similar style boxes, although more rectangular in shape, which date from 1895-1910. They too, to the best of my feable memory, have wooden matches in them. Also, I wouldn't simply date the box by the matches themselves, they could be modern replacements for the originals. That being said, is it old? I'm not familiar with this exact box, but it doesn't look like it has the age to it. I wouldn't negate it entirely though.

Greg

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Posted By: zach

Hey Greg I do not have the item in hand yet so I don't know how old it feels. I have researched it for hours and its like getting into baseball cards for the first time, there's a lot to learn. If anyone could give me the email of a matchbox specialist it would be highly appreciated. Thanks Edited to add that this item was bought from a person who doesn't deal with anything baseball related so I doubt the seller was trying to decieve anyone, not saying it is as old as it looks or modern but the seller labeled it as being vintage. Also, along with the match box came a cigar box from the turn of the century if that helps with anything.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

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Posted By: Max Weder

Zach, this is the only help I can give with your matchbox problem...



Max

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Posted By: Greg

I just looked at the match boxes. Both are very small, have the striker (both are white in color, not black, and both are very coarse material) on one end of the box and a slide drawer on the other end holding the matches. Both are jusr shy of two inches long on the rectangle. Both retain their original matches, which are barely twigs, much smaller than the matches on the baseball box. One set of matches were made in Italy and I assume they printed the overlying paper in the US for a small Rhode Island Brewer. Who knows...

For some reason, I'm failing miserably to add a pic here. If anyone has a suggestion on how to do it, I'll insert a pic.

Hope this helps. Again, I know nothing of the baseball box, but it doesn't have the same look to it as either of these boxes which I know are authentic.


Greg

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Zach, I think it is time you get out of the house. You are asking advise on dating matchboxes, there are prefectly nice girls out there to date. Although the matchbox is attractive I think I would try dating a girl.

Good Luck Zach

Lee

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Posted By: jay behrens

ROTFLMFAO!!!

Zach, listen to your elders

Jay

I've just reached Upper Lower Class. I am now officially a babe magnet for poor chicks.