Thread: Razor coffin to box question

Anyone have any ideas when Sheffield boxes changed from coffin shaped to rectangle shaped?

I am going to give one away and need to establish criteria.

Thanks.

I don't know....but I love the coffin cases!!!! Here are some select paired "doubles"....

Those are cool antiquehoosier. Sorry I don't know the answer to the posters question. Alex T might chime in.
Mike

Yeah, me too.

I have a Greaves single razor coffin with no mention of Sheaf Works on it. Just Wm Greaves and son.

I am either going to give it away or try to finagle a Greaves that fits on the cheap.

I have been examining the same question in my head for some time and I, too, would be interested to know more about this.

However, since I have a fair knowledge of paper making, I can speculate on how this would have had some bearing on the way the coffin boxes were constructed and how that would have dictated the shape change.

Paper is made from an aquious mixture of pulped fibers... originally cotton and linen fibers, but later replaced by pulped wood fibers when there weren't enough cloth rags to adequately supply the paper industry. That liquid mix is dipped from a tank onto screens and allowed to dry, thus producing sheets of paper (or board if the coating is thick enough). Of course, the liquid material can also be worked in a thicker form (like paper maché) and poured into moulds or applied over forms, etc.

In particular, the earlier coffin-shaped boxes were made with a moulded pasteboard process. By the process of inspection I believe that the paste mixture was poured into a (slightly tapered) mould and then rammed tight with (I presume) a wooden implement. The tapered form of the box and mould would have allowed the inner rammer to be withdrawn following this tamping process. I would also have to assume that the mould could somehow be opened away from the box, but, again, this is speculation.

I am assuming that the change in shape came about when it finally became cheaper to buy card stock or pasteboard stock and construct a box rather than taking the time and trouble to mould a box from the liquid board mix. The tapered box form would have lent itself very well to the production of boxes via the moulding process, but when starting with pre-existing flat cardboard stock a rectangular form is easier to lay out and construct.

VERY good info! My very best ones appear to have a glossy lacquered finish, decorative embossing, and sometimes artful decoration where the two pieces are joined in colors somewhat like the inside flap of fine stationary. Love them!

That is some great info!

Thanks, ignatz.

This is very interesting

Many THANKS to Brian, I now have a correct period case for a formerly naked W. Greaves & Sons. It is a PERFECT fit! Thank you very much Brian...I will be sending you a token of my appreciation.

You're quite welcome, Mike.

I'm glad it arrived alive.