Pistol tinder box. Brass tinder box and mountings attached to unadorned wooden butt. [MOBB [OPS move] 28/07/2016]

Collection type: Object
Description: Pistol tinder box. Brass tinder box and mountings attached to unadorned wooden butt. [MOBB [OPS move] 28/07/2016]
Long description: Pistol tinder box. Brass tinder box and mountings attached to unadorned wooden butt. On one side of the tinder box is a hinged door with spring loaded lever for opening. On the other side is a candle socket on an curved arm. On one side of the mounting is inscribed the word 'Howe' in an oval, and on the other side, also in an oval is the word 'Colchester'. The pistol mechanism is iron, including the trigger. The finger guard below the trigger is decorated with a simple inscribed design. There is a flint partially wrapped in ?animal hide in situ in the hammer. The front of the tinder box is supported on two ornamented brass legs. [MOBB [OPS move] 28/07/2016]
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England Essex Colchester
Cultural groups: English
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Henry Balfour; PRM source Henry Balfour
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1890
Date collected: By 1890
Acquisition information: Bequeathed: 1939
Materials and processes: Material Brass Metal, Material Wood Plant, Material Iron Metal, Material Flint Stone, Material Animal Hide Skin, Process Inscribed, Process Carved, Process Jointed, Process Polished, Process Decorated
Dimensions: Height: max 127 mm, Width: max 75 mm, Length: max 173 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1938.35.1097 Other numbers: 1764

Search terms: Fire, Box, Writing, Lighting, Fire Accessory, Tinder, Inscription, Candlestick