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Picture Page August 2014 Two vintage shotshell related items.......
. .
This next item is an unmarked black leather box with a three-compartment
tinned-steel liner, similar to Civil War musket cartridge boxes, but much
larger. While pretty much of
. . . .
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The first item shown here is a shotshell loading block made by the
Union Hardware Company in Torrington, Connecticut. This company started
business in 1854 and produced hardware and other goods, including fishing
gear, roller skates, and of course hunting supplies. Essentially a shaped
base of some unknown hardwood with five 5/16" grooves cut on
the top with
three strips of wood fit into the
outer two and the center grooves so as to form two 'troughs' into which the shells can be inserted,
as can be seen in the picture to the right. Narrow grooves
accommodate the shotshell rims and hold them in place. The remaining two
5/16" grooves in the base are centered in the two 'troughs', allowing a
space for punched primers to fall. The shells would then be removed from the
block, reprimed and then put back into the block, where powder, inner wads,
shot and top wads would be added and pressed by hand
into place. This
particular loading block is marked "PAT APPLIED FOR' and '10' on the
center strip of wood to indicate
the gauge. The label on the bottom indicates that it holds 24 shells;
however, I find that 26 shells will fit. In addition the label states that
it is 'a new and improved device for use in loading cartridge shells -
simple
and convenient.' I believe the earlier shotshell
loading blocks consisted of rows of holes drilled into a piece of wood, into
which the shells were inserted; typically, they would have had no means of
holding them secure should the loading block
get tipped over.
anything
could have been carried in this box, I have made the assumption that it is
intended for shotgun shells because it was found in a large wooden box that
contained supplies for reloading shotgun shells. Included were empty shells,
cans of powder, tins of primers, a crimping device for paper shells, powder
and shot dippers/measurers, and assorted other items, none of which dated
after the late 1880s. This box is made from five pieces of leather (not
counting the straps), one folded to form the front, bottom, back, and top,
two to
form
the ends which were sewn in place, and two sewn to the ends of the top. A
strap and buckle on the front were used to secure the box, and it has a
carrying strap across the top with a spring-hook that attaches to a ring on
the left side. While it appears to have been commercially made, the leather
has shrunk, the tattered top has separated from the back at the fold, and
the closure strap was reattached by hand and has lost the end portion that
would have been secured with the buckle.
