Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry

U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post Reply
User avatar
PT7
Drover
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:32 am
Location: The Show-Me State
United States of America

U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by PT7 » Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:02 pm

My daughter got a belated Christmas gift from her former landlady when they visited yesterday. The gift was a special memory from the years my kids were in junior high and high school in Baldwin City, KS. It is U.S. Postal Box #174 from that small-town post office.

The wood box is really beautiful workmanship, and has the U.S.P.O. metal door and frame on the front. I don't know the details of why the door is no longer in the post office, but this is box number 174 which was used there for many years of mail delivery. When my wife and I first moved to Baldwin City in the early 1980s, we had box number 146 which was just a couple of rows away on the U.S.P.O. wall. :)

I don't know what kind of wood was used, but I think it is quality material. Like I noted, the fit and finish are excellent. (Maybe BrokenolMarine will comment?). The lock works just fine, no squeaks when opening the door, and it is a very heavy box. The top measures 5" square and it is 6-1/2" tall. I think the grains have popped beautifully, and I really, really like the stain color. Just like I love to view Henry rifle stocks, this is also a very appealing wood piece.

Wish I could say I built this box. ;) Hope you all enjoy the pics.

PT7

Top Commemorative Plaque
Top Commemorative Plaque
Baldwin City postal box_3514.JPG (227.3 KiB) Viewed 4304 times

Lockbox Front Door
Lockbox Front Door
Baldwin City postal box_3515.JPG (283.91 KiB) Viewed 4304 times

Lockbox Mechanism
Lockbox Mechanism
Baldwin City postal box_3516.JPG (210.12 KiB) Viewed 4304 times

Wood Box Interior
Wood Box Interior
Baldwin City postal box_3518.JPG (255.87 KiB) Viewed 4304 times

Back of Wood Box
Back of Wood Box
Baldwin City postal box_3519.JPG (263.78 KiB) Viewed 4304 times
6 x

~Пока~

User avatar
markiver54
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 10281
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:49 am
Location: Biue Ridge Mountains, NC
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by markiver54 » Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:08 pm

That's really beautiful Bob, great story and great gift!
Looks like quality Oak to me.
1 x
I'm your Huckleberry

User avatar
RanchRoper
Forum Ambassador
Posts: 12681
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Canada

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by RanchRoper » Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:10 pm

That's awesome.
1 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50

Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully

User avatar
Stray Cat
Cowhand
Posts: 260
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:21 pm
Location: Eastern Iowa
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by Stray Cat » Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:59 pm

That is a neat idea. I can still remember the combo to the box we had for the grain elevator. It used letters vs. numbers.
Two turns to the right then, ABIC...pretty easy to remember during the era of the Bic pens.
1 x
Jeff

User avatar
GunnyGene
Drover
Posts: 2569
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:15 am
Location: Monroe County, MS
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by GunnyGene » Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:06 am

Very nice. It's Red Oak, btw. A lot of oak is/was used for this and much other office and home furniture. Book cases, chairs, dining tables, cabinetry, etc. due to it's availability and strength. Also widely used for the old White Clad ice boxes and similar things. Brings back a lot of old memories of life before TV, home Air Conditioning, and electric kitchen appliances.
Last edited by GunnyGene on Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
1 x
Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes is rapidly becoming a reality (11/2023). Para Bellum.

User avatar
TMB
Cowhand
Posts: 390
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:55 am
Location: South Central NC
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by TMB » Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:34 am

What a beautiful box and great gift. Thanks for.the story.
1 x
Henry H004ES Golden Boy Eagle Scout Tribute
Henry H004 Golden Boy .22 cal
Henry H006C Big Boy Classic .45 Colt

"If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong.” ... John Gierach

User avatar
PT7
Drover
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:32 am
Location: The Show-Me State
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by PT7 » Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:42 am

Thanks for noting the kind of wood used for this box, Gunny. Mark also thought it looked like oak to him.
PT7
GunnyGene wrote:
Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:06 am
Very nice. It's Red Oak, btw. A lot of oak is/was used for this and much other office and home furniture.
0 x

~Пока~

User avatar
BrokenolMarine
Ranch Foreman
Posts: 5770
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by BrokenolMarine » Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm

Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.

User avatar
PT7
Drover
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:32 am
Location: The Show-Me State
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by PT7 » Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:48 pm

BrokenolMarine wrote:
Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm
Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
Marine,

My daughter is going to ask the lady who got her the lockbox/wood box gift for the name of where she got it. I'll remember to pass it your way if any are available.

PT7
0 x

~Пока~

User avatar
BrokenolMarine
Ranch Foreman
Posts: 5770
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
United States of America

Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box

Post by BrokenolMarine » Sun Dec 29, 2019 5:11 pm

PT7 wrote:
Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:48 pm
BrokenolMarine wrote:
Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm
Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
Marine,

My daughter is going to ask the lady who got her the lockbox/wood box gift for the name of where she got it. I'll remember to pass it your way if any are available.

PT7
I was only looking at the old post office box doors so I could make banks. :D You can find replicas. But these I had missed were originals, reclaimed from demolition or upgrades to old post offices. Sometimes you find people clearing out their shops of "I thought I would eventually," project items too. :)
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.

Post Reply