This elegant box is actually a Victorian shop dispenser. It was designed for selling goods in bulk and came in various sizes. In this particular one, it had a label insert for gunpowder, but it could have been used for sugar, candy, or other bulk commodities as well. The glass front allowed customers to see the quality of the goods they were purchasing. And why the picture of hunting dogs? Well, it’s just a decorative touch because the intention was to store gunpowder only. Quite an interesting piece, isn’t it?
Item #5: The Cedar Butter Churn
Look at this large wooden drum with a lid, handle, and a footed base. It even has a crank on the side. Any thoughts on its purpose?
This wooden drum is actually a cedar butter churn. It was used to make larger quantities of butter. On the other side, it reads “Farm Master Dairy Supplies.” But we didn’t want to give it away too easily! Learning about these old-fashioned tools really takes us back to a time when things were simpler.
