Boxes and Packing

There is scant information on the boxes that the Miller's Patent were shipped in. Most information comes from finding a plane in it's original box and dating it from the type of plane that is inside. There are a couple of references made in the earlier pocket catalogs. The March 1871 pocket catalog states that "The Tool is sold in a substantial Wood Case: and a full printed description accompanies each one." The July 1, 1872 pocket catalog states "The Tool is packed in a box, and a printed description accompanies each one. Note the difference between "Wood Case" and "Box" description, below are images of a superb example of what I believe matches the definition of the "Wood Case". Observed examples of this rather unconventional looking box appear to either have only type 1 or type 2 planes fitted in them. The cast iron protectors that protrude from the top allow the rods of the plane to remain attached and prevent disassembly. The big down side is how does one stack a box like that, surely shipping a quantity would present a bit of a packing problem. If anyone is aware of any other style of wooden box I would like to here of it and add it to this study. There are of course several examples of paste board boxes and I plan to add them to this page as time permits.

This superb example of a type 2 #42 shows how the tool would have been fitted in the box. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Note how the cutters are incorporated into the case, no extra box was required as found with later types. The filletster bed also fits neatly and has a wooden block at its toe to hold it down.

Here is another view of the same plane plus the top of the box. You can see that the arms are attached with 2 screws which had a tendency to cause splitting in the lid.

Here is the end view of the box showing a portion of the label intact. If you look carefully with the proper screen resolution you can still see a portion where is says "Gunmetal" on the label.

This example shows the box as it would appear closed, awkward at best would be a good term.

Same example shown bare so that you may see the layout. The circular recess is for the brass nut that holds the depth stop.

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