This item is from the well-known collection of author Dean Thomas and is pictured in his book “ROUND BALL TO RIMFIRE-A HISTORY OF CIVIL WAR SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION, PART TWO, FEDERAL BREECHLOADING CARBINES & PISTOLS” page 387. This crate meas. approx. 15.00 inches long (not including the handles which are flush with the top edge) x 10.25 wide x 8.75 inches tall. Crate is nailed together and is still very tight. The outside surfaces have been painted a dark olive drab. This has worn thin on the bottom board but is still strong around the sides. The bottom board also has a thin crack running its length but is of no serious concern. The crate does exhibit light to moderate wear on all surfaces, heavier on the edges. At the top of each end panel is a handle running its length. As already stated, these are flush with the top edge. These handles show heavy wear from use.

One side panel has two thin strips of surface wood missing. One strip meas. approx. 0.75 of an inch wide x 9.00 inches long, while the other is 0.50 an inch at its widest and 5.00 inches long. This side is not stenciled. The side that is stenciled reads “MANUFACTURED BY CRITTENDEN & TIBBALS, SOUTH COVENTRY, CONN.” The stencil is very faint and most of it has been obliterated by severe wear to the crate’s surface. This wear is not gouging but a slight wearing away of the wood, paint and stenciled surface. Each end board is stenciled “1008 METALLIC CASE CARTRIDGES, NO. 56-100, FOR SPENCER AND JOSLYN CARBINE, INSPECTED.” Like most markings on an item this old some parts are stronger than others, but these stencils can easily be read. The letters are done in red ink and are 0.75 of an inch high.