Antique-shop.com

Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: cb87 on July 23, 2012, 04:59:38 AM

Title: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: cb87 on July 23, 2012, 04:59:38 AM

Hi all,

I know nothing at all about antiques and probably don't have one.

I've just moved into a new house and the owners (who were in their 70s) left some items lying around. I noticed one is considerably heavier than the others and it's silver in colour, and the bottom looks like chrome. It's a boot, about 5 inches in length, with a mouse sitting on top of the boot. As I turned it over, I noticed a screwable compartment (which was empty, to my disappointment!) and I could make out '...& A, England" on the underneath. I can't quite tell what the first initial was, it just looks like a dot.

Does anyone know whether this is anything special? It's pretty heavy, for it's size.

Many thanks!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 23, 2012, 05:32:18 AM

Please post a photo, cb!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: cb87 on July 23, 2012, 05:41:17 AM

Here you go! :)

(http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p578/chrisbarrett87/IMG_07321.jpg)

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: cb87 on July 23, 2012, 07:06:21 AM

Here is a photo of the boot's underside. I hope the reflections aren't too off-putting.

You can see the unscrewable compartment and also the ". & A, England"

(http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p578/chrisbarrett87/IMG_07351.jpg)

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: mart on July 23, 2012, 09:13:13 AM

No idea but great hiding place for mad money !!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: KC on July 23, 2012, 10:40:52 AM

How neat!!!!!!!!  Never seen one before....but like the compartment idea!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: cb87 on July 23, 2012, 10:43:53 AM

I was surprised to find it; the previous house owners left some ornaments on top of a door frame. I was getting them down today, to be taken to a charity shop but noticed that was really heavy, so decided to take a closer look. I was really hoping for a forgotten stash of money inside the compartment!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: mart on July 23, 2012, 02:26:32 PM

Is it heavy enough for a door stop ?? Better be careful what you give away !!  What you may think is junk,,, may not be !!

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: KC on July 23, 2012, 06:39:44 PM

Mart, my first impression was a door stop as well.

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: greenacres on July 23, 2012, 06:50:53 PM

Yes, maybe it's a place to hide an extra key.

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: cb87 on July 24, 2012, 01:09:20 AM

From what I've been able to find on places like Ebay, I now think the compartment is a match holder. It seems pretty strange though, being as it's screwable - not exactly easily accessible, should you need the contents quickly! Similar ones seem to be going for around £12-20, although some don't have the compartment.

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 24, 2012, 05:35:57 AM

Around $20-$25 U.S. That sounds right.

Title: Re: ?C? & A England, metal boot with mouse and compartment
Post by: mart on July 24, 2012, 09:05:00 AM

Matches must have been rare and expensive !!