A RARE BLAKESLEE PATENT CARTRIDGE BOX COMPLETE... Lot n° 233

A RARE BLAKESLEE PATENT CARTRIDGE BOX COMPLETE WITH TEN METAL TUBES, CIRCA 1865-70 with leather-covered wooden core of hexagonal-section, embossed ‘BLAKESLEE'S CARTRIDGE BOX' in an arch over 'U.S./PAT'D DEC 20 1864/REISSUED FEB 7 1865’ and ‘W. H. WILKINSON MAKER SPRINGFIELD MASS. U. S.’, with hinged lid (cover tab incomplete), two metal suspension loops, strap, and the interior with ten tubes each for seven cartridges, 31.0 cm high Erastus Blakeslee, of Plymouth, Connecticut patented his cartridge box 20th December 1864. It was made in three different sizes, holding six, ten or thirteen tubes each filled with seven metallic cartridges for the Spencer carbine. The cartridge boxes were cumbersome and the Civil War ended before significant numbers were delivered, they saw little use after this time.