Imperial army housewife kit

[Tony]

Hello,

Has anyone seen one of these tins before?

Can it be dated and were they actually used by soldiers or did a needle and cotton manufacturer just happen to call his product Deutsches Armee Naehzeug?

All thoughts are very much appreciated.

Tony

[Hoss]

Hello Tony

Yes as far as I know they were sent from home in personal parcels, nice artwork very nice. I don't see an issue individual kit in the tornister view but my German is not good either. through the years all I've seen are small cloth folds again some embroidered sent from loved ones and family, like this one.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Agree, I think a nice commercial product, probably had buttons, threads and needles...

[Tony]

Thanks, I like it too and bought it quite a while back from a bloke at an antique market selling advertising items and tins.

Any idea of the age? I'm thinking no later than about 1890.

Tony

[Chris Boonzaier]

I think it may be pretty hard to date... maybe any time before the war?

[Tony]

Just found these

http://www.ebay.de/itm/NAHZEUG-der-Deutschen-Armee-u-Deutschen-Marine-um-1900-1930-/161207009047?pt=Militaria&hash=item2588afbf17

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Original-Blechdose-Naehzeug-der-Deutschen-Armee-Marine-um-1910-/191032299410?nma=true&si=0Mfz7Xu57oWFt2A3Isbrn9ka1kQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/dhm.php?seite=5&fld_0=KO301204

Perhaps they were used at a later date than I thought.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Tony

[Chip]

I've never seen any evidence of an issue sewing kit (aka: housewife). They don't appear in the lists of issued items. With most units having a tailor and a cobbler, my guess is that a soldier would just have them make repairs.

Chip

[Chris Boonzaier]

Most armies had them as issue items for small repairs in the filed, I have seen Issue French, US, Brit, Belgian... I guess the Germans had to buy them... Here are some of the contents of an issue French one..

[Chip]

Chris,

Of course, I meant I've never seen a German issue sewing kit. I've got American, Australian and Canadian WWI examples.

[Fritz die Spinne]

I swiped this image online a couple of years ag. Will post a pic of one I have when I get sunlight to assist the photography.

Also on topic... Fingerhut! This sold over $130 USD

This is one I managed to find rather cheap. Dates 1914+1915+1916:

[Chris Boonzaier]

Ah, I have one of those tins... I always thought they were for huge cigars... not based on any solid info, I had just not thought any further than cigars

[Fritz die Spinne]

[Chip]

I have that same case only in natural aluminum color. I think they are thick enough to handle many uses. Mine does not have that insert, and it lends some credence to the housewife type use.

Chip