Topic: Old wooden box-book

[Trebor]

Hi all i have a old C.W.S. Pelaw Polish , box that i canot open ?

[Anne]

C.W.S. is the Co-operative Wholesale Society, and the Pelaw Polish was made in the north-east in Pelaw. http://www.dunn247.co.uk/east%20gateshead/Page%20026/image009.jpg  There are some interesting articles about this here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelaw and here: http://www.localhistorygateshead.com/gatesheads-history/gateshead-places/pelaw1

Pelaw made shoe polish http://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@N00/3354887822/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/sludgeulper/4942194645/ and grate polish (for fires and hearths) http://www.beamishcollections.com/collections/display.asp?ItemID=472 and liquid metal polish (like Brasso I guess) http://www.signs2all.com/1084-extra-large-pelaw-metal-polish-metal-advertising-wall-sign-retro-art-2337-p.asp & http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/pelaw,polish

Now as to your box... it's obviously connected to all the above, but I wonder what it was for? Most of the items I've found relating to Pelaw Polish have been metal or cardboard, not wood.

You say it won't open... does it seem to have a place where it should open - can you see gaps between sides for instance or is it totally sealed? If the latter then it might have been meant for a window display or something like that rather than as an openable box.

[Trebor]

First good mornnig Anne  .Yes there is a place at one side that had a bit of silk protruding but that as long since gone .I to found these sites but not this.

[Tigerchips]

My dad used to work for CWS. He was with them in various shops for about 15 years. They all shut down not so long ago and now only the food stores remain. Good find.

[Anne]

Ahhh so it does open Robert... OK so some of these boxes take a bit of wiggling to open (the box, not you, wiggling! )   Sometimes you have to press and slide, sometimes it's a twist, sometimes you need to press a certain place to release the catch.

[Trebor]

Ho Anne if you only new. I  have done all the above and more .Now i know why it was so cheap 

[Anne]

Hmmmm I'm now wondering if the ribbon you mention was meant to depict a bookmark? And if the book itself is a display stand only? I wonder if it was made as such at the CWS cabinet factory at Pelaw, where they made furniture? They'd have the skills there to do it.

It's a mystery. Robert, what I'd do is send copies of the photos to Beamish and ask what they think - they have a lot of historical information relating to that area, and who knows, they may even be interesting in buying the box from you if it's something they don't have! http://www.beamish.org.uk/contact-us-1-2-3/

[Trebor]

Thank you Anne i have just sent of a request for info  we  wil see !

[Anne]

Fingers crossed Robert!