Vesta – Antique Matchbox

An antique white metal Vesta case,a  matchbox safe

Used as a promotion tool by Austin & McAslan, in the early 20th century to promote their 200 year old Glasgow seed business. The cellulose wrapper gives the company’s address as 89 Mitchell Street Glasgow. This Vesta was designed with the Gardener in mind. A sprung flip-top  facilitates easy opening of the box with earth encrusted fingers and thumb. When closed the stored matches were safe allowing the box to be turned upside down to expose the match striking pad on the bottom of the case.(a flip top predecesor of the Zippo lighter)

Austin & McAslan – https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/0b9c3aea-713d-3422-ad48-187c0b3b0f8f

.Vesta – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesta_case .