Buying snuffboxes..

Dunnyveg

Yes, I've had my problems with snuff boxes.  Without mentioning any names, I bought one of the silver snuffboxes from an English outfit that leaks like a sieve.  So, the only use it has is to adorn my living room as it empties out in my pocket.  There is a picture of the snuffbox I bought prominently displayed on the first page of this thread.

I also own a small silver snuffbox with the "Celtic" pattern.  It works very well but is much too small.

I bought a wooden snuffbox with a magnet lid.  The groove for the lid was so poorly cut that the lid falls out, and with it all my snuff.

The best snuffbox I've found--at least the most practical--are the plastic cans all American dip excepting Copenhagen now come in.  The best snuff cans are from the brand "Red Seal".  They are best because the lid is plastic too, meaning it won't scratch up other things in my pockets.  I can't recommend them too highly, as they never spill, and I don't clink and rattle when I walk with it in my pocket.  It's not nearly as pretty as a silver snuffbox, but there is plenty to be said for practicality.

Harlequin

Woo! Money that can't be taken away from me! Gotta 30 dollar amazon.com gift card and I do believe I will be getting the wooden Mr. Snuff snuff box.

Snuffster

How's this for an unexpected little piece of joy: I was busy milling tobacco when a parcel was delivered. There was a note from Pat Collins saying 'these were meant to be sent out a few years ago, sorry for the delay' and two snuffboxes fell out on my workbench, one standard and one tripletec. I had forgotten I ordered them, he forgot to send them. It must easily be three or four years ago. Beat that for long delivery time; my previous record was three months \:D/

kats

@snuffster... were those the ones you ordered to give to me as a Christmas gift???  I do recall nothing under the tree from you the last 4 years.
[-X

Snuffster

Ah, yes of course. I will send them immediately :-q

Fretless

Interesting to read his - I have just picked-up one of the Wilsons' wooden boxes (rosewood possibly - or a very "warm" mahogany).

This thread begs a further question: do wooden boxes improve with use?  (I am guessing that snuff may keep better in such a box once the box has been "run in" and taken-on some of the flavour of the snuff...)

Snuffster

Not really. I've used them on and off for over 30 years and I've never noticed any kind of breaking in and I've used lots of different types of boxes and snuffs. Maybe if you used nothing but schmalzer for a long period there might be some element of that, but I doubt it.

It is possible to get some cross contamination of flavours, such as menthol, but that is only a slight layer of surface contamination which would be easily removed by cleaning or simply letting the next snuff over power it. The box I am using at this moment has had numerous snuffs in over the years and its the same as ever.

sloth357

It would depend a bit on how the inside of your box was treated. If the interior is unsealed, then you will get some contamination from the snuff, and this would probably be more obvious with a schmalzer. I would expect the inside of a box that is not sealed to stain pretty quickly from schmalzer use. However, if the interior is waxed, polished or varnished - and most of them are - then it will be as Snuffster says.

jayjay

Great posts there is lots of these snuff boxes going at auction near me in the uk ! Might see if I can get a bargain

Snuffster

Be careful when considering an old snuff box - a lot of pill boxes are passed off as snuffs at the online auctions. Unless you can get a clear view of the hinges don't go there. Hinges on a snuff box should ideally run along the length of the lid, ones in the centre tend to be no good and are usually pill holders. Watch out for boxes that commemorate something like a ship or event - these are often soap dishes and the like given away at the time of the event and there are lots around. Commemorative boxes stopped being made in any number in the late 19th century when snuff use started to decline. Checking the dimensions of an apparent snuff box is a good indicator of whether it's genuine, ie too small or too large and you are looking at something made for another purpose. Old branded tins, even if very old, are not worth more than a few £$. If possible get a second opinion because there are exceptions to any rule in a subject as wide as snuff box collecting. If you can get a picture and upload it there are plenty of people on this site that could give expert opinion.

theratroom

Have a look at this greate painting of snuff and boxes http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ella-guru-debbie-smith-tins-of-snuff.jpg I do not know who it is by or who it is in the painting but it is great.

theratroom

Ok I am a dope. Did some digging and found that it is @toffeenose and has been posted before. I would have deleted my post but the edit function seems to have disappeared from the mobile site. It is a cool painting though.

khalid

Didn't see this picture last time. This is a picture of Debbie who works in Intoxica records in Portabello and plays in the Monks tribute band, 'The Nuns' amongst many others. Does this mean that Snuff is getting hip, at least in Garage rock circles?

bob

yeah that is the same one I think. She's our resident working musician.