Tinder boxes

[Charlie Drage]

Is the Ted Cash tinder box with the magnifying glass a replica of an authentic tinder box? We're magnifying glasses used in fire making kits?

Charlie

[Kent Shootwell]

Yes, they where used.

[Professor Marvel]

The Ted cash tinderboxes are supposedly copied from a museum original, carried by the Hudson Bay Company,
possibly from an exhibit on display at the Museum Of The Fur Trade in Chadron.

I have not been able to condfirm any of that yet, tho.

hth
prof marvel

[Professor Marvel]

in my search I did find these artcles, but no primary sources

https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/the-tinderbox-the-primary-regency-fire-source/

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/tinderbox.aspx

yhs
prof marvel

PS: if we go back to the fur trade  I also found this snip out of one of the "fur trade" books
"MacKenzie amazed the Natives by lighting his pipe with a burning lens."
but I can't find the book 

[Tsalagidave]

There might be an original example in the HBC collection featured in the Manitoba Museum but I have not seen it if there is one.  I do know that a couple of "HBC" specimens with the magnifiers are in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, NE but they appear to be Japanned. It could be oxidization of the brass but it looks more Japanned to me. (I should probably call them when they are open to settle the question.) My concern however is whether or not they have real specimens or if it too is a 'repro' just for display value. They did compile the encyclopedia of fur trade era goods so hopefully I can learn something on the call.

The magnifier comes in handy when the weather is good. I typically carry a plain, unsoldered tinned box that I can toss into the fire or a German silver box in which I can place some burning rag or spongy rotted wood and then smother it with the lid.

I used to have one of these "HBC boxes" and I recommend the following if you are going to carry it. Stuff the interior with char cloth and spunks and carry the flint/steel in your strike a light bag. The weight of the striker or flint will either knock open the box while you are on the move or it will scratch the lens. I always had luck carrying enough of a hank of dried lichen or cedar bark for 2-fire starts with a cat tail under my patching material in the bottom of my bullet pouch. Carry additional tinder bundled in your bedroll, knapsack, or the possibles pack on your horse or mule. I also recommend carrying either a fireboard or extra striker and flints in your pack just in case you lose something. Great question.

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

Update. I spoke with the Museum of Fur Trade and confirmed that the HBC "magnifier" tinder boxes are both originals. They are also both japanned. To date, these are the first authenticated specimens in a collection that I know of. If anyone else is aware of original specimens, please let me know.  I'd love to hear about it.

As a side note, Jim Hanson severely injured his foot and was hospitalized. Between the blood loss, infection, and what is expected to be a long rehab period, hopefully he will return to the job. If not, his loss will be a great one to our hobby.

-Dave