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Fed Labs Tear Gas Cartridge Box, Circa 1930's - 40's


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All,

 

I recently acquired a wooden Federal Laboratories tear gas cartridge box, and thought I'd share it in the forum. What's really interesting about this item is it still has the original Railway Express shipping label stapled to it. The box went to the Iowa County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Department in Dodgeville, WI, addressed to Sheriff C.J. Holman. I was not able to find his years of service online, so I made an inquiry to the Iowa County Historical Society, and they replied back to me yesterday. Apparently Sheriff Clarence J. Holman served as Sheriff for two terms from 1933-36, and 1941-44. So, I've been able to determine an 11-year range of dates that this item would have been delivered.

 

The box is fairly small. When I received it, at first I thought it might have contained 12-gauge shells for a Manville tear gas gun. Now I think maybe it contained four 1.5" tear gas cartridges, but I could be wrong.

 

Here are some photos:

 

FedLabsBox-1_Web.JPG

 

FedLabsBox-2_Web.JPG

 

FedLabsBox-3_Web.JPG

 

Your input is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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  • 2 weeks later...

Nice box!

 

FWIW I believe that The Federal Labs Address shown on the shipping label was in used into approximately 1942, prior to the move to Saltsburg Pa. In theory the box could have been delivered to the Sheriff throughout his first term and also into his second term.

 

In addition to 1.5" Shells, The smaller sized box may have also contained Tear Gas Billy Cartridges.

 

Stay safe,

 

Frank

 

 

 

Federal 009.jpg

Federal 006.jpg

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In addition to 1.5" Shells, The smaller sized box may have also contained Tear Gas Billy Cartridges.

 

Stay safe,

 

Frank

 

 

Frank,

 

Yes, a friend of mine thought that same thing when I showed him the box on Saturday. Do you know the length of the Fed Labs gas billy cartridges?

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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Brian,

 

Thank you very much for posting the photos. It's possible the packaging changed, as I notice your tear gas billy cartridge example is dated 1961, and this shipping box is 20-30 years older. The measurements of the inside of the box do not seem to accomodate the gas billy cartridge example you have in your collection, although the measurements are close. Here they are:

 

10 3/4" wide

3 13/16" high

3 7/16" deep

 

Incidentally, I got in another, larger, and probably older Fed Labs crate in the mail today, and I'll post photos when I can.

 

Let me know what you think...

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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