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I recently acquired this small plated metal box which has obviously been used as a needle tin. It is marked "G Marelli" which was/is a manufacturer of car parts etc. While it works well as a pocket needle tin, I assume it was never made as one ? if it was for something automobile related, I can't think of anything small enough to be carried about in a tin of this size. Any ideas ??

Gramtastic wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 8:51 am I recently acquired this small plated metal box which has obviously been used as a needle tin. It is marked "G Marelli" which was/is a manufacturer of car parts etc. While it works well as a pocket needle tin, I assume it was never made as one ? if it was for something automobile related, I can't think of anything small enough to be carried about in a tin of this size. Any ideas ??

Fuses?

Tire valve stems?

Allen

The Sir who made car parts and tube radios was named Ercole Marelli, and his companies were named Magneti Marelli and Radio Marelli. His make's logo is iconic and easily distinguishable, and apparently this tin has nothing to do with it.

The closest match in my opinion is the company by Cav. G. Marelli, who produced sanitary ware in Milan:

https://www.abebooks.it/Marelli-Milano- ... 2689928/bd

My educated guess is that the figured tin was intended as a pillbox.

Schraeder supplied inner tube valves in a similar sized tin. Possibly a similar use for this one?