I had a nice "ahah, I know this one!" You decide if it's the same thing:
Last year we were gifted the local Elks Club "Blackball Box".  While I'm not
sure of the particulars, (not being an Elk) colored balls were placed in the
hinged compartment and rolled out thorough the hole.  The number of black
balls placed among white could be used for selection or voting - leading to
the use of the term "blackballed".  Our box is the same size and general
description, but with a metal curved "spout" in the hole opening to
facilitate the ball departure. We have a manufacture's label :DeMeulin Bros
& Co./Lodge Supplies/Greenville Ill.

Janelle Matz
Collections Manager
Anchorage Museum of History and Art

-----Original Message-----
From: Cristin Grant [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 7:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Help identifying collection item?

Hello,
I'm hoping someone out there may have come across an item like this and can
help me figure out what it is and what it was used for. Here's a description
of the item in question:

It is a smallish wood box, partially covered with a hinged lid. Inside is a
wood slat with a round hole in the center, that slides in at a 45 degree
angle from the top. There is a turned wood handle attached to the back of
the box, and a strip of velvet lining along the bottom. The box is 8" deep
by 3.5" tall by 5.5" wide, and the handle on the back is 5.5" long.

I've been particularly puzzled by the piece that slides out the top at an
angle, with a perfectly round hole in the center, as it must have served a
purpose. Anyone have any ideas what this might have been used for?

Thanks for any suggestions!
Cristin Grant
Curator of Collections
Susan B. Anthony House

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).