This has been a fun question to explore. The less nasty ones could be called gag trick boxes and are sold online using that term Just an idea on my part, could the others be called Pandora's? Idiomatic definition--- "...If you open a Pandora's box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn't anticipated..." _http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pandora's+box.html_ (http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pandora's+box.html) Barbara Hass, retired librarian In a message dated 7/1/2009 8:37:12 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: In our collection we have a mean spirited trick box that I know full well exists in other places (I personally have a couple of my own, being mean spirited myself). Anyway, the information with this little box tells me it is apparently Civil War era, and also said (which may or may not be true) it was a prison craft. It is a tiny carved wooden box, about 2” x 2” shaped like a little book. Apparently in one’s mean-spirited-ness you were to hand this to an unsuspecting victim, who would pull back a slide lid, and a hidden arm with an attached spike would pop out and stab the poor soul but good. This box is particularly nasty. Mine are not so much – I have an old domino box with a hidden snake and a newly made box with a mouse. Both have the spikes but are not nearly as sharp as the book box. I have seen these in other private collections of equally unpleasant people who wish to do a little bodily harm to their friends. So…my question is this…what are these boxes called? Anybody know of any other information? Candace Perry Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center ========================================================= 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). **************It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule! (http://www.pawnation.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000008) ========================================================= 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).