A nose for history

BrownhillsBob

15 years ago

Dave Bishop – long time reader and top bloke in these parts, has turned up a wonderful bit of local history. Attentive readers may recall that a while back, I contemplated the fact that the Shire Oak Pub and once had a brewery associated with it called Thomas Boulter and Sons, and it brewed Shire Oak Ales. I’m not sure when the company disappeared, but Dave seems to have found a promotional snuffbox. I think these were made somewhere in the wider midlands area – possibly Birmingham, as I seem to recall seeing one of these boxes before, but embossed with a different legend. I suspect they may have been produced blank and stamped to order. If you know anything about this trinket, please do share it with the readers.

It’s certainly a fascinating thing, and I wonder how many other such local promotional gizmos are laying undiscovered in drawers around the town? Thanks to Dave for his contribution, and to everybody else, get hunting…

Hi Bob

I’ve not posted for a while – I couldn’t remember what your email address was (it could do with adding to your homepage) but I have a bit of Shire Oak history.

From a box of stuff from my mum (who sadly passed away in 1994 at the tender age of 64), I have a metal box which I believe to be a snuff box. The stamped name on the front is that of the Shire Oak and I assume it was a gift or promotional product for customers. It is approximately 3″ diameter and 1″ tall, made out of brass. Does anyone have any ideas about how this item came to be?

Dave Bishop