Rework - Kel Snake

I reckon everyone knows that I enjoy retrofitting all sorts of found boxes.  As it would happen, I was cleaning out my back room and happened along an old box that I used to make and sell.  I was going to toss it out, burn it, offer it up to the woodworking Gods, etc.  Then I had an idea, why not retrofit my own past designs?  Pretty sure that I have never done that yet, and I like to do new things! 

As you can see, this soft pine box shows its age and already looks to be 100 years old.  It has scratches and what not, and likely the reason why it was held back and never sold back in the day.  

As for the title Rework, a term used in manufacturing to refer to product that wasn't up to snuff the first time, so with a little 'rework' it will be as good or better then ever! 

This box was made roughly 20 years ago, about 10 years before puzzles came more into focus.  Always an out of the box thinker, these boxes had their special features from a marketing standpoint, something I was learning more about as I kept building.

These boxes featured a simple secret compartment in the base, part of my then 'no-tech security' philosophy.  The loose fitting lids presented an opportunity in saving time from the bloody hinges step as well allow me to create a myriad of wood burning designs to better fit into different kinds of stores.  Boxes with Roses went to Beauty Salons, boxes with fish went to Hunting and Fishing stores, and Skulls went to tattoo parlors.  Add to that, the loose fitting lids were all natural color, and the bases would range from light brown to red, to black. The retail owner was able to make more sales with less stock as they could swap lids and bases immediately.  I must have made a few hundred back in the day. 

I can say that it was fun locking everything up, including the once easy to access secret compartment!

Dimensions: 7" wide x 9" long x 4" high.

This is a 1/1 and represents #41 of my personal lifetime goal of 100 vintage box puzzle designs.

Tracked shipping and solution sheet included.