i picked up a stanley 48 match plane (very early, beaded knob, japanned,
but with the patent date cast in rather than stamped on the sole) yesterday
at the alameda flea market.

it came in a wooden box, with the correct paper label on the end.  are
there any tell-tales to say if it's an actual original wooden box, rather
than a box that was made/adapted to fit, then had the label slapped on
there?

from all i can find stanley started using pasteboard boxes ca. 1900.  the
48 was introduced in 1875, and became nickel plated around the same 1900
year per the b&g.  would it have shipped in a wooden box prior to that?
has anyone seen such a thing?

i'll post pictures on GIC tomorrow.

best,
bill
felton, ca