Big Old Leather Container Mystery?

[mojjax]

I got this big old leather container at a barn sale last summer . It's 6 feet 4 inch high , felt lined .
I can't quite make out the first name of the FOOTE guy - ?RAETUS ....maybe ERAETUS

I wonder who Gordan K. White is ?

how old is this thing ?
What might have been in it ? A telescope , skis , survey transit ?

any ideas ?

 

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[mojjax]

more pics

 

[RelicHunter97]

I am pretty sure that says ERACTUS FOOTE. I wonder what it held?

 

[Kenosha Kid]

Looks like "Eractus", too; however...this is interesting:

http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/foote.html

Foote, Erastus — of Wiscasset, Lincoln County, Maine. Maine state attorney general, 1820-31. Burial location unknown.

 

[envguy]

fishing rod or fly rod case.

 

[Copperhead]

fishing rod or fly rod case.

I agree...

 

[mojjax]

fishing rod or fly rod case.

I agree...

It's big enough to hold a dozen fly rods

 

[Copperhead]

Maybe it did.. .. I notice one label says "Lot shipment".....Normally means more than one?....

The pic of the one I posted seems way too big for just one too...

 

[mojjax]

Looks like "Eractus", too; however...this is interesting:

http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/foote.html

Foote, Erastus — of Wiscasset, Lincoln County, Maine. Maine state attorney general, 1820-31. Burial location unknown.

Erastus Foote .... that may be it .......Wiscasset is just 11 miles from where I bought it here in Nobleboro . Thanks kenosha kid . Gonna be a googlin now

 

[Kenosha Kid]

Well, he was an avid fisherman of tarpon ~

http://books.google.com/books?id=wx...&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

(scroll to the last paragraph on that page) Useppa Island is near Boca Grande, I believe...

 

[peacock]

I think it my have held territory maps. Maps of the lands were big back then.

 

[RiverRat3]

I go with rod holder. Probably holds multiple rods. Leather was strong enough to protect rods but it could have been used for anything.

 

[MaineRelic]

Hey Mojax ! Considering the article that he fished for tarpon in Florida and the size of the fishing equipment back then I have to concur with Rod case ! Nice Find ! MaineRelic

 

[mojjax]

Hey Mojax ! Considering the article that he fished for tarpon in Florida and the size of the fishing equipment back then I have to concur with Rod case ! Nice Find ! MaineRelic

yes, I looked up Useppa Island (it's crossed out on one of the tags) and apparently it was a resort where tarpon fishing was quite popular in the 1880's .

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...MO2BqV4WA&sig2=YswiQUg1H9X-BtAgaRquVw&cad=rja

 

[stefen]

My first inclination was a folio to hold rolled blueprints as we do today...however, it's too. Big in overall length...

Fishing poles. Make. More. Sense...especially deep sea poles...

 

[rtp41]

IT's a flyrod and reel case i have one made from pvc in storage

 

[ivan salis]

looks like its a leather fishing rod & reel case for several old large sized tarpon rods and reels of the 1880's vintage type * (thus a "lot shipment") owned by the maine state atty gen named- Erastus Foote ( note typo- Eractus Foote on case)-- a noted TARPON fisherman * -- the town on it named * Useppa was a noted tarpon fishing haven back then.

mr white might have been a rod maker or reel repair man -- tarpon are large powerful fish and can damage gear * -- it might have been used to ship off rods and reels for repair after a rough fishing trip in florida

 

[a32deuce]

MAPS!!

 

[artyfacts]

I have to agree with fishing rods. I traveled in my younger days as a TV fishing show host for a couple of years. My fishing rods went into double tubes of almost the same length for air travel. Arty

 

[mojjax]

MAPS!!

I guess Erastus Foote did deal with maps , as well as fishing .

check out chapter 47 & 48

http://books.google.com/books?id=3y...ook_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA