c.1931 Dent Hardware Co., Four Cast Iron Train Set Boxes
I found these four original Dent Hardware Co. train set boxes at a small auction house near Fullerton, PA., only a few miles from where the Dent company was located. All are complete with their original two piece insert and have never been used. They were intended to hold Dent's petite cast iron train floor set No. 711. The four piece set would have included an integral tender marked LVRR for Leigh Valley Rail Road. I've included a photo from Rick Ralston's book on Cast Iron Floor Trains so you can see what a complete boxed set would look like (see last photo). The two piece box included a cover with an applied color print showing repeated illustrations of many early 20th century childhood toys. Dent's Toyland's Treasure Chest label was applied over the print. The bottom section was lined around its exterior aprons and extended ½"into the interior and underneath the base. Permanently fixed inside the box bottom is a two piece die cut, hard cardboard insert. The orange colored lower half was cut with four arches and raised to accommodate the trains depth. The blue insert would serve as a background with the set laid on top of it. Size: 24½" x 4¾" x 1½". Sold: Mar. 2008
Price Sold: $ 126
