Percussion caps & boxes

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A percussion cap is a small metal container holding a charge that explodes when firing a rifle. These two boxes contain several percussion caps, examples of which can be seen on the bottom right hand side of the image. They date from the 19th century.

The text on the label on the left hand box reads, '250 WATERPROOF PERCUSSION CAPS FOR CENTRAL-FIRE/PAPER OR 'PERFECT'/BREECH LOADING CASES/KYNTON BIRMINGHAM'. The right hand box has a label for 'Eley Bros. Ltd, London'.

Although metal percussion caps were formerly used for firing rifles, small paper containers of the same type can be used to make children's toy guns sound realistic.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-006-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1992.207
• Date: 19th century
  19th century
  
• Material: Tinned iron; cylindrical. Inscription: On lid label: ELEY BROS LD, LONDON
  Tinned iron; disc-shaped. Inscription: On lid label: KYNTON BIRMINGHAM
  Box / cap, percussion
  Box / cap, percussion
  
• Dimensions: 17 mm H x 55 mm D
  30 mm H x 40 mm D
  
• What: Box / cap, percussion
  Box / cap, percussion
  
• Subject:
• Who: Eley Bros Ltd, London (Maker)
  Kynton, Birmingham (Maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  England, Warwickshire, Birmingham
  
• Event:
• Description: Disc-shaped tinned-iron box containing several percussion caps and with a label for `Kynton Birmingham' on the lid, 19th century
  Cylindrical tinned-iron box containing a few percussion caps and with a label for `Eley Bros Ld, London' on the lid, 19th century
  
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