RARE GRANITE BOTTLING CO CONCORD NH ANTIQUE INK STMPD WOOD BOX SODA ADVRT. CRATE For Sale

RARE GRANITE BOTTLING COMPANY, CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AMERICANEARLY 20TH CENTURYANTIQUE, NEW ENGLAND EARLY MERCANTILEBLACK INK STAMPED SIDEWALL GRAPHIC ICONOGRAPHY WOOD BOX SODA ADVERTISING SHIPPING CRATE, featuring DIVIDED INTERIOR WOODEN GRILL to ACCEPT BOTTLES of ROOT BEER, GINGER BEER or GINGER ALE, with TIN REINFORCING STACKING EDGE STRIPS & CUT-OUT, SIDE LIFTING/CARRYING HANDLES in DRY, MATTE FINISH with NATURALLY AGED WOOD PATINA[*Secret, hidden, undivided compartment on underside of wood box crate, may have been made to accommodate liquor bottles during Prohibition](Circa 1924-1933)Early 20th century New England early mercantile advertising & wood box sodashipping cratesDIMENSIONS:181⁄2\" Length x9 1⁄4\" Height x 12\" Depth Weight:8 lbs. 4 oz.
DESCRIPTION:There\'s a secret, hidden, undivided compartment on underside of thewood box soda advertising shipping crate,which may have been realized to clandestinely accommodate liquor bottles during Prohibition. This was realized after the wood box was initially created by the Perkins Box Company of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The divided wooden grill was cut down to accommodate smaller bottles of soda, with a wood plank, false floor added. Underneath this was a hidden compartment, most likely used not to place ice to keep the soda cold, but rather to secretly ship and transport alcohol to thirsty, alcohol starved New Englanders during the Prohibition period of \'alcohol free\' period of the 1920\'s and early 1930\'s. Often breweries switched to soda production during Prohibition and sought ways and methods to secretly still continue brewing and shipping alcohol during the legislated period of its unlawful status. The wood box is stamped 1924 with a branded stamp. The wooden divided grill is intact and the stamped ink is superb, crisp and clear. An outstanding New Hampshire early mercantile wood box soda advertising shipping crate and moreover, an incredible Prohibition-era artifact, most likely used in the clandestine transport and distribution of liquor during the 1920\'s and early 1930\'s, when the sale or transport of alcohol in the United States, was strictly prohibited by federal law. An incredible artifact and evidence of the methodologies employed to circumnavigate Prohibition laws. Extraordinary.CONDITION:Very Good to Excellent overall antique condition.