Except for the German Navy almost all of the ditty boxes (or sea chests) have the ubiquitous wooden side cleats and rope beckets used for handles that everyone is familiar with seeing. In general these ditty boxes were typically no more than 15x12x10 inches in size as they needed to be stored in small confined berth areas where the sailor kept his hammock.
Ditty Boxes were used by enlisted sailors and crew to store their most treasured personal possessions while at sea, as well as personal items needed on an everyday basis. Examples of these would be letters from family members, favorite photographs, other treasures found at various ports-of-call. Everyday needed items would be Forks, Spoons, Knives before the centralized mess, tobacco, smoking pipes, cups, razors, soap and tolietries, sewing kits.
It is for the above reasons why we here at The Pirate's Lair honor, respect and treasure these ditty boxes as part of our collection since we understand that they and their contents were the most valuable things a sailor possessed while at sea traveling the world over and knowingly going into harms way! We also think that many of our clients may feel the same way and as such are making some available for purchase.
Above photo illustrates 4 Ditty Boxes From Left to Right: US Navy Civil War thru Spanish American War (1860s-1890s), German Navy Kaiserliche Marine (1880s-1920s), British Royal Navy pre-WWI-WWII (1900-1940s), US Merchant Marine (1940s)
Period photograph aboard the USS Mohican ca 1880s, sailor John King sitting far right on his ditty box with other Old Salts spinning tales and yarns! Also note the sailor to the far left also sitting on a ditty box, the rope becket can be seen hanging down from the wooden handle. Sometimes these ditty boxes are also known as Sea Chests or Sea Trunks.
Above is a humorous depiction of German Sailors in the Kaiserliche Marine 1917 standing inspection - note the Ditty Boxes next to each of the Sea Boots!
Like most navies the Kaiserliche Marine beginning about the 1890s and certainly well into WWI made ditty boxes a regulation piece of personal equipment which like everything else needed to be inspected and accounted for
Other than being the smallest, German ditty boxes were very unique in that they did not have any handles, the lid slid in and out with where a metal tab would protrude allowing a padlock to be put on.
These ditty boxes were well adapted to life aboard ship, especially in the very small confines of the U-boat submarines where space was a very precious commodity.
Above photo illustrates a group of sailors of the Kaiserliche Marine (ca 1890s-1900s) getting their weekly bread ration while holding their regulation dittyboxes! In magnification there is handwriting on each of the ditty boxes but is too faint to read, but looks like numbers. The ships name on the tallys is the "SMS Wurttemberg" which was commissioned in 1881 as an armored frigate in the Kaiserliche Marine (or Imperial German Navy) and served proudly until scrapped in 1920 iaw the Armistice Agreement. The German monogrammed abbreviation "SMS" ("Seiner Majestät Schiff" or His Majesty's Ship) is similar to the US Navy's "USS" or the British Navy's "HMS".
Photo above shows British Royal Navy sailors at inspection aboard the HMS Lion. Note the royal navy issued regulation square ditty boxes towards the end of the bed rolls in front of each sailor.
Ditty Boxes have been carried by sailors the world over from when ships first sailed. These small wooden boxes were where a sailor kept his most treasured personal articles such as reminders and letters from home, photographs, other prized possessions, as well as items needed for everyday use such as sewing kits, small knives to work rope, soap, razors, tooth brush and paste, and other toiletries.
Due to shipboard space constraints all ditty boxes were relatively small so that they could be easily stored typically where a sailor slept. Some ditty boxes were handmade with fantastic nautical carvings while others later in history were standard issue equipment for uniformity and given to each enlisted sailor for his own use where it was expected he would keep required personal items and needed toiletries.
The simple construction of a ditty box was typically of pine wood with dovetailed joints, hinged lid with lock and key, while in the case of the early German Navy the lid consisted of a sliding piece of wood which fitted into grooves. Some ditty boxes had handles made for rope beckets while many didnt have handles at all. Some had specific plates where the sailors name was to be engraved, while others did not - especially early handmade ditty boxes.
We will be illustrating on this web page specific ditty boxes found in our collection as well as period photographs showing sailors with their ditty boxes!
The Pirate's Lair has been collecting Ditty Boxes for several years as each one is unique and personal to the sailor who owned it and as such are important pieces of naval history used during time of war. However we are pleased to offer some of the ditty boxes we have found for the pleasure and use of people who appreciate and enjoy the unusual, hard-to-find nautical and naval antiques.
Above is a non-issued non-regulation handmade ditty box used by a US Navy Sailor, T.D. Devine possibly a Petty Officer, from the Civil War - This type/style of ditty box was commonly used from the 1860s thru the 1890s by American sailors.
By the mid-late 1890s the US Navy, like most of the European navies, had established a standardized regulation ditty box to be used by the enlisted seaman. It appears that the US Navy did not permanently assign a ditty box to each sailor upon enlistment, but rather gave out the ditty box assignments at the command level. Through period photographs which can be seen below these ditty boxes did not appear to have any character or flair about them, nor did any seem to be personalized as would be the case if they were just temporarilly assigned.
Some of these regulation ditty boxes appear to have assignment or inventory numbers stenciled onto them. For additional information and photographs on this and other ditty boxes along with availability, as well as period photos of sailors with similar ditty boxes please continue to scroll down.
Above is a non-issued non-regulation handmade ditty box used by a sailor aboard a US Merchant Marine Liberty Ship during WWII. Note the elaborate hand painted picture of the Liberty Ship he was serving on, there is no readable hull number. For additional information and photographs on this and other ditty boxes along with availability, as well as period photos of sailors with similar ditty boxes please continue to scroll down.
Above is a British Royal Navy WWI standard-issue regulation ditty box with the sailors name J.C. Morrell inscribed on the metal nameplate. Typically standard-issue regulation ditty boxes were never personalized with carvings or paintings. For additional information and photographs on this and other ditty boxes along with availability, as well as period photos of sailors with similar ditty boxes please continue to scroll down.
Above is a German Navy ca 1890s-1920s Kaiserliche Marine and Reichsmarine standard-issue regulation ditty box or in German "Eigentum Effecten Kasten" or just "Eigentum Kasten". The sailors name is not inscribed on the attached metal plate but written on the side. For some strange reason we have seen an equal number of these ditty boxes have the names handwritten on the side of the wood, hand inscribed as well as professionally stamped on the metal nameplate. We currently have 3 of these to choose from! For additional information and photographs on this and other ditty boxes along with availability, as well as period photos of sailors with similar ditty boxes please continue to scroll down.
Above is a period photograph of US Navy American sailors aboard an unknown ship playing dice and card games passing the time away while sitting on their US Navy issued regulation ditty boxes - note the side beckets: ca 1890s Spanish American War to pre-WWI early 1900s Great White Fleet era. Sometimes these ditty boxes were also known as Sea Chests or Sea Trunks.
Below the photograph is a formal written receipt for an issued Ditty Box and signed for by an enlisted sailor WR Montgomery while aboard the USS South Dakota (Armored Cruiser No. 9 ACR-9) and dated April 1912. This substantiates both use and term in the US Navy as late as 1912 as well as firm evidence that ditty boxes were assigned by the duty station for ship and were always considered Navy property and not that of the sailor (unlike the British or German navies)!
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The Rarest of All! Detailed photos and technical characteristics of these authentic mid to late 19th century naval and nautical sea chests and stowage chests some of which may be for sale. |
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Vintage WWII German Navy Kriegsmarine Standard Issue Regulation Ditty Box or in German or "Eigentum Effecten Kasten or just Eigentum Kasten" (Personal Effects Box or Personal Box) Used Exclusively by the U-Boat Unterseeboot Fleet. The Construction Method Using Tin Hardware is Indicative of WWII Vintage, Not Earlier WWI Kaiserliche Marine or the Reichsmarine. |
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Obtained From Poland! Vintage WWII German Navy Kriegsmarine Standard Issue Regulation Ditty Box or in German or "Eigentum Effecten Kasten or just Eigentum Kasten" (Personal Effects Box or Personal Box) Used Exclusively by the U-Boat Unterseeboot Fleet. The Construction Method Using Tin Hardware is Indicative of WWII Vintage, Not the Earlier WWI Kaiserliche Marine or the Reichsmarine. Has the Name "Loteu" or "Loten" Hand Inscribed on One Side. |
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Patina is Darker Thank Photographs Indicate. |
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Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest |
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Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!! |
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