‘Twist’ boxes were used by workmen to carry their chewing tobacco and were popular with miners and sailors because of the fire risks underground or at sea which meant it was dangerous to smoke tobacco. Tins were often inscribed with the owner’s name, address, occupation and date. Some ‘twist’ boxes are decorated with images or symbols to personalise them. You can see who owned this box, what he did for a living and that he was working in Cardiff in 1903.
