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Home » Gruen Box Database » 1930s » Carre triangle (The making of)
Carre triangle [message #13901] Thu, 29 October 2020 23:00 Go to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Description
A triangular display box. Probably made from wood lined with paper. Light/middle brown? Black velvet insert.

Period : 1930-1934?
Watch type : pocket watch unisex gruen carre
Size : ca L=3.3 cm W=13.2 cm H=6.6 cm
Inventor : unknown
Patents : unknown

Box maker : unknown

Other : I don’t have this box (yet). Never seen one in the wild. But I do want it!

Picture from the box in a window display (from a picture matthias found).
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7274&private=0

Another view on Lola Lane’s lap can be found here

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13902 is a reply to message #13901] Thu, 29 October 2020 23:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
If I cannot buy the box, I can try to make the box. I will describe the steps I took.

Trial and error with a white A4 paper. I dont have autocad... Thinking from a 3-dimensional box to a foldable flat blueprint was hard. Edges wrong length, triangles wrong way. Glad I had a scissor and tape.

Blueprint (version 2):
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7275&private=0

How to fold (version 1)
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7276&private=0

Put together (version 1):
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7277&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7278&private=0

Version 3 is in the make. Made from passe-partout. Thicker material, so I had to take that in account in a newer blueprint. Horror. Even more, Cutting straight is not my best skill. To be continued.

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13908 is a reply to message #13902] Sat, 31 October 2020 14:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Passe-partout white box.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7283&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7284&private=0

To make it nicer I might put brown book linen on it. Or do you have a suggestion?

I started with the watch holder. Foam, cardboard and the black velvet back of a photo frame.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7285&private=0

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13909 is a reply to message #13908] Sat, 31 October 2020 16:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast
Gruen Authority
Cheerleader
Nice! Now that's what I was reverse engineering!

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13916 is a reply to message #13909] Sun, 01 November 2020 01:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Clever! I wonder if it was similar in color/texture to the beige service box Liz posted in ‘20s?

My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13921 is a reply to message #13916] Sun, 01 November 2020 12:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Case wrote on Sun, 01 November 2020 02:50
Clever! I wonder if it was similar in color/texture to the beige service box Liz posted in ‘20s?
I dont think so. Difficult to transfer a black and white picture into color, but it could even be pink! Laughing

A comparison of my beige/taupe/brown boxes.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7294&private=0

In the window display there were also the brown boxes and the beige ones. For comparison put them in one picture with my brownish boxes made colorless.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7295&private=0

And a zoom on Lola’s lap shows the texture:
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7296&private=0

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13924 is a reply to message #13921] Mon, 02 November 2020 14:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Great sleuthing! How fun! So looks like the triangles on the base didn’t have the linear pattern like center pieces? And when center pieces were down (box closed), the Line on them would’ve been vertical (I think?)

My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more

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Re: Carre triangle [message #13926 is a reply to message #13924] Mon, 02 November 2020 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Ah, you might be right. Different base and lid patterns. Something some of the carre watch cases also had. Maybe we should look at the watch models? Cases with line patterns?

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #14080 is a reply to message #13926] Mon, 07 December 2020 21:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Well, I am not a certified watch box maker. For sure I wouldn’t be hired for the Gruen box making company. Laughing But, next step finished.

I glued a light brown linen on it.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7385&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=7386&private=0

Next step, make a black velvet watch holder.

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

[Updated on: Mon, 07 December 2020 21:19]

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Re: Carre triangle [message #14083 is a reply to message #14080] Tue, 08 December 2020 14:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Looks great to me, Jenneke.

My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more

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Re: Carre triangle [message #14084 is a reply to message #14083] Tue, 08 December 2020 14:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast
Gruen Authority
Cheerleader
Looks professionally made Jenneke! Don't underestimate your skills, you know us airplane builders use shims to take up any slack on the body sections. If they can do it and make a million you can.

You go girl!

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Re: Carre triangle [message #14085 is a reply to message #14084] Wed, 09 December 2020 18:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
GaryM wrote on Tue, 08 December 2020 09:26
...you know us airplane builders use shims to take up any slack on the body sections. If they can do it and make a million you can.

You go girl!
Too funny, Gary, and so right! I remember the standard shop notes at one of the largest commercial roof joist makers: “bend to suit, beat to fit, weld the * out of it, paint to match”

Jenneke’s far more precise! As Dietrich Gruen said, “Trifles make precision, but Precision is no trifle.” Btw, I’ve now shamelessly adopted that quote in my company’s on-boarding training.

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Re: Carre triangle [message #15372 is a reply to message #14085] Tue, 24 August 2021 19:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
After a break, the next step.

I discovered there is self adhesive black velvet.

From the original box picture I think the watch should fit in two ways. Snug flat when opened and on one corner when the box is closed. The fiddling started… cardboard, glue, black paint… trial an error.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=8452&private=0

Ready for the velvet! Again, fiddling with small pieces.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=8453&private=0

And tadaaa! The end result.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=8454&private=0

Maybe i will give the white inside a lick of paint. But for now, done and dusted.

Next project… give the carre a leather jacket.

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

[Updated on: Tue, 24 August 2021 19:02]

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Re: Carre triangle [message #15373 is a reply to message #15372] Tue, 24 August 2021 19:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
What a project!

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19000 is a reply to message #15373] Sat, 20 July 2024 20:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kastner is currently offline  kastner
Messages: 339
Registered: May 2013
Location: Pasadena CA
Gruen Guildsman
That's great work Jenneke, and is quite impressive! I was fortunate enough to pick up one of these recently.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11146&private=0, /vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11147&private=0
.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11148&private=0, /vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11149&private=0

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19005 is a reply to message #19000] Sat, 20 July 2024 22:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
Messages: 1931
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin
Wonderful that you were the one to get that.

All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19010 is a reply to message #19005] Mon, 22 July 2024 15:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Oeh wow, I envy that one. Is it leather on wood?

I asked the seller on Ebay how it closes. I still dont understand it. Mine needs some flex (hinges) in the bottom to be closed. Because the closing triangles will hit each other.

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19011 is a reply to message #19010] Tue, 23 July 2024 01:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kastner is currently offline  kastner
Messages: 339
Registered: May 2013
Location: Pasadena CA
Gruen Guildsman
It is made out of a thick chipboard with nice paper coverings.

As for closing it, you're exactly right: you need play in the hinges because the closing triangles will hit each other!!! This is a "worse case" closing to show what we're dealing with

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11152&private=0

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19014 is a reply to message #19011] Tue, 23 July 2024 19:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1904
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
kastner wrote on Tue, 23 July 2024 03:12

As for closing it, you're exactly right: you need play in the hinges because the closing triangles will hit each other!!!
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=11152&private=0
Now I can sleep. 😅

Thanx for showing the issue or should we call it a design flaw? Anyway, still a very very nice and unique display box!

Do you have a picture from the holder?

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

[Updated on: Tue, 23 July 2024 20:07]

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Re: Carre triangle [message #19065 is a reply to message #19014] Tue, 27 August 2024 18:25 Go to previous message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
What a thread this is.

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