WWII era A.I.F. Victory Boot - number two
c. 1940Miniature Australian military boot in original condition, with a leather sole and laces, and twelve pins (the heads representing cleats) attached to the sole. The leather is aged and worn. The boots originally contained Vesta matches. Remnants of the panel on the sole used to strike the matches remains.
A second boot in refurbished condition is also in the collection.
According to the Australian War Memorial, The AIF Victory Boot was a novelty match holder available from about March 1940, originally containing wax vesta matches. The original boot had a panel glued to the base which was a striker panel, meant for striking matches.
It sold for between 1/6d and 2 shillings. The boots were sold singly in capital city department stores and larger stores in regional areas.
Stores marketed them in a number of ways. One in Queensland thought they would be a novelty that could be included in a soldier’s kitbag, while Farmer Bros in Sydney said 'this novelty match holder [is] lots of fun…but it's a graceful way of signifying your loyalty to King and Country'.
Details
Details
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