Featured Unusual antique strong box Trunk Corbin Cabinet Lock Co

Naw...those look like mouse turds, same as those further back in the rear edges of the spaces.

 

Those look like they are a retrofit security measure. They look like metal plates, with leather tabs. The extra holes and different lengths may indicate they were borrowed from something else, not made specifically for this box. I imagine they were intended to prevent tampering/ballot stuffing after voting was ended, and were pivoted into position before the box was closed and locked.

 

I think definitely that it was a ballot box. Fraternal orders would have no use for all the hasps and the lock. Slots would be internally covered and the box locked. Then the box would be transported to the counting site (courthouse?). The counting official would then open the box with his key. Perhaps the space in the bottom of the box was used to transport blank ballots? I would love to have one of these.