kerr silver cigarette case

[Rayvenini]

i think's it is made by Kerr, it a very nice little piece, it's engraved MAJOR H. HARLOW BROOKS M.R.C - USA 1917, i've been unable to find out anything about him, , one one side of the case are 4 symbols an eye, army cap and two bees which are very detailed, do these symbols mean anything to anyone? the silver mark is i think Kerr sterling 4677 AT

[byron mac donald]

Hello-
I dont know what the symbols are for. The "MRC" is for "Medical Reserve Corp" U.S. army (army reserve, medical) I googled "dr harlow brooks" he is all over the web. Hope this gives you somewhere to look for the what appear to be army medical insignias. 1917 WWI.

Regards- Byron

[dmay]

The mark is that of Kerr.

[admin]

Hi,
It's been making me crazy for days now. I'm fairly sure the engravings are a rebus or pictograph puzzle in which the images make up the words or syllables of a phrase. The concept was popular with Victorian jewelers, who made things like brooches consisting of an eye, honeybee & leaf for the phrase "I believe".
The damned hat is the problem, perhaps there is some obscure word for an officer's cap that would make it all make sense. As is, the best I can do is to view the cap as symbolic of rank to make it read "I be major, honey"....admittedly, kinda lame, but most rebuses (rebii?) are.

Regards, Tom

[Waylander]

I be happy? (eye-bee-hat-bee)? A bit of a stretch!

Waylander

[Granmaa]

The major's surname is Brooks so perhaps: I be major B.

Miles

[Waylander]

Miles, reckon you might have it!

Waylander

[admin]

Aaaah, that's a relief, thanks Miles.

Tom

[dmay]

This has been driving me crazy as well! I was stuck on the "hat" word, but I think Miles has it!

I should post the rebus from the bottle cap from Haffenreffer beer that my college roommate and I could never solve, even sober!

[Rayvenini]

sorry not been in touch shot off to Egypt for a while

any idea on the age. i know it's engraved 1917, but the intials on the front dont match for Harlow Brooks they are H.L.C

thanks all and well done Miles

[salmoned]

I doubt a cover would be used to indicate rank, rather I'd expect an oak leaf [cluster]. "I be top Bee" seems more likely.