Do you recognize this little stainless steel/plastic case with the flip top? It once was a standard piece of airline equipment.
Let us know your best guess. The first person (sorry, excluding employees) to leave a reply below with the correct answer wins a small prize from the Delta Archives goodie closet. The winner will be announced next week.
Good luck!
Marie Force
Archives Manager
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:29 am
Chewing gum holder
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:33 am
An ashtray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Ashtray
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 am
It’s an ash tray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:37 am
a chewing gum holder, really?
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:37 am
It is an ashtray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:51 am
ASHTRAY!!!!!
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:52 am
Chewing gum holder?
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Chewing gum holder!!
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:00 am
Ashtray in the arm rest of seat
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Curious. It looks like one of those ash trays that would be in your seat armrest when smoking was allowed on flights.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Cigar box?
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:31 am
A chewing gum holder, obviously.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:46 am
Chewing gum holder.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:47 am
Holder for gum
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 am
an ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
An ashtray from the seat armrest
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
since you when you click on the image the file is called chewing gum holder
i am going to say its a chewing gun holder!
http://blog.delta.com/wp-content/uploads/cs_chewing_gum_holder_masked.jpg
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Looks like a cigarette case/dispenser.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Is it an ashtray that was located on the arm rest of the seat?
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Why, it’s an ashtray of course. Thank goodness they’re no longer necessary. I remember flying and hoping there were seats available in the front of the plane, because the back of the plane would stink to high heaven. Ashtrays are great for gum wrappers, though. I kind of miss them. They were something else to play with when you got bored, and they’re kind of pretty, don’t you think?
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Or, more appropriately, a chewing gum case/holder.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Chewing gum holder?
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Looks like an ashtray…. Its hard to believe that people smoked on planes at one time. And since I remember that, it was not too long ago. Late 80′s?
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Thank God they no longer carry these on Airliners!
It’s ia Cigarette Case.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Looks like a cigarette case…
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Is it an ash tray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:54 pm
The picture is of an antique chewing gum case.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
An ashtray? Is the top lid plastic, or Bakelite?
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
A chewing gum holder. Early flights used chewing gum to help relieve ear discomfort.
Actually, I still use chewing gum for ear discomfort.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Isn’t that an ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:57 pm
cigarette case
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm
actually, i think it’s a chewing gum holder
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Is that an ashtray insert that went into the seat armrest?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Is it an Ash Tray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Is it a chewing gum holder?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I believe this is an ash tray!
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Is that the ashtray from an armrest?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:48 pm
An old ashtray from between the seats.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
It’s a chewing gum holder.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Looks an ashtray that would go in the arm of a seat on a plane. Bizarre that smoking was once common place on commercial flights!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:03 pm
It looks like an ashtray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Chewing Gum Holder. I posted this answer on twitter moments after the tweet.
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Ashtray!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:18 pm
chewing gum holder!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 pm
It’s a chewing gum holder!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I meant chewing gum holder.
Final Answer.
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:33 pm
chewing gum dispenser
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:40 pm
chewing gum holder!!!
i was going to say ashtray but i thought better
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
From the pic heading its given as “chewing gum holder”. Is that right? Regards.
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
It’s an ashtray – found in the arm-rest of a typical seat…right?
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
It’s a ashtray from back when you used to be allowed to smoke on planes.
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I will say a gum dispenser.
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I think it is an ash tray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Chewing gum holder? (I may have cheated.)
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
An ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Playing card holder.
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Looks like an ashtray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
That is an old chewing gum holder. You can still find these on auction websites and from collectors.
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Is it an ashtray (for cigarettes, etc.)?
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Well, without knowing the dimensions, it is hard to guess… My initial guess was a portable tray table, or a mirror. But on a visit to the Delta Heritage Museum last year, I remember reading or hearing about how chewing gum being offered to all in the early days of air travel to passengers to help with pressurization and air sickness. So I thinking it might be some sort of vintage gum dispenser.
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
An ashtray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:13 pm
An in-seat ash tray ? That is my best guess.
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:14 pm
An ash tray ?
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Wild Guess? : An ash tray?
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Or chewing gum holder?
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
An ashtray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Chewing gum holder
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
chewing gum holder
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:58 pm
It is an Ashtray
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Ashtray
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:54 pm
A holder for gum?
Looks like it’s about the right length for sticks of gum.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:55 pm
An ash tray.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 pm
seatbelt?
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 pm
it looks a lot like a cigarette box that would be offered to passengers.
July 24th, 2010 at 12:26 am
chewing gum case????
July 24th, 2010 at 1:30 am
It is obviously a chewing gum holder!
July 24th, 2010 at 3:52 am
it’s an ashtray!
July 24th, 2010 at 9:26 am
hmmmm….a food tray/case?
July 24th, 2010 at 10:16 am
ashtray?
July 24th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
According to the file name, it’s a chewing gum holder, but I’m not eligible to win… just wanted you to know so you could change the file name of the image.
July 24th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Could it be a case for cigarettes or cigars?
July 24th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
A seat belt buckle?
July 24th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Ashtray?
July 24th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
ashtray
July 24th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Would that be storage for the flight manifest, or could that really be for chewing gum and/or cigarettes?
July 24th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Is it a chewing gum holder?
July 24th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Is it by chance a chewing gum holder?
July 24th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
It’s a chewing gum dispenser.
July 24th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Is it a casing to hold gum?
July 24th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I think its an ash tray.
July 24th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Ash tray
July 24th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Its an ashtray.
July 24th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Looks like a seatbelt buckle. Too square to be an ashtray.
-J.
July 24th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Is it a Chewing Gum Holder?
July 24th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Ashtray.
July 24th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
An ashtray.
July 24th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
seat belt cover?
July 24th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
An ash tray?
July 24th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Safety Seat Belt Buckle?
July 25th, 2010 at 1:09 am
Is it an ash tray?
July 25th, 2010 at 3:25 am
It appears to be an ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:08 am
I guess it’s an ashtray
July 25th, 2010 at 6:57 am
An ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 8:37 am
ashtray
July 25th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Is it a chewing gum holder?
July 25th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Ash tray?
July 25th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Isn’t that a lock of the seatbelt?
July 25th, 2010 at 11:27 am
It’s a box for chewing gum, which used to be very important in the days before pressurization to keep ears from popping and reduce headaches.
July 25th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I’ll give it a shot…is it an ashtray?
July 25th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Second guess…can I have two guesses. A place to put your gum-a chewing gum holder of sorts. Trying to think way back in the day…lol
July 25th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
It’s an ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Ashtray?
July 25th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Could this be an ashtray?!!!
July 25th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
I think it’s a cigarette ashtray. Whatever it is, it’s gorgeous!
July 25th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
An ashtray
July 25th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Let’s start with an ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Is it a chewing gum holder?
July 25th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
looks like one of those things that hold chewing gum
July 25th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Ashtray! (an in seat (armrest) ashtray I believe)
July 25th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
A chewing gum holder?
July 25th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
My guess is that it is an ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
an ashtray
July 25th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
it’s an ash tray that went between each seat.
July 25th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Ash tray!
July 25th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
An ashtray.
July 25th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
i think that it is an ash tray for cigarettes
July 26th, 2010 at 12:04 am
is this where you put your gum?
July 26th, 2010 at 12:37 am
flight attendant, do you have any gum please?
July 26th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Ashtray or cigar/cigarette box?
July 26th, 2010 at 2:00 am
I say it’s an ashtray from the more ‘golden’ era of flying.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:20 am
an old black box! haha im not quite sure but thats my guess
July 26th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Is it the chewing gum holder?
July 26th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Uhh — actually it’s a chewing gum holder — which you can see in the title of the image when you click on the picture.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Cigarette Ash Tray
July 26th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Is that a gum holder?
July 26th, 2010 at 10:42 am
I think it’s an old school holder for sticks of gum, like juicy-fruit and DoubleMint. I found a picture that looks like it, from the front on an old NW ad.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:06 am
An ashtray
July 26th, 2010 at 11:18 am
This is a seatbelt buckle.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Does it hold chewing gum?
July 26th, 2010 at 11:23 am
It looks like a seat belt buckle. Or maybe an ashtray.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Ashtray?
July 26th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 26th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
gum holder. They sell them on e-bay. It is interesting that people have issues now with airlines putting advertisements on things like cups and peanut packets, when this was actually an early form on in-flight advertising , too. http://cgi.ebay.com/MID-CONTINENT-AIRLINES-GUM-HOLDER-SILVER-PLATE-NICE-/370334895461?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5639ae0d65
July 26th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 26th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
This sure ages me though I still feel 21….just without my best friend though.
Don’t want to put the answer here…so I’ll find the entry form somewhere.
Also…if anyone wants to salute our troops…we need you at Homefront Hugs !!
Adopt a hero today…and become a hero. Just email me at HomefrontHugsUSA@aol.com or google us….
July 26th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
okay…I guess we leave a reply below…it’s a seatbelt buckle which I remember everytime going to see my greatgrandparents and relatives in Switzerland and flying Delta or Northwest….
July 26th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Ashtray
July 26th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Is it a chewing gum holder? Weren’t they very prevalent in the 1930s and 1940s on the unpressurized aircraft? Either that or a ash tray…but I think its the chewing gum holder…
July 26th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Is it a chewing gum holder?
July 26th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Looks like an ashtray to me
July 26th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Is it a chewing gum storage case?
July 26th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Hmm, it looks like a ashtray, or perhaps a cigarette case. (fingers crossed!)
July 26th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Ashtray
July 26th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
How about: Chewing gum holder? Perhaps airline staff used it to hand out sticks of gum to help passengers alleviate air pressure in their ears during take-off or landing?
July 26th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Chewing Gum holder?
July 26th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I think it is a chewing gum holder.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
It’s an ashtray!!!
July 26th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 26th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
It reminds me of an old seat back pocket or a magazine rack.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Isn’t this an ash tray from an old armrest?
July 27th, 2010 at 12:12 am
It is a chewing gum holding case
July 27th, 2010 at 12:23 am
ashtray??
July 27th, 2010 at 2:59 am
is this an ash tray?
July 27th, 2010 at 5:35 am
Well, it is a chewing gum dispenser, probably 1930s. I guess quite a few people left that reply here before – the filename gives it away after all – still a fun concept
.
July 27th, 2010 at 8:49 am
It’s an ashtray.
July 27th, 2010 at 9:47 am
is it an ash tray?
July 27th, 2010 at 9:54 am
removable armrest ashtray?
July 27th, 2010 at 10:41 am
It’s an Ashtray!
July 27th, 2010 at 11:40 am
This looks like an aircraft ashtray.
July 27th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Is it an ashtray?
July 27th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
This is a box that flight attendants would carry with them during flight with gum inside to give to passengers who were having a problem with the pressure change.
July 27th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Tray table
July 27th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
chewing gum holder
July 27th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
chewing gum holder
July 27th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
in seat ash tray? that is my best guess!
July 28th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
A cigarette holder. Cigarettes were served to passengers from this case.
July 28th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Ashtray!
August 1st, 2010 at 9:54 am
chewing gum holder
August 1st, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Chewing Gum Holder!!!