Antique Wanamaker Metal Needle Case Mitrailleuse London Needle Dispenser Vintage

Description

Wanamaker Originator Metal Needle Case is 2.25” Long
~Top cap says Patent London Mitrailleuse Needle Case
~Bottom cap says Best English Steel Needles 50 Sharps
Antique, possibly late 1800s/early 1900s needle case.
Brown with gold lettering.
Marked "Mitrailleuse Needle Case, Made in England."
Metal construction. A dial on the cap can be turned to point to marked numbers- 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  When properly aligned, a small opening to the interior needle compartment is revealed. Other text around case includes instructions for use: "Hold the required number uppermost, turn indicator on to it, & shake out the needle. The points of the needles are protected."
Case is not full of needles, but at least a few remain inside, one did shake out with dial set to 5. The cap dial turns well, needle case intact with no dents, some rust spots on end caps as seen in pics, lettering remains clear on label.
This type of needle case design is referred to as "Mitrailleuse", named after "a type of volley gun with barrels of rifle caliber that can fire rounds at once or in rapid succession," invented in mid 1800s. The barrel compartment design is present in some vintage needle cases, including this one. Different compartments accommodate different needle sizes, only one compartment revealed at a time through small hole in cap, by turning the top/dial.
Moving top/dial to a space between two openings keeps needles from falling out.