Found attached to the floor in my Crawlspace. House was built in 1903.

My title describes the thing – found while doing work in the Crawlspace. Not sure of exactly above it, but mapping that out is next step over the weekend!

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE’S OPINION!

Someone said:
That is a Savings Bank tube. They were an advertising promo giveaway item popular in the sixties. I collected them as a kid and used them to store coins and marbles in. Having lived in, and rehabbed, a number of early 1900s through 1950s homes I can say with a high degree of confidence that this is one of two things. It is either, as others have mentioned, a handy junk drawer item that was a perfect fit for a dislodged knots hole. Especially, if this home is located in an area that gets cold, winter’s where you can feel the chilly winds come up through any cracks or holes in the walls or floors. Second possibility is a hidey hole or other small storage slot. It was very common to attached coffee tins, baby food or Mason jars, and other similar items directly to the sub floor or joists of the floor above for small item keeping. The unfinished basement of my 1927 house had about fifty of them, some empty and some with 80 year old nails and screws and household fittings. Again, as others have mentioned, Home Decorators does seem to be the likely origin. Sales rep comes out to talk details with (usually) the “Lady of the House” and gifts the kids these (other) promos items to keep them busy and foster a sense of good will.

Someone said: