Fantastic 1800s slatted wood and iron reinforced shpipping crate. Retains original brownish red paint and is stenciled to the front and back: ADAMS EXPRESS CO. in large black letters. Sides are marked: WESTERN DEPT / 897. One of the earliest frontier express companies, Alvin Adams started in 1840 with a single wheelbarrow, moving packages between Boston and Worcester before expanding to a larger express service. Formally incorporated on July 1, 1854, combining Adams & Co. with eight other eastern express companies.During the Civil War era they became a crucial logistics provider, shipping goods and money for both Union and Confederate forces. They saw rapid expansion, and by 1887, the firm operated over 23,000 miles of railroad, employing 7,800 people with a large fleet of horses and wagons. They were a major competitor to the Wells Fargo & Co. Express. These crates saw hard use and they have a low survivability rate. Provenance: Former Tom Martin, Ron Bledsoe collections. Dimensions: 31" x 22 - 1/2" x 21".