Mitre box question

[Branson]

For sale on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370551436680&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250901781377&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNASIF:US:1123
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180718876390?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Stearns, Millers Falls, and Stanley, respectively.   The Stanley and Millers Falls are identical, and the Stearns is nearly identical, differing only in the wooden parts.  Who actually made these?   And the prices on the MF and Stearns seem pretty high to me.  Thoughts?

[Branson]

And another by Union Hardware.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Union-Hardware-Perfection-Miter-Box-Vintage-Stanley-Common-Saw-/200664358522?_trksid=e11012.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D250901781377%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3677852330120488011

[walker]

ive got the union hardware one,mines like a rolls royce compared to
that junk.still has label etc.i have to use my spear & jackson saw with it.
i may try and sell mine now!!
brian

[scottg]

Sure look identical to me.  I wonder which of the three designed and cast the hardware, and sold to the other two, myself.  All three were casting iron at the time.
  If I were to WAGuess, I would guess Stearns.  Stearns made mostly small stuff in my experience. Spokeshaves and scrapers etc. Never saw a Stearns jointer, that's for sure.
 The box hardware seems to be designed for a minimum iron pour, meaning a smaller furnace.
 
 Usually you can't give a miter box away. I got my 358 for free, and wouldn't have even taken a lesser box.
There is a 28" miter saw up at the town dump right now. Its has some rust and its a later model with a broken tote, so I didn't even bother, for < a dollar. 

  The butcher block gives a nice look, and if you aren't really a woodworker and just buy things, then the only way to get one would be to buy it, and I imagine there is some competition.
  Not sure there is 65 dollars worth of competition, but I have been wrong before.
   yours Scott

[Branson]

I have a Millers Falls that I picked up years ago.  Nice little miter, and more than reasonably accurate.  It, too, still has the label on the back. This summer I found one the same size, very similar set up, but stamped metal instead of the casting.  I stumbled across the Millers Falls on eBay and put it on watch -- wanted to see what it would bring -- and then there were all these similar miters. 

The seller has reduced the price to 50 something from the original $65 buy it now.  I am still surprised at the prices.