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Hi all, I was bidding on some unfolded boxes today, on some of the end flaps there was various numbers impressed into the tiny end flaps, mainly 6s & 9s. 7 & a few other numbers. I have never noticed that before as anybody else Pete.

In spite of trying I have not been able to find a question in the above post.

If the unmentioned question concerns the significance of those small numbers, I believe they serve to identify the positions of the individual boxes on a printing sheet. The purpose may be similar to that of the die numbers on model parts, i.e. to quickly find out the exact location of a faulty section on a printing plate.

petethesweet wrote:Hi all, I was bidding on some unfolded boxes today, on some of the end flaps there was various numbers impressed into the tiny end flaps, mainly 6s & 9s. 7 & a few other numbers. I have never noticed that before as anybody else Pete.

Pete, could you please clarify exactly what you mean by 'impressed'? Do you mean stamped (as in a reverse embossing), or are they coloured in, as if printed?
I have an uncut sheet of mixed boxes from late 1969, and there is no sign of anything like you describe on any of the end flaps. So, if what you are referring to are stampings, perhaps these were impressed as part of the cutting process, although it strikes me as difficult to build a machine which would cut and stamp simultaneously simply because the stroke would have to be extremely precise fin order or the stamping not to become a perforation!

Hi Hugh the numbers were reverse embossing, that may have been printer samples or maybe some code perhaps someone on the forum has brought them or may know someone who has Pete.