

Kingsport Oil Company, the area Shell gasoline distributor, was founded in 1946 by, I think, A. R. Brashear, Jr. In the 50s, he traveled in the rarified air of bank directors and committee chairmen. And judging from a quick scan of newspaper archives, the company was a ball of fire when it came to giveaways and contests. At one point, in the early 50s, they gave away a new car. This 2.5 x 4″ handy (it’s been used!) little sewing kit was probably thrust at you when you filled up the tank in your merry Oldsmobile.
The Brabant Needle Company, Ltd., of Redditch, England, is long gone. There was a Duchy in Germany held by the Duke of Brabant, fwiw.
The generous-hearted Carl Swann gave this to me. And it was much appreciated, since it’s getting harder and harder finding Kingsport stuff lying in the open.