Vintage compact number 62 in my collection is a sweet little compact with a flower bouquet design encased upon the top. Needlepoint decorated vintage powder compacts are few and fair between when it comes to finding them but Joe managed to sneakily buy this one for me at the weekend from an estate sales we visited. While unbranded I've managed to find some interesting information and history about this little compact all thanks to the patent number which was originally hidden under a clump of now vintage, original powder. Luckily google's patent search makes it super easily to track down and read American patents - in this case an issue date of January 29th, 1935 when a George Rosenburg of New York was issued his patent for a compact or vanity case was found.
There's a couple of reasons why this patent and compact is a little different mostly relating to provision, adaptation and construction methods of using two different materials and so on. But what is of most interest is a little change in the mirror as described in the patent;
The ordinary vanity case is provided with a mirror on the inside of the cover facing inwardly, this being exposed when the case is opened. In accordance with a further object and feature of the invention, the bottom of the vanity includes a mirror facing outwardly which is valuable for use as a hand mirror without opening the case. This mirror makes unnecessary the extra mirror usually carried by a women in her handbag. Because the mirror is located at the bottom of the case, the cover at the top of the case may be suitable decorated or adorned to beautify the same.
George Rosenberg, 1935
That's not to say the only mirror provided in this compact is upon the bottom, inside there is a double sided mirror in the underside of the top, behind which a rogue compartment is held. Sadly over time this bottom facing mirror has faced a little extra wear but it's certainly an intriguing and practical idea.