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This box of Wonder shot shell primers still sealed and in Mint condition I believe to be a fairly scarce item. According to George R. Watrous in January 1943 wrote the Wonder shot shells came out in 1920 with a large battery cup. However they proved to be unpopular shells and were discontinued in 1921. This one came from the collection of a 40 year employee of Winchester. The story I was told a person had a brick or partial brick on these & sold the individual boxes at the old Chicagoland Cartridge Show.
As stated on the box the Wonder shells were designed to be loaded with black or smokeless powder, light loads
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This is a nice box but primers, wads, gas checks, bullets and other misc boxes don’t normally bring the money empty shells or loaded ammo does. You need to find a website for shotgun shell collectors.
Not looking for big bucks for this box, put it out there for information. I do belong to the Facebook group regarding shot shell boxes, now over 6,000 members along with the International Ammunition Association. There are others out there also.
November 7, 2015
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Cool! Were these primers only used in Wonder shot shells? I suppose we’re fortunate the 209 primer was standardized years ago!
Mike
Yes Mike as far as I know these were only used in the Wonder shot shells. For that time period they were large primers. When Mr. Watrous wrote about them he had been an Winchester employee for 43 years. One thought could be those primers were used for black and smokeless powders.? Mr. Watrous didn’t say why they were unpopular and discontinued. Fortunately he did write down a lot of information about Winchester ammunition in 1943 and that information has survived.
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Timothy. As Chuck pointed out only some of us collect ammo and it seems they are more interested in metallic cartridges. I’ve accumulated a few boxes of old ammo, some didn’t seem all that old when I bought them. I like seeing the old brass and paper shotgun shells but have not dedicated much time (or library space) to learning about them. I’ve read about Watrous, maybe it’s time I read what he wrote!
Mike
Mike, Ray Giles in Dallas, TX a personal friend has done well offering those old Winchester boxes not only to box collectors but to those who want to display a period correct box for their Winchester lever rifle. Box collecting has really grown a lot in recent years and continues to grow. Example, the 1-pc Winchester Repeater Trap Load I have is full & correct and in Mint or Near Mint condition. I believe there might be five known to exist, the last one I know of selling was in very nice condition but empty and sold for $6,600. A somewhat similar box the 1-pc Winchester Leader that came out about the same time, I only know of two of them and both are empty.
November 7, 2015
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Timothy-
I may have met your friend Mr. Giles in my travels. I’ve certainly heard of him. I thought he was a TGCA member but he’s not in our directory. Maybe he’ll have a box for my 1903. I’m using an (R-word) box for now.
Mike
I love the nostalgia and the art work in the old boxes. As much as I like the boxes, I particularly enjoy them when they are full 
Mike, you can check out Ray’s website at http://www.rtgammo.com You may or may not see what you’re looking for on his website, I would suggest calling or emailing him as I know he often has items that he hasn’t had time to inventory them for his website. A lot of his ammo is collectible so too much value to shoot them. However he does have a fair amount of shooter boxes, both of us were recently at the Tulsa Gun Show.
Boxguy said
Yes Mike as far as I know these were only used in the Wonder shot shells. For that time period they were large primers. One thought could be those primers were used for black and smokeless powders.? Mr. Watrous didn’t say why they were unpopular and discontinued.
Dan Shuey when discussing the “Wonder” Shell he stated Winchester spent a lot of time making the shell the very cheapest product possible being made for one good discharge and not intended to be reloaded. Which is odd because they sold primers and new primed empty shells. The Wonder shell was basically only an Export Shell for the foreign markets and was only sold domestically for one year or less. It was loaded initially for black powder but later for both black and smokeless. Domestic catalog listings show Smokeless only while Export listings offered both. They were loaded smokeless with DuPont, Dead Shot, E.C. or Schultze. Waltrous lists the Wonder shell was made or offered for only about one year and 1921 as the last year it was made. The quality of the shell was so poor that sales didn’t meet expectations and it was dropped. Shuey estimates production from 1919-1921*, as the name was trademarked in 1919, with the possibility of production into 1923, as he found a single testing entry in ledger records on June 1923. He also found a company June 20, 1930 (Change In Manufacture notice) CIM No. 12799 stating the Wonder Grade PSS discontinued from the manufacturing line.
Dan also stated that the 6.45 primer in the Wonder Shell was also used in the American, Winco, and Winner shells on an experimental / prototype basis only. One reason the primer is named as it is the cap’s diameter that is equal to 6.45 m/m, another indication it was intended for foreign markets.
My understanding is that the Wonder grade shells are very rare today with individual shells cost from $250-800 with a rare yellow colored tube version being even more expensive. That said, I’ve never bought any, but I don’t specifically collect shot shells either.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Maverick! You saved me a bit of research. OTOH you have pointed out a void in my modest reference library.
Mike
Maverick that’s some great information you provided, much appreciated. Was not aware of a yellow tube Wonder shell. Seen pictures of green and red tube Wonder shells. I don’t collect single shot shells but I need to check with a friend who has an extensive collection of single shells, maybe he has some Wonder shells.
Maverick said
Boxguy said
Yes Mike as far as I know these were only used in the Wonder shot shells. For that time period they were large primers. One thought could be those primers were used for black and smokeless powders.? Mr. Watrous didn’t say why they were unpopular and discontinued.
Dan Shuey when discussing the “Wonder” Shell he stated Winchester spent a lot of time making the shell the very cheapest product possible being made for one good discharge and not intended to be reloaded. Which is odd because they sold primers and new primed empty shells. The Wonder shell was basically only an Export Shell for the foreign markets and was only sold domestically for one year or less. It was loaded initially for black powder but later for both black and smokeless. Domestic catalog listings show Smokeless only while Export listings offered both. They were loaded smokeless with DuPont, Dead Shot, E.C. or Schultze. Waltrous lists the Wonder shell was made or offered for only about one year and 1921 as the last year it was made. The quality of the shell was so poor that sales didn’t meet expectations and it was dropped. Shuey estimates production from 1919-1921*, as the name was trademarked in 1919, with the possibility of production into 1923, as he found a single testing entry in ledger records on June 1923. He also found a company June 20, 1930 (Change In Manufacture notice) CIM No. 12799 stating the Wonder Grade PSS discontinued from the manufacturing line.
Dan also stated that the 6.45 primer in the Wonder Shell was also used in the American, Winco, and Winner shells on an experimental / prototype basis only. One reason the primer is named as it is the cap’s diameter that is equal to 6.45 m/m, another indication it was intended for foreign markets.
My understanding is that the Wonder grade shells are very rare today with individual shells cost from $250-800 with a rare yellow colored tube version being even more expensive. That said, I’ve never bought any, but I don’t specifically collect shot shells either.
Sincerely,
Maverick
Great info Maverick. I do have some boxes that are period to my shotguns but never really paid much attention to shot shell boxes. I do know that picture boxes demand a premium.
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