Original Item: Only One Available. This is a scarce original Imperial Japanese Army metal storage and transport box intended to hold cans of lubricating oil for armored vehicle or other military mechanical use. The original oil cans are no longer present, but the interior wooden dividers remain in place.

The lid retains three large Japanese characters that appear to read:

箱油脂

The interior is also marked with six larger characters which have been interpreted as referring to canned oil, medium.

The exact contents originally carried in this box are not completely certain from the surviving markings alone. While the supplied interpretation associates it with automatic transmission fluid, that terminology should be treated cautiously because WWII Japanese military vehicles did not necessarily use lubricants categorized in the same way as modern ATF products. It is safer to identify this as a military oil or lubricant storage box unless a more specific contemporary Japanese designation can be confirmed.

The box is of sturdy sheet-metal construction and measures approximately 13 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches when closed. It weighs approximately 12.5 pounds empty.

The interior retains its original wooden dividers, arranged to separate and secure individual cans during transport. The dividers remain in generally good condition, although there is some age-related damage and wear.

Two metal hooks remain attached at two corners of the box. These were likely intended to secure the container during transport or attach it to a vehicle or storage rack, though the precise mounting arrangement has not been confirmed.

Both exterior latches remain present and are still functional.

Condition overall is good. The exterior shows heavy service and handling wear, with scuffs, finish loss, scratches, and general surface wear throughout. Importantly, there is no serious overall oxidation or structural deterioration.

The inside of the lid retains a paper label or painted panel that has been completely blacked out, obscuring whatever information was originally present.

This is an unusual and interesting piece of Japanese WWII armored vehicle or mechanical support equipment, retaining its internal dividers, functional latches, exterior hooks, and original Japanese markings.