Lost in translation...

Many Japanese needle tins were made for export so all designs and descriptions needed to be in English. As is the case with many translations from Asian languages into English, small errors in spelling and grammar are common. One that appears on a few Japanese tins is the word "ABUT" instead of "ABOUT" when referring to the number of needles the tin held, as can be seen on the two Beethoven tins above. With the Japanese generally so focussed on detail and getting things right, especially in manufacturing, I am at a loss to explain why this might have happened. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.