little MITCHELL screwtop container

I've had this little container (maybe a second one too somewhere else?) for a long time. About 2" across and 1-1/2" tall, its made of black plastic, engraved and filled 'MITCHELL small' on its lid and 'MADE IN FRANCE' in raised letters on the bottom.

For some reason I want to remember it once held fishing line or reel or somesuch hardware, now it holds little fasteners and pushpins.