Lowell Holmes wrote:

:
: Or take a couple of classes and learn to cut them square by hand. Three
: days at Homestead Heritage or a similar school will leave you with the
: knowledge and skill to do it.

And three hours with a router and a jig will cut a bajillion
box joints cleaner and better than pretty much anyone could cut them by
hand.

AFAIK, box joints were always traditionally cut by machine.

-- Andy Barss