diff --git a/src/blackmisc/inheritance_traits.h b/src/blackmisc/inheritance_traits.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d432e93b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/blackmisc/inheritance_traits.h
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/* Copyright (C) 2015
+ * swift project Community / Contributors
+ *
+ * This file is part of swift project. It is subject to the license terms in the LICENSE file found in the top-level
+ * directory of this distribution and at http://www.swift-project.org/license.html. No part of swift project,
+ * including this file, may be copied, modified, propagated, or distributed except according to the terms
+ * contained in the LICENSE file.
+ */
+
+//! \file
+
+#ifndef BLACKMISC_INHERITANCE_TRAITS_H
+#define BLACKMISC_INHERITANCE_TRAITS_H
+
+#include <QMetaType>
+#include <type_traits>
+
+namespace BlackMisc
+{
+    class CEmpty;
+
+    /*!
+     * If T has a member typedef base_type, this trait will obtain it, otherwise void.
+     */
+    template <class T>
+    class BaseOf
+    {
+        //template <typename U> static typename U::base_type *test(int);
+        template <typename U> static typename U::base_type *test(typename std::enable_if<! std::is_same<typename U::base_type, CEmpty>::value, int>::type);
+        template <typename U> static void *test(...);
+
+    public:
+        //! The declared base_type of T, or void if there is none.
+        typedef typename std::remove_pointer<decltype(test<T>(0))>::type type;
+    };
+
+    /*!
+     * It T has a member typedef base_type which is a registered metatype, this trait will obtain it, otherwise void.
+     */
+    template <class T>
+    class MetaBaseOf
+    {
+    public:
+        //! Type of T::base_type, or void if not declared.
+        typedef typename std::conditional<QMetaTypeId<typename BaseOf<T>::type>::Defined, typename BaseOf<T>::type, void>::type type;
+    };
+
+    /*!
+     * Alias for typename BaseOf<T>::type.
+     */
+    template <class T>
+    using BaseOfT = typename BaseOf<T>::type;
+
+    /*!
+     * Alias for typename MetaBaseOf<T>::type.
+     */
+    template <class T>
+    using MetaBaseOfT = typename MetaBaseOf<T>::type;
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/blackmisc/valueobject_private.h b/src/blackmisc/valueobject_private.h
index 825ba1f26..c644f04fb 100644
--- a/src/blackmisc/valueobject_private.h
+++ b/src/blackmisc/valueobject_private.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #define BLACKMISC_VALUEOBJECT_PRIVATE_H
 
 #include "blackmisc/blackmiscexport.h"
+#include "blackmisc/inheritance_traits.h"
 #include <QString>
 #include <QMetaType>
 #include <QDBusMetaType>
@@ -28,44 +29,6 @@ namespace BlackMisc
     template <typename T>
     void registerMetaValueType();
 
-    /*!
-     * If T has a member typedef base_type, this trait will obtain it, otherwise void.
-     */
-    template <class T>
-    class BaseOf
-    {
-        //template <typename U> static typename U::base_type *test(int);
-        template <typename U> static typename U::base_type *test(typename std::enable_if<! std::is_same<typename U::base_type, CEmpty>::value, int>::type);
-        template <typename U> static void *test(...);
-
-    public:
-        //! The declared base_type of T, or void if there is none.
-        typedef typename std::remove_pointer<decltype(test<T>(0))>::type type;
-    };
-
-    /*!
-     * It T has a member typedef base_type which is a registered metatype, this trait will obtain it, otherwise void.
-     */
-    template <class T>
-    class MetaBaseOf
-    {
-    public:
-        //! Type of T::base_type, or void if not declared.
-        typedef typename std::conditional<QMetaTypeId<typename BaseOf<T>::type>::Defined, typename BaseOf<T>::type, void>::type type;
-    };
-
-    /*!
-     * Alias for typename BaseOf<T>::type.
-     */
-    template <class T>
-    using BaseOfT = typename BaseOf<T>::type;
-
-    /*!
-     * Alias for typename MetaBaseOf<T>::type.
-     */
-    template <class T>
-    using MetaBaseOfT = typename MetaBaseOf<T>::type;
-
     namespace Private
     {
         //! \private Needed so we can copy forward-declared CVariant.