Author Topic: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up  (Read 3475 times)

JoshandLila

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Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« on: October 19, 2012, 08:15:09 pm »
Hi folks, posted this up awhile ago when I was considering buying it. Paid $85 delivered to my door ( which saved me $25 in gas ) got it all cleaned up and now Ive got some questions. can anyone tell em how old this is, what it might be worth, and if this is considered a "Masters" chest? Its a two level chest with the top compartment for saws and the bottom for tools. the nails used were all the square tops and I was told this could be from the mid 1800's. It has no key but both locks are still in place. would love to hear your thoughts, thanks
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JoshandLila

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2012, 08:18:46 pm »
heres some pics of the hardware, the bottom is just an example of the nails used
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greenacres

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2012, 08:23:25 pm »
" Energy and Persistence conquer all things."

sapphire

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2012, 08:29:37 pm »
I don't know anything about antique carpentry.......... but to me that looks like an old shoeing nail!    ;D

JoshandLila

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2012, 08:41:31 pm »
Ive seen quite a few of the single level ones, but couldnt find any example of the double level. Also this one appears to have to square inlays on top. The hardware on the latch, that must have been added after the key was lost, is really old itself. when was the use of the square nails popular? some of the slots in the screws almost looked hand filed.. just feels older than late Victorian.
Sapphire- Ive got some of these nails that are almost 4" long... wouldnt that be too long for shoeing? I think this is just the kind of nail that was mass produced at the time
"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."
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greenacres

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2012, 08:46:39 pm »
I had my husband look at them even though he's half a sleep, lol and he said they were mass produced. Maybe I should have gotten him more awake! ;D
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bigwull

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2012, 02:37:42 am »
These nails are called cleats...they are mass produced and can still be bought today,over here they,are mainly used for nailing down old pine flooring,
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cogar

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2012, 04:33:40 am »
The chest is old but that nail looks to me to be a new one.

The old nails, if not rusty, usually always have a "blueish" to "black" patina.

See below 2 nails on left, up at their tops, stated as being circa 1860,


JoshandLila

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2012, 06:24:53 pm »
The nail pic was just to show what a square nail was to anyone who didnt know. the nails in the chest ARE old, and everything has patina lol
Bigwull- are you sure they still make them? Ive never come across any at my hardware store... ever. I think They do make a kind of square nail but the nail and head are much thinner, which would make it perfect for flooring
"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."
H. G. Wells

bigwull

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Re: Antique carpenters chest, all cleaned up
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2012, 07:06:44 pm »
You can get them in the UK,...the square headed one,s are more specialized..the others are either L shaped or T shaped,and these can be bought  loose or in gang nail form..as for "blue black patina,d rusty nails....I was of a mind to go down to my local joinery merchants,and furniture restorers today to enquire about patina,d nails...then thought better of it, as i did,nt want to end up being the laughing stock of the day....  ;D..see link to gang nail cleats...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000-HARDWOOD-FLOORING-CLEAT-NAILS-45mm-T-TYPE-NEW-/320882916391?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item4ab61cbc27
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,