Help identifying chest/trunk?

[jonniefive5]

Thanks for taking the time to look at my post, im very inexpirenced when it comes to antiques so i appreciate the patience.
I recently was given a chest from my parents elderly neighbor before they were moved to a retiring home.
All i know is that it appears to be cedar/ brass, has a skeleton key lock and mesures approx. 4'x2'x2'. Ive included a decent amout of pictures to help. I jist dont want to restore something thats better left untouched! Thanks for the help!

[KC]

Sure looks like a cedar chest!  So many were made without identifying marks.

Nice piece!

[jonniefive5]

Any way to be able to date or find maker/ find value?

[mart]

Nice cedar chest !!  Unless its marked somewhere chances of finding the mfr are slim and none !!  These were used by many families for blanket storage, woolens and other similar items !! You might check the bottom and see if its stamped !! But whatever the chest is,, its better left as is !! Refinish attempts reduce the value and destroy any collectability in the future !!  Chests like this sell fairly well but not great money !! This one maybe $175. to $200. If in good condition !!

[KC]

Is there a metal part to the lock on the INSIDE?  Does it have any insignia on it?

There were so many, if there isn't any marking or logo then it will only be luck to ever figure that one out.  Did you ask the nice people that you got it from?

Is it a "self-locking" chest?  Many years back cedar chest companies (Lane and many other large manufacturers)had to send retro kits so the locks can't be self locking.  Too many kiddos climbed in cedar chests and some barely made it out alive when someone finally found them..and unfortunately a few didn't make it out alive.

I got the kit for mine way back but there is no way another thing (much less something as big as a human) is going to fit in mine it is so full!

[jonniefive5]

Unfortunatly no insignia on any of the brass hardware and i dont think its self locking, the only other thing that might help age it is the wheels on the bottom which are wooden as well

[mart]

Can you take a pic of those casters ??

[jonniefive5]

Yeah here are 3 more pictures

[mart]

Did some looking around and it seems that "roll caster wood wheels" were a selling point for Lane Cedar Chests !!  Can`t say for certain but could be the brand !!
Can you find anywhere it looks like a brass plate has been on the chest and possibly removed ??  I read where Lane had such a plate on their chests with a serial number !! They have a website,, why don`t you send them a good pic and see if its theirs !! They said they were quite willing to help !!  Even if its not a Lane,, they might recognize it !!

[jonniefive5]

I went on the website but im confused onto where i go to ask the company?

[mart]

There is usually a place that says to "contact the company" or something similar !! May just say "contact us" !! Just click on that and send an email and ask if they could tell you if its a Lane,,then just follow their instructions !! I did not look at their site but other sites said they were willing to help if you think its a Lane Chest !! Just don`t get in a hurry,, they may get dozens of questions daily !!

[jonniefive5]

While looking over the inside the chest I found 2 more odd details. 2/3 up on the inside cover is a brass peice of some sort and there is also 4 faint numbers "2725". Hmm, now I understand why people love antiquing!

[mart]

That's great !! Lane used several number systems over the years and it did say that it would be on a brass plate !! So do contact them with that info and see what they say !!  Then let us know !!

[jonniefive5]

After getting your response I went back and reread my post and it made it sound as if I found thr plate...unfortunate ly not. what I ment to say is that I found a small brass peice , and farther over numbers wrote on the wood itself. Maybe these pics will help. Sorry.

[KC]

This may help when it comes to a Lane

Lane's site about he replacement lock also gives specifics on their chests
http://www.lanefurniture.com/customerservice/lock-replacement.aspx

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Lane-Cedar-Chest-/10000000018935029/g.html