So here we are cleaning out the storage locker for the last time and putting all the junk in our garage till we can sort out who wants what and what goes to Goodwill. Mostly it's furniture that's really not worth anything and certainly no complete sets. However, in amongst all the stuff is a chest built long ago that I may turn into a tool chest. I's made from 1 1/8 poplar planks with mitered dovetail corners. The story is it belonged to my wife's great great grandmother and it was her sea chest when she arrived in America at 9 years old, sometime around 1810. It was there after used as a blanket chest till around 1880 when Luther Fraizer used it as a travel chest when the B&O sent him on business trips. He was pretty high up in the telegraph department and did a fair amount of travel. After his death it was used as a toy chest which is what my wife remembers.
Anyway it's 46" x 24" x 24". the ends, front and back are one piece poplar, the top is one wide piece with a small piece where the hinges mount and has breadboard ends. the bottom is 2 pieces of poplar held on with what looks to be some kind of cut nails. The dovetail joints are perfectly tight and the whole chest is very solid, no twists or creaks when it's moved or carried. Sturdy!
I'm considering adding some supports for 3 sliding or more sliding trays, unsure is I want them to run the 46" length of perhaps make them run the other way. The inside is unfinished but the outside is covered in a dark brown thick paint, most likely lead based. Not sure if I want to strip it and refinish or leave it as is. There are 2 wheels remaining on the bottom and i'll need to find 4 low profile replacements. The lid will need some repair where the metal straps are and some kind of lid support or chain as nothing holds it open.
Have any suggestions on how to proceed???
Brian
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