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Nice chest, needs minor repairs.

Do I leave the dog chewed corner alone and stain it or replace the trim entirely?
Hinge work is required.
Missing components inside top right, I will research this to see if I want to install what was there or maybe turn it into a tool box?
Oh, as normal , no key for the lock.
Wrong was a lock at some time.
 
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looks like a bargain, I would probably re-make the skirting around the bottom, re-do the hinges and buy a working lock, then make some compartments and trays but you could just use it for another purpose like storing clothes, it would definitely cost more than $40 just for the wood.
 
This was painted Matt black when I first acquired it some 20 years ago.
It has a full set of trays if you want to see them for a pattern to work to.
 

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thetyreman said:
looks like a bargain, I would probably re-make the skirting around the bottom, re-do the hinges and buy a working lock, then make some compartments and trays but you could just use it for another purpose like storing clothes, it would definitely cost more than $40 just for the wood.
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Thinking the same, I think originally it was for storing clothes blankets and odds and ends.
Went on two reputable antique dealer sites and found two similar pine chests dated 1860,s to 1880,s.
 
Lurker said:
This was painted Matt black when I first acquired it some 20 years ago.
It has a full set of trays if you want to see them for a pattern to work to.
Click to expand...
It would be helpful if you could send a pic or two.
Turned out very nice, I just love look of these old worn chests.
 
Difficult call on replacing the trim, on the one hand it looks a bit scruffy, but on the other hand if you replace it will either look brand new, or you'll have to articificially age/distress it, which kind of defeats the authenticity a little.

Either way it's a thing of beauty and well done for rescuing and repurposing.
 
TrimTheKing said:
Difficult call on replacing the trim, on the one hand it looks a bit scruffy, but on the other hand if you replace it will either look brand new, or you'll have to articificially age/distress it, which kind of defeats the authenticity a little.

Either way it's a thing of beauty and well done for rescuing and repurposing.
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The corner of trim around top is my major concern, still pondering what to do.
I am ok with rest of dings etc.
The base skirting is fine to me also, maybe not.
I'm off site work for the next month, only light duty in the shop so plenty of time for this piece.
 
thetyreman said:
looks like a bargain, I would probably re-make the skirting around the bottom, re-do the hinges and buy a working lock, then make some compartments and trays but you could just use it for another purpose like storing clothes, it would definitely cost more than $40 just for the wood.
Click to expand...
There is a faint imprint of where a lock was, I'd like to source a period correct one. And yes make the compartment and tray as you suggested. Sitting on fence regarding the skirting.
Thanks for the suggestions!
 
I think with a bit of TLC that'll come up 'perfick' as you lot say in Canadia. No.1 daughter in Carlisle bought something similar some years ago and spent a lot of time and elbow grease on hers to get it looking respectable. I might be inclined to knock the whole thing apart (some of the corner jointing looks like is doing it already), clean up and re-glue, at the the same time replacing those bits that are mangled or dog/puma/bear chewed. New hinges possibly needed (?) but they ought to match the quite substantial handles, which could be a problem - Rob
 
TrimTheKing said:
Difficult call on replacing the trim, on the one hand it looks a bit scruffy, but on the other hand if you replace it will either look brand new, or you'll have to articificially age/distress it, which kind of defeats the authenticity a little.
Click to expand...
Surely it could be counted as authentic with a few taps of a gennou... or whatever equivalent tool from where it came,
for what one could call a sympathetic restoration?

On the other hand, should this chest be of little value, and it finds another purpose....
and for whatever reason you might want to have a go at closing the gap, sliding trays for example.
It' d be interesting to see if some might suggest to do something about the cupped front,
should a trench/dado be a possible solution on that flatsawn slab, should it not be too close to the pith, that is.

I wonder if folks have done things along those lines, perhaps if it were a disassembly job,
or the case of the hide glue disassembly process been already taken care of.

Something along the lines of clamping down the panel to a rigid worktop offcut, the use of a track or circular saw thereafter,
whilst perhaps waiting a week before repeating the same operation, or until the panel gives in and clamps down flat
and gluing in a spline afterwards.
Not really seen anything of the sort, though I've not studied furniture restoration to see if this is a done thing.
Seems something like this chest would be the kind of thing where that might be utilized.

All the best
Tom
 
Cabinetman said:
Yes I was about to say that would have been a candle box, the damage to the top corner, I think I would just splice a couple of bits on rather than replacing it all.
Ian
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Also trying to find a pic of the tray below the candle box.
I assume it's four four sided.
 
Nice find.

I'm not a furniture restorer and I don't know how you intend to use it. But if it was mine I'd do what Blackswan recommends and try to find some old pine replace the lid trim. I would not bother staining or refinishing anything. Just clean it up a bit. The mismatched new trim will eventually age and blend in, mostly. If not it will become part of the history anyway. You mentioned some attention to the hinges and if they don't work properly then I'd fix them, too. Do you imagine it needing a lock?
 
GaryR said:
Nice find.

I'm not a furniture restorer and I don't know how you intend to use it. But if it was mine I'd do what Blackswan recommends and try to find some old pine replace the lid trim. I would not bother staining or refinishing anything. Just clean it up a bit. The mismatched new trim will eventually age and blend in, mostly. If not it will become part of the history anyway. You mentioned some attention to the hinges and if they don't work properly then I'd fix them, too. Do you imagine it needing a lock?
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I will keep an eye out for a lock and if I can't find one then that's ok.
Will repair the lid trim as it is an eye sore and the one hinge is fine other than plugging the screw holes with wood and re screwing it.
The left hinge is broken, which I will replace.
And a sympathetic cleaning of surface grim is in order.
Would also like to make good a candle box and tray.
I thought some kind of flat stock trim on backside of the lid was missing but evidence of filled holes suggest screws added to secure a thin strip at back of lid.
 
Interesting find hand cut nails or machine cut nails securing the lid trim. Hand cut nails started in 1775 then machine cut nails from 1790 till 1890. Wire nails followed. 1000002509.jpg
 
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TomTrees said:
Surely it could be counted as authentic with a few taps of a gennou... or whatever equivalent tool from where it came,
for what one could call a sympathetic restoration?

On the other hand, should this chest be of little value, and it finds another purpose....
and for whatever reason you might want to have a go at closing the gap, sliding trays for example.
It' d be interesting to see if some might suggest to do something about the cupped front,
should a trench/dado be a possible solution on that flatsawn slab, should it not be too close to the pith, that is.

I wonder if folks have done things along those lines, perhaps if it were a disassembly job,
or the case of the hide glue disassembly process been already taken care of.

Something along the lines of clamping down the panel to a rigid worktop offcut, the use of a track or circular saw thereafter,
whilst perhaps waiting a week before repeating the same operation, or until the panel gives in and clamps down flat
and gluing in a spline afterwards.
Not really seen anything of the sort, though I've not studied furniture restoration to see if this is a done thing.
Seems something like this chest would be the kind of thing where that might be utilized.

All the best
Tom
Click to expand...
Hi Tom, I have decided not to do anything about the slight gap in the top two dovetails on both sides of front corners. From 2 feet it's hardly noticeable.
 
Looking good. I'd have thought that any significant smell would be down to grunge on the surface and a good clean will get rid of it.
 
In UK we have a spray called Febreze. Somehow it work to remove smells rather than mask them with a stronger one. I acquired an upholstered chair from a house of heavy smokers and several heavy sprays with this stuff removed the smell completely such that a closely applied nose detected nothing.

Fabric Sprays | Febreze FABRIC

Spritz away and instantly fight fabric odors with Febreze Fabric Refresher.
www.febreze.com www.febreze.com
 
9fingers said:
In UK we have a spray called Febreze. Somehow it work to remove smells rather than mask them with a stronger one. I acquired an upholstered chair from a house of heavy smokers and several heavy sprays with this stuff removed the smell completely such that a closely applied nose detected nothing.

Fabric Sprays | Febreze FABRIC

Spritz away and instantly fight fabric odors with Febreze Fabric Refresher.
www.febreze.com www.febreze.com
Click to expand...
We have some in our laundry room, Ill give it a go.
 
How about washing the inside with very hot water, a scrubbing brush and some soap? If there's still a musty pong, chop a lemon in half and wipe it round the inside. Better in my view than to use artificial chemicals. Once it's clean, use some sachets of lavender as AndyP suggested above - Rob
 
Woodbloke said:
How about washing the inside with very hot water, a scrubbing brush and some soap? If there's still a musty pong, chop a lemon in half and wipe it round the inside. Better in my view than to use artificial chemicals. Once it's clean, use some sachets of lavender as AndyP suggested above - Rob
Click to expand...
Scrubbing with soap for sure, never tried the lemon treatment before.
Good tip.
 
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I wonder, pure speculation, was the pull out tray under the candle box, for 'spills'? Oldies used to get though a lot. I remember my grandfather lighting his pipe and ciggies from spills when I was very, very young, say 1960.
 
Very nice chest. I particularly like the drawer under the till--I've never seen that.

As far as the trim is concerned, you might be able to pull the front piece, cut off the damaged part, and use it to replace the damaged side trim. Then you'd only have to make one piece of trim for the front.

Good job!
 
kirkpoore1 said:
Very nice chest. I particularly like the drawer under the till--I've never seen that.

As far as the trim is concerned, you might be able to pull the front piece, cut off the damaged part, and use it to replace the damaged side trim. Then you'd only have to make one piece of trim for the front.

Good job!
Click to expand...
Funny , yesterday I did exactly what you have suggested . Trying to source this trim but I think I may need to reproduce it.
 
Last stage is completed, chest is done but will keep an eye out for a period lock set.
I needed to make a new trim piece across the front face of chest lid, used and existing piece to mark the profile.
Roughed out or hogged out material using my table mounted router.
Finished the profile using scrapers, plane and sand paper.
Stained new trim to somewhat match the chest and made sure to nail in salvaged hand cut or machine cut nails.
 
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