Posted 10 years ago
trunk_junkie
(55 items)
I bought this off Craigslist. I believe it is a 1930s era cedar chest. It was a mess with lots of tiny paint splatters on it. I have never seen the inside look like this. I don't know if I should remove the cardboard inside or leave it alone. Google pics show some of these chests with it and some without.
The only thing I have left to do with it is to remove the hardware, clean it up and put it back on.
If anyone knows whether or not I should remove it, please reply.
looks to me like waterfall I have a bedset that belonged to my grandparents from the 30's or so the style waterfall
Not sure but would wonder if that insert is asbestos since plain cardboard would be a source of mold growth , I guess my question is what it is made of before I was messing with it. It looks like it was put there to let air circulate and I can't see if inside is cedar lined under that tray .
What does it say on the liner ? There is some writing on it .
Those liners weren't asbestos but they were treated with a chemical. I am not sure why they did it because the cedar alone serves the purpose. The holes were in fact for ventilation and I am not sure the train of thought for having vents inside a locked chest. Kind of like drilling holes in a cremation urn so you can breathe.
I agree fhr why would they need a moth repellent when cedar does that ? I guess I don't get the purpose as you can choose moths or mold ????
It was a gimmick that was an option at an extra cost. I don't remember where these were made but they tried to compete with Lane. It didn't work out.
I guess I should have added I don't for a minute put this down. It is worth a hundred or maybe two and deserves recognition. Not a big demand item but special.
Honderich Furniture Company is based in Canada. OMG I LOVE LOVE LOVE the holes in cremation urn comment. Thank you SO MUCH for the laugh out loud Fhr... Well if it was a gimmick that someone paid extra for, I'll go ahead and leave it in there. The writing, however faint, says: Red Seal Liner redd or rodd (hard to read the last word). Yes, the cedar is underneath it. Maybe it controls the amount of "aroma" from the cedar that permeates the trunk???? I don't know. It is PERMANENTLY fixed into the inside, would be almost impossible to remove. So, it will stay. I won't tamper with it. It does seem to be "coated" with something, not just regular cardboard so mildew has much less of a chance to form and grow.
Thank you all so much for responding. I have enjoyed all the comments. I knew it wasn't worth a lot of money simply because of the sheer numbers of cedar chests that are out there. However, I am impressed that all the cedar chests available today were so well constructed that they are lasting upwards of 100 years. We can't say that about the furniture that is manufactured today; crappy veneers, sides stapled to the fronts, cheap pressed board; all a testement to how greedy manufacturers have become by investing in the cheapest materials out there...and charging the proverbial arm and a leg for them now. Give me the good old days anytime. I'll take antique furniture over today's garbage in a heartbeat.
Hi - I too am digging around about HONDERICH furniture, and saw your post. I came across a chest with the same insert as you -- so thought I would pass on the link:
http://greenspotantiques.com/wooden-cedar-chest-the-guardian-moth-proofed-honderich-furniture
Hi Antiquerose. The link you provided is very interesting. The only thing missing is the price paid for it. Would like to know what someone paid for it.
I cleaned up the hardware and was pleasantly surprised to see what they look like. I will post another picture in a different entry so you can all see it.
I also have the same trunk, mine has the "red seal" label still inside the lid, I think the lining is for moth " insurance"
Hi Classicanne.... I just love this chest. I'm using it to store my quilting fabrics and go into it every day. I was so glad to know the lining was a deliberate feature of the chest...not something someone else put there. Since I refinish old trunks, I'm so used to seeing the insides having wallpaper or whatever inside them, covering up the original paper so I just thought this chest was done like this after it was manufactured. Thanks for responding.
i have the exact same chest. I was hoping there was some value in it, being so old. I am curious to know if there is any site i can go on to sell or get info about the restoration of the items i currently have, please help. I have ancient side cabinet tables, with older than old nails, and alot of pieces. id like to get rid of. Kindly if anyone knows of a link or a number i could call please and thank you. your help would be ever so appreciated thank you.
The lining was provided to prevent natural oils from the cedar contacting the woolens, etc. stored in the chest. Usually recommendations to wrap the clothing items in paper (not newsprint) were provided.
To fhrjr2: Honderich manufactured cedar chests for the Canadian domestic market for almost 50 years quite successfully and, some were exported to the U.K.