An Old Tool Chest - What to Do? (Pic Heavy)

[dustyrag]

PeteW said:

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There's just a chance you might have something significant there. A bit of googling reveals an Indiana artist, Micajah Thomas Nordyke, who lived between 1847 and 1919 and was one of the founders of the Richmond IN Artist's Group.

Some info here:
http://www.askart.com/askart/artist.aspx?artist=5039669
and here:
http://www.pal-item.com/story/entertainm.../16409173/

Don't be painting over that artwork until you've checked it out!

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Interesting information. The chest came from the basement of a home in New Castle, Indiana which is not far from Richmond, Indiana. The chest was much older than the house (built in the 1950s) and there were no other woodworking tools in the house. The only tools in the chest were two levels, hidden in an area that required the removal of the tills, two of which were stuck.

I think I'll contact a couple of people I know locally about the painting. Fortunately, there are a couple of local art specialists right around the corner.

I'll let everyone know what I find out.

[dustyrag]

toolemera said:

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My guess is the top is tin rather than tin plate? If so, it's fairly old and was expensive. I've seen this done to chests that were to be moved in wagons for protection from the elements. The date on the painting matches the handles too, which is always a good thing.

Before messing with the painting, talk to a museum curator who knows about 19th c oil scrumble paints, which is what this looks like.

You have find that a simple surface cleaning of the outside and inside (except for the painted inside cover) with mild dishwashing detergent, unscented and anionic, dilute, may change the color dramatically.

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How would I determine tin plate from solid tin? For now, I'm leaving the chest untouched, but thanks for the cleaning tips.

[Dave Ring]

Pure tin is very soft and bends easily. It is also nonmagnetic. The top looks to me like galvanized iron or steel, though it could be tinplated. I'd test it with a magnet.

[lilrichard2]

Gary Roberts (toolemera) is getting this one next week - a user-made machinist chest:










The missing wood and corner are in the chest.





The giveaway on user made is the wood used for the construction of one of the drawers. Here's a pic of one of the drawer backs:





Richard

[toolemera]

if a magnet sticks, it's tin plate over sheet steel. If the magnet doesn't stick, it's tin plate.

[toolemera]

I strongly suspect the original owner of this chest was going through nicotine withdrawal and chewed the edge of the chest.

And a fine tool chest it is, indeed

[Steve N]

What is it you want from it? Purty looks, well you have a lot of work.

If you just want a functional box to hold tools, I imagine it will do that right now. You might feed the wood, it really looks dry. Apply some BLO, or other oil based product with successive coats till it doesn't look arid anymore. Lighter on tool holding surfaces so it isn't goopy. The wax the devil out of those trays until they slide like magic.

Insert tools,

Enjoy a nice older box, chock full of character

[Martin S.]

Bump

[Anji12305]

That's wicked funny, right there.

Try chewing Sassafras (Butternut) when it gets bad, and The Patch wears off. Not the same, but it helps.

Best thing you can do for your friends and family (if they like having you around) - giving up the smokes.

It's also the hardest thing on your friends and family.

http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Sassafras.html

[mvflaim]

As others have said, that painting may be worth more than the chest. don't touch it until you do more research.