Unidentified cedar chest

Looking for some help identifying the origins of a cedar chest I'm thinking of refinishing. There's a note in the box that just says "From dad 1923", so I'm assuming it was built around that time but for all I know it's older than that and came over from Europe. There's a maker's mark in the inside of the lid; I believe it's No. 3B 4C. Any ideas?

 

Greetings, Iowa Guy! We're going to need pictures - overall exterior, interior, construction details (joints, dovetails, etc,)

 

Yeah, photos would probably help! Sorry about that. Thanks in advance for telling me whatever you can glean from these.

 

the inside is lined with American Aromatic red cedar .....& it looks like the hardware was swapped out for newer metal..

 

Do you think the exterior is also cedar or something else?

 

from what I can see I don't think so...it looks like stained pine.......but would need better pics to be sure..

 

I can do that. What do you need, just some close-up shots of the exterior wood grain?

 

Looks typically American and your date seems right.

 

can you see if it's lined like I suspect or if indeed the side walls are one solid board.......

 

it may be a mix of Eastern Red Cedar boards....& or......



& western red cedar too...........that's possible...

 

I guess I'm showing my ignorance here (total restoration novice) but I can't really tell. It looks to me like it's the same board on the exterior and interior. I can't see any straight lines or seams on the top lining of the chest when it's open that would suggest that it's lined. I did think to remove a screw from one of the handles to see what was underneath there. From what I can tell it looks like it might be cedar there, too.

 

ya, I'm coming around to that way of thinking too..........
I'm used to the Aromatic being used as a liner ....& the dark stain is throwing me off.......
Why cover up such stellar looking wood ????

But...OK.....solid boards....then the whole box is Eastern Red Cedar !!

 

I'm showing my ignorance here.............

no worries !!
I'm working off photo's.........I can't feel it smell it or scratch it....

 

Awesome. Thanks for the assist. I'd like to know who made it but that might remain unsolved.

At any rate I think I'll move ahead with the restoration. For the first project I tackled last fall I sanded the old finish off, and it took forever and a day. With something this size I'm thinking about maybe using some kind of chemical stripper. Thoughts? Is one approach superior to the other?

Once it's ready for refinishing I'm leaning towards a clear finish that won't darken or amber the wood too much. I'd like to keep it looking as natural as possible.

 

i don't know what's best.....but it is a soft wood....if that helps one way or another.......

 

Exterior looks like birch with a dark toned stain to me.