(Lane?) Hope Chest

Hello all.

The amazingly knowledgeable responses to my last post inspired me to post this, which I have been wondering about for some time. It is an antique hope chest my mother gave me about a year ago. Here is what I can make out from the markings on the bottom…
Serial No. 111827
Style No. 744
Style No 44140

Not sure why it is identified with two different style numbers.

I seem to recall the serial identifying it as a Lane from the turn of the 20th century?

Still has a very strong smell of cedar (naphthalene).

Can anyone tell me about it?

Thanks again!

 

It's my understanding Lane used to stencil the serial# (date) forwards and at some point changed to backwards. So your chest was probably made on Nov 18, 1927.

 

I don't think I've seen a Lane chest that was not marked Lane on the interior top.

 

Bakersgma is quite correct. There is also an old insert under the lid…



As well as the Lane stamp:

 

I forgot it was there! I generally don’t open the chest lest my bedroom smell like mothballs for the next couple of hours. LOL!

Thanks.

 

So does anyone understand why the double style numbers?

My only use for the chest is a place to sit when I put my shoes on in the morning. Is it of value beyond that?

Thanks again. What an amazingly knowledgeable and friendly community you have here.

 

You don't use it for storage?

 

I don’t store anything in it for fear that it will come out smelling of naphthalene.

Even after 90+ years the smell is quite strong.

 

Well, I find the scent pleasing and it doesn't bother me. I guess that's a reasonable explanation.

 

Mothballs are not good for you though. I don't know why they needed naphthalene in a cedar chest anyway?

Mothball scent sets off a porphyria attack in me.

 

I wasn't talking about mothballs, though. Cedar scent, from the wood of the tree itself. That's what I meant. I assumed the chemical naphthalene was something in the wood. Wrong?

 

Chemistry is not my forte, but as far as I know, naphthalene is made from an oil and tar mixture.
Far more sophisticated than the way I just said, I'm sure.
It is the main component of mothballs.

But I agree, natural cedar scent is very nice, and it doesn't cause any porphyria attacks. I don't know if these chests are real cedar or some of the cedar types you get in the USA, which are closely related to our European thuja, but both smell nice.

 

The whole purpose of people buying cedar chests are so they don't have to use moth balls. Can't imagine why anyone would put moth balls inside a Lane hope chest.

 

I agree, birddog!

 

Exactly!

 

I can’t say what’s been done with this chest in the 93 years before it came under my ownership last year, but to me it certainly smells of moth balls.

And considering this is where the conversation has turned, I’m going to surmise that it isn’t a particularly valuable piece of furniture? LOL!

 

Here in the Midwest, $150 or so in good condition (Yours appears to be so).