Dating a cedar chest

I inherited a hope chest from my grandmother who passed away in the 80s at the age of 89. She lived her entire life in Joliet IL. Trying to determine its age and the maker. There are no maker tags or marks, but a number is stamped on the underside of the lid. The lock to the chest and hardware may give clues to its date. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Link to images:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HJQO8f7J_UxKRogDjz1dEkWzTTLFkBlO?usp=share_link

 

can you please post photo's here........
many here will not open links from members we don't yet know....

and it's easier for us old folks to help you.......with things we can see....

 

I braved your link, but got a message saying I needed to request access, so backed out. My grandmother was about the same age as yours. I have her hope chest, which I assume was given to her sometime from her mid-teens to her early 20s. She did not marry until she was 29, so she would have been seen as in need of one for a longer than average period. What this adds up to is that I think chest I have is from mid-1910s to mid-1920s.

Lane was the big name maker. Perhaps this video has something of use in it:

https://www.google.com/search?clien...t+history#kpvalbx=_upTRY9TbFIjU5NoPzJ6k2A4_55

 

Sorry about the link... I've updated to allow access!!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HJQO8f7J_UxKRogDjz1dEkWzTTLFkBlO?usp=sharing

Just found online something similar - having the same hinges & one-sided slide. Maker is Ed Roos. Would be nice if there were catalogs from chest manufactures to view!

 

Ed Roos chest posted online:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/232989788050723/

 

Ed Roos makes sense...The Roos Cedar Chest factory was located in Forest Park, IL and made chests from 1918 to 1951.
https://www.forestparkreview.com/2013/08/06/roos-family-part-of-early-forest-park-history/

 

Here are uploaded pictures

 

funny how that fails to look 100 years old........ imo !

 

1980s isn't on the list.

 

Suspect you would say the same about the one that belonged to my grandmother, if condition is what you're going by. Think those slotted screws put it back some of the way, don't they? Phillips screws weren't on the scene until 1932.

 

So many cedar chest i see are in very good condition. I suspect it is because they were kept in the master bedroom and not used for things that were taken in and out alot.

 

I just tried reaching out to the Forest Park Historical Society to ask if they'd know of the existence of a company catalog as nothing comes up online.

 

Not that I've searched out that many CEDAR chests, but they usually look pretty new on the inside....at least the ones I've seen.....the outside does look fairly early 1900s, at least to me.....

 

Found another chest online - says it from the 1920s (Depression Era chest?), having the same "slide" opening mechanism (one sided). Interestingly, there's a seal branded on the inside that refers to a National Association of Cedar Chest Manufacturers. Will have to look them up!

https://www.appletreeauction.com/auction-lot/1920-s-cedar-blanket-chest-48-x-20-x-21.5_6F4446CB56

 

I saw a similar slide on a 1920's Lane chest....

 

An entry found at a Cavalier Cedar Chest website indicates that the use of the "National Association of Cedar Chest Manufacturers" branding was found on chests in the 20s. I might deduce that my chest, having the similar hardware as the one with the NACCM branding, would be from the 20s? I'll focus my search to cedar chest catalogs / lookalikes from around that time period.

 

FYI - The National Association of Cedar Chest Manufacturers lasted but 2 years - 1920 thru 1922. If ever coming across a chest with the NACCM branding , it's from that time period!
Get the full story of the Assn members' attempts to agree on cost / price sharing methods before giving up - at this link (Fed Trade Commission report):

https://books.google.com/books?id=Q...e&q=Assn of Cedar Chest Manufacturers&f=false

 

Rolabe-Nice detective work re the history & lore of North American Cedar Chests.You have the makings to become an accomplished Antique Savant here on the Forum !
PS-We rarely see newbies with skills this accomplished.
PSS-To hone your skills & research tools,you might want to follow members-Bronwen,AnyJewelry,Roaring20's,Debora & some other participants.
***Observe how fast they answer-some is prob lightning-quick keyboard speed,some is most likely eidetic memory.

 

Looks like you all have done the work. It is , indeed, circa 1920. Looks to be a walnut finish but I think the wood more likely to be birch veneers. I do think it has been refinished at some point.

I sold this similar one with real walnut veneers last Fall for $65.00

 

Rolabe-Brad's a pretty smart guy too,I'd trust him.