Featured Help Identifying Eagle Lock Co. Wood Suitcase w/ Hidden Drawer

Hello, I have this wooden suitcase and on the center latch it says Eagle Lock Co. Terryville Conn. The top part opens up, swing on the two hinges in the middle of the box, and there is a wood drawer that slides out on the bottom, not sure if it’s suppose to be a hidden drawer?

Anyway, I wanted to know if this wood box had a specific purpose because it seems like it’s specifically designed, or was it just a regular suitcase? I think it’s from late 1800s or early 1900s. It’s locked so I have to try and jimmy the lock to open up the top part.

Any idea what it was designed for? Thanks!

 

I normally expect a wood case like this to be for a painter's supplies - brushes, paint tubes, rags, a palette, etc. But how deep would this be if it were opened?

 

Looks to me as if there should be/was/is some sort of scientific "machine" or electronic gauge, meter, etc in the upper portion and the drawer held accessories. Think electro-shock or voltage meter or ????????

 

Ask a policeman to pick the lock for you.

 

for a painter ? drawer for the brushes ?

 

I managed to get it open, no treasure inside unfortunately, but it’s odd because you have to lay it down flat to open the main part, and it has to be standing up to open the hidden bottom drawer with no handles on it. It must be a painters box or for some sort of primitive scientific equipment. It’s so oddly designed I have to believe it was made for something specific or a job function. Thanks for the help!

 

Just to clarify, Eagle Lock Co. has nothing to do with the box itself. It's a well-known maker of all sorts of locks, including the one on this box.

 

What are the dimensions?

 

And is there any kind of latch on the drawer?

 

Nice. When I first saw it I thought of piano repairman but because of the lock I thought apothecary. Don't know, only guessing.

 

Well, if it were ever meant to be a "painter's box" - it looks never used around paint.

 

I see why painter's box comes to mind, but I do not think it would be very convenient when used as such. Too little access to too many pieces as it were. What ever its original purpose, I think it was designed more for storing/keeping something as opposed to traveling with something. That unsecured drawer would have bits flying out every time you turned quickly or it fell off the top of the luggage pile.

 

I was assuming I knew the answer to this, but now I'm asking: is there a divider between the drawer and the top compartment?

Yeah, I know, the obvious answer is "of course." Doesn't hurt to check.

 

Well, now that the inside has been seen and the way the box opens has been revealed, I withdraw the painter's box suggestion.

 

Yes, there is a divider between the two compartments, so they are kept separate.

 

That's what's so odd, there is no latch and never was on the bottom hidden drawer, which seems to me it was meant to be concealable because otherwise why wouldn't it have a latch, handle or knob on it so it's easier to open? Someone mentioned it's probably not meant as luggage because it's wood and it would get broken up being tossed around and such, so that makes sense.

The box is 14 inches tall by 18.5 inches long.

The more I think of it, could it have been used for document storage? Like a lawyer or someone transporting important documents? The main compartment is large enough that paper can lay flat, and the hidden drawer on the bottom maybe someone would roll up papers and put them in there? Papers are the only thing that really wouldn't get damaged by moving the case around, because solid objects would rattle around and such.

 

Documents are a possibility, but I am still on the train of thought of a "machine" or such. Sort of like a sewing machine with a detachable foot pedal- the case is built not so much to transport it as much as to store it - transportation being limited from the closet to the table where it is to be used. Now, I don't actually think this was for a sewing machine, but something of the same ilk.

 

Maybe for a large sextant?

 

That's the sort of thing I'm thinking about, yeah. Would a sextant require padding around it?