We helped our friends, now living in Vermont, clear out the last of their belongings from their former home herein town prior to its final sale next week (local home prices jumped about 25% this spring due to demand by older Manhattanites fleeing the City during the Covid-19 debacle there). Just as we were finishing, we found some unusual items way in the back of one of the closets in their barn, among which was this.
It is obviously hand made, out of either Maple or Oak, I would imagine. I'm not sure if it was intended as a silver chest, ammunition box, or what? When I first saw it, I thought it was nice, couldn't think what I might use it for, and then it occurred to me...
No, not for storing troops, the figures above were added to give an idea of the height of the compartments.
In addition to the upper compartment, there are three drawers. That's a Moosehead carved into the thick plaque on top.
The second drawer is the same dimensions as the first.
The bottom drawer is a bit taller. Anyway, it occurred to me that this would be a classy looking system for storing the varuious markers I use on the table during a game. It even has brass handles on the sides, so that you can picture the footmen bringing it into the officer's mess! :-)
The other item I decided to take at the last minute was this folding table. It is 96" x 30". I already have a 72" by 30" folding table, so together they would make a good set up for a 5 x 6 foot table, with some space to the side(s) for gaming paraphernalia (like the above chest?) and be usable for small out door (or garage) socially distanced gaming during the Covid era... which looks likely to drag on for another year or two.
I added this picture of the "Moosehead" on top
and the sturdy brass handles on the sides.
Also a casualty of the pandemic was Litko's usual Memorial Day sale; they had the sale for Independence day instead, so I stocked up on basing materials, with the Hittite Project especially in mind.
I got a boatload more self adhesive basing steel to use with my magnetic lined Realy Useful Boxes and my WRG based Ancient, Renaissance, and ECW troops. 60 x 20's
60 x 40's
Lots of 60 x 30's.
I always seem to need a little something extra to qualify for the best discount, and Jared and I have been talking about Galactic Knights, so the Blue missiles are added to red Missiles I got for the same reason last year!
Note the continued lack of figure purchases. This can't go on forever! :-)
My first thought on seeing the box was cutlery.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought at first, but it's awfully big and lacks the dividers you'd expect.
DeleteIt looks like an engineers chest to me.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that has the same meaning in the UK as in the US. What would they keep in it?
DeleteMaybe; it's also known as an engineers cabinet. It's a tool chest anyway, and the tools for that size of drawer might be measuring tools, drawing tools etc. Mine, which is more modern and less decorative, was made in America by US Pro-Tools according to the label. I use it for modelling stuff: knives, files, pliers, sprue-cutter, tweezers, clamps, rules, set squares, magnifying glass, glue sticks, scissors, cotton buds and all the paraphernalia that one likes to have to hand.
DeleteMakes perfectly good sense; in the US we'd call that a "toolbox". It could be that, but it would be unusual to make one out of hardwood, and this ornate.
DeleteI have the exact same box. A friend in FL gave it to me. He was originally from New England. I do not use it much since I do not play with 6mm.
ReplyDeleteComplete with the Moose plaque on top?
DeleteNo moosehead on top, and mine has 4 drawers
DeleteJust realized my box is 4 drawers
ReplyDeleteBut still overall similar design and style. Interesting!
DeleteIt could also be a jewelry box. Nice find! I stocked up on bases at Litko recently too. Great (and thrifty) minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteThat would be a heck of a lot of jewelry, Jon! :-)
DeleteIt's 12" high, 21" wide , and 10 inches deep. Not at all feminine in style, either!
And yes indeed, regarding Litko sales. As an Eagle Scout, I try to "Be prepared!" :-)
DeleteThe wood is oak.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil!
DeleteA nice haul, and a particularly nice storage box. We can never have too many of those. The moose head makes me think it must have been something to do with storing ammunition or other hunting accoutrements.
ReplyDeleteThat was my thought although the lack of locks would place it pre 1970 or so if that is the case.
DeleteThat’s a beautiful find.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, AI have visions of two orderlies, wearing white gloves, of course, one on each handle, bringing in to the Officers Club to assist with setting up the evenings entertainment,
DeleteVery impressed with the cabinet - what is it lined with? If it's baize, a Canadian friend suggested it might be a cabinet for poker equipment or similar, sponsored by Moosehead beer (he actually said "Mousehead", which is probably funnier, but it was unintentional). It is certainly a beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt has the sort of green felt one might expect for something made for cards, poker ships, etc, but the design doesn't seem well suited to that purpose.
DeleteMy grandad has a case very similar to that but the drawers were deeper, he kept his revolvers in it.
ReplyDeleteHand guns and or ammunition was my thought, especially with the heavy, chiseled moose plaque on top,
DeleteFabulous acquisitions, Peter. The wooden chest is very classy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean; I just had to justify taking it! :-)
DeleteGreat looking chest and useful table and bases!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain!
Deleteflexible steel? is that ferrous magnetic?
ReplyDeleteYes, works with magnetic sheeting in the bottom of the storage/transport boxes.
DeleteNice looking box, Peter. Coincidentally, a close friend stopped over and gifted a box very similar to yours a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t a clue what to use mine for, though.
I'm still working that out myself! :-)
Delete