Featured Another Old Box-Age ?

Thank you. I think about 100 give or take a few, I need help I will say I didn't pay their worth as I've restored most of them. I'm yet to do that apothecary box, I need to find some bottles that match the missing ones.

 

Thank you

 

The inside

 

Incredible Rave-Love to see more of your collection ! I've got a fondness for small containers too,but I've only got 4 or 5. They're art and engineering ( design functionality) -very interesting.

 

The other apothecary box.

 

I'd imagine you've got a dedicated room to display them in (plus around the house) ?

 

You would think so but no fancy room just stuffed into drawers, cupboards, ect. It would seem I'm some fastidious knowledgeable box collector but I'm not really, many of my boxes are the same type and were collected when they weren't so collectable. Take the apothecary box above for an example, I paid £90 and sold 1 bottle from inside for £88, most of my collection has been acquired for very little, normally in pieces and I've had to restore them. I have bought boxes in good condition but these weren't spotted in auction and I've managed to buy them for far less than their going rate.
It's taken many years and many many hours looking at lots on ebay. I have done a few posts on boxes I own on here if you look at my threads but not my whole collection, most of them aren't that important really.

 

You're a super-dedicated collector,people really don't appreciate how much energy goes into finding these pieces especially when an average-wage earner's doing the hunting.
PS-My brass-inlaid box needs a key & lock,any sources you'd recommend ? Seems like a fairly common form/era.

 

Is it this box that needs a key and lock?
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/age-of-inlaid-box.89068/

 

That's the box. It has the lower main part of the lock & escutcheon,but not the upper plate & no key.

 

The hardest part of restoration is finding the right hardware to fit the box, I've resorted to buying a big bag of lock keeps as a restorers lot, the same thing for keys, by far the hardest is locks and hinges, I've waited years to find the right lock for a writing slope and hinges I tried making myself (surprisingly difficult)
If you were close I'd let you search my keeps bag for one that fits.
You might find the right antique store locally who has a bunch of them and will let you bring your box in and find one that fits, I have one like that near me. Unfortunately most hardware isn't standard, locks were made by small manufactures.
If you aren't going to take your box and find one that fits you need to measure the distance between each hole on the lock as well as how wide the pegs of the keeps are (these can be filed if slightly too wide) and ask sellers to measure exactly. I'm sorry to be so negative but restoring a box with all the hardware present that's broken to bits is easier than just missing hinges or locks, don't get me started on screws, I paid £22 +PP for a gross of brass Nettlefolds screws the other day and that was cheap.

 

Thanks Mate-The lock mechanism slides out quite easily (aft remove the 2 screws).I'll contact some of the handier antique dealers,locksmiths & restorers in the area. Portland,OR (decent size city)-has a few decent used/antique hardware shops in town,plus I'll peruse the locksmiths.I've got a guy just down the road who's been a locksmith for decades,he's also a bit of a 'lock nerd'-the kind of fellow you wished still worked in hardware stores.
PS-Thanks hugely for the help,and-tip on Arsenic dyed paper ! Love to see more of your boxes when you get round to it.

 

Here's an old machinists tool chest I found a few yrs ago for $12 (chuffed).I'll give it a light refinish one of these days,new felt & lightly polish the hardware.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/o...abinet-piece-of-furniture.83040/#post-9713143

 

If you can get a replacement lock and keep that match, or even slightly larger it can be refitted. Lets hope the locksmith is good with antique locks, if he is, gold dust. I'm always happy to help with restoring if I can, I don't think you can be a box collector (unless you have very deep pockets) without having to restore some boxes. I know those tool chests are doing rather well ATM, my focus is on boxes that wouldn't look out of place in a high end office or mansion house.
Space in my house is running out so I have to be very picky about what I bid on but sometimes I can't pass by a small not so valuable box going for a song.
Antique art boxes that can't be easily faked that took great skill to produce is the only advice I could give any box collector, the problem with run of the mill boxes is there are so many.

 

Found one of these 4 or 5 months ago (this one isn't mine-can't find that post). Wanted one for a while,it cost $350 (!)-a hell of a lot for me.The asking prices online for these is generally absurd,so I pulled the trigger on one (still a bit nutty).
PS-I love boxes funky & elegant,though I agree totally with you-the more posh ones will keep their value better.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1824226829/antique-oak-60-drawer-watch-parts-chest?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=watch+maker+cabinet&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&frs=1&sts=1&content_source=070fc3aea6b8359c4d42b8325239e71b8b7b1870%3A1824226829&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=070fc3aea6b8359c4d42b8325239e71b8b7b1870:1824226829

 

I like cabinets with lots of drawers, the rise of armature watchmakers is putting all this old equipment through the roof, $350 isn't bad at all, I expect you have already done rather well and I can't see it slowing anytime soon.

 

I love the thing,but $350 I was hesitant (we're both retired). Next day I showed a pic of it to my Wife & she just said 'Merry Christmas !'
Needless to say-I immediately called the antique store and put it on hold.
The next day I was chuffing to the dealer at the register about how happy I was to find one at that price and surprised it sat on the shelf so long,and she said-'Yes,but it's $350 !'.
PS-I was too stunned to even ask for a discount.