My dovetails are improving.

This is the corner of a tray I am making to fit inside an old box I am converting to be a tool chest. Will post photos soon...

Old tool chest

Old woodworkers chest.

I recently visited my father ("Stan the Blacksmith" - see earlier posts) in Lincolnshire, UK.

I had been reading about the Woodworkers tool chest in Bernard E Jones "The Practical Woodworker - (Volume 2, page 472).

When I visited Dads old hobby shed to collect a tool, I noticed a similar chest to the one in the book next to his work bench. I was curious so decided to empty it and bring out into the back yard to examine it more closely.

The chest is approx 25" long, 15 1/4" front to back and 16 1/4" high. It is constructed of 9/16" pine boards.

The sides are joined to the front and rear by 8 dovetails. The base is nailed on.

Side / front / lid corner

Side / front / base corner

The handles are of the same design as in the book.

Handle plate approx. 2  1/4" * 4  1/4" 

I was hoping the inside of the chest would be fitted out the same as the book with tills and tool retainers. Sadly this wasn't the case...

Inner rear

Inner front

There are a couple of slots for tools but I guess most of the tools would be stored loosely in the chest. The chest is fitted with a lock for security.

Front

Lid

Lastly 2 things of note...

• You will have noticed the chest is lined with newspaper. When I looked at this in detail, I saw it was from the "The Manchester Guardian" dated Saturday February 21st 1857! - 157 years old! much older than I expected.
• The other curious thing is that although many of the wooden objects in Dad's shed suffer from woodworm, there is no sign of worm attack in the chest. The chest is painted with some kind of black paint or lacquer - possibly containing lead. Also it is lined with newspaper - I wonder if these have repelled the woodworm.

I look forward to your comments.