Antique 1930s-40's Stained Wood Chest, Tool, Utility or Fishing Tackle Box - Excelsior Co, CT 

WONDERFULLY CRAFTED PIECE WITH GREAT CHARACTER:  Extraordinarily well crafted box with nice looking wood grain in good sturdy condition. It is made with wood, brass hinges, metal hasps, lock and flip latches. The wood appears to be stained oak?  In some places you see and feel ridges of the wood texture and the wood appears to be two-toned-brown and black.  All corners are protected with period metal hasps as well as the seams and top. I do not remember the handle material--brass holders are still securely in place. We dusted but did no clean the box.  It's a unique sample of US Manufacturing history!

MEASUREMENTS
Length  =. 16 In
Depth/Width =  6-3/4 In
Height  =. 8-5/8 In
Weight  =  4 LB  3 OZ

CONDITION
The box is in very good shape especially for its age.  It is stable with strong wood construction and hardware. There are no loose parts or unstable squeakiness or hardware rust.  It has some scars and scratches to the wood, minimal splintered edges; a small area on the inside floor appears to have a layer of wood out..  An old belt has been used as a handle as long as I recall.   I think there was some type of tray inside.  I cannot find the key and the handle is missing

HISTORY
My late husband (04/1928-01/2000) inherited the box early 1960s from his first father-in-law's estate.  At that time we lived in Northeastern New York-15-20-minute drive to Stamford, CT where Excelsior was located.  He stored the box in the basement until sometime in the 1970s when my husband, who was a physician, started using it to lock controlled substance prescription pads and sample medications.  We did exhaustive research and narrowed the most likely age of the box to the 1930's-40s. The craftsmanship, wood toning and wear are also consistent with that period. The lock and hardware bear Excelsior's logo name. Research efforts led us to *The Stamford Historical Society, which published a lengthy detailed history on Excelsior Hardware Company in 2002 that was very helpful in filling as many gaps as possible. 

*RESOURCE
Stamford Historical Society, RG-18, EXCELSIOR HARDWARE COMPANY
September 2002 
 

THANK YOU!