How to Identify and Date Lane Cedar Chests

Lane cedar chests can be pretty old, dating back to the time when brides would hand make their wedding trousseau of household items and store them in these chests. Therefore, when you want to know about Lane cedar chests, you also want to know about marital history, even if your chest was manufactured as late as 20th century America.

Marrying for love was just an idea before the 19th century economy was able to handle it, so finances were often foremost. The bride and her family provided most of the household goods. Girls started sewing their linens and doing their embroidery to fill their "hope chest" (in American tradition), Lane cedar chests in many cases, at a very young age, and their families often saved for years to buy things like silver serving sets.

So, obviously, Lane cedar chests have been around for a while. Old, though, is rather vague, and most people want to know how old their Lane cedar chests are. It is quite an intrigue for antique enthusiasts.

First of all, you need to know for sure that your chest was indeed manufactured by Lane. Look for a small brass plate identifying it as one of the Lane cedar chests. Sometimes it's hard to find a name, and you can't always tell who made it by the style. Competing companies often manufactured similar chests. Look everywhere for some identification.

The serial number is often found on the bottom of Lane cedar chests. One site suggested that reversing the numbers in the serial code will reveal the date. They gave an example of a number 248290, which became September 28, 1924. There was no explanation as to why the last two digits were left alone, so this may not be a full-proof method.

You can contact Lane furniture for more information about Lane cedar chests, such as the actual date of manufacture, as long as you have the serial number. The company admits that its serial number system has changed more than once over the years. Customer service can help you decode your number and determine the age of Lane cedar chests.

If, perchance, you don't find a serial number on your Lane cedar chests, you can still contact Lane furniture. Their staff will do their best to date the chest with your help. Anything you know about the style and finish of the chest helps a lot.

On a side note, very old Lane cedar chests, or ones you bought second-hand, may have a defect. Many years back, Lane had to recall a line of chests because they had automatic locks, and several children climbed inside and couldn't get out. However, everyone didn't get their chest recalled, so you should check and see what type of lock you have and replace it if it is the automatic type for the sake of safety.

Lane cedar chests are some very interesting antiques. One of the most puzzling questions is that of exact age. You can often find this out without much difficulty through Lane Furniture.