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Size: Height 31cm (12 1/4″) x Width 62.25 cm (24 1/2″) x Depth 39 cm (15 3/8″) We ship worldwide! You can b uy with 100% confidence too! A further condition report is available upon request. WITH FUNCTIONING LOCKS AND THEIR ORIGINAL KEYS!Ĭondition – good as per images. "An armada chest with an amazingly intricate working lock mechanism topped out at $5,175 "Ĭopyright © 2003 - 2006 Jock Dempsey, OldLocks.A George II, mid-18thC oak chest or strongbox with iron bindings, the hinged lid opening to reveal a void interior and fitted with a triple locking system, the ends showing through dovetail joints, the sides with carrying handles, the front inscribed and dated ‘EM 1751’. the name itself was a fanciful Victorian invention recalling chests imagined to be used by the Spanish Armada.įrom Antiques On-line reporting on a recent auction. Usually of German make, the chests could be anything from a few inches to 6ft (1.8m) long. Some were for the use of officers at sea, and would have been bolted to the deck of the owner's cabin. German manufacture, having been made probably in Nuremburg or Ausberg in the 17th Century."Īn iron-bound strongbox for storing valuables in the 16th and 17th centuries, often with a large, complicated lock on the underside of the lid. THE large chest which measures "37½ long by 27" deep and 20" high. It says, "Age of many of the items confirmed by the Victoria and Albert Museum." Josiah Parkes & Sons made the famous UNION brand locks and had factories in England and South Africa. It is a catalog of the company collection of antique locks. Willenhall Staffs England was published by the company in 1955. The small book titled Antique Locks * from the collection of Josiah Parkes & Sons Ltd. The biggest difference is the decoration on the brass plate. It is probably as identical as they could be considering all the hand work. Three years after posting this I purchased a book on an English lock manufacturer's collection and it had a nearly identical chest (images below). Piece is remarkably not rusty.even if only 100 or so years old this seems I suppose rusty is good in old items, but this It seems very well preserved and shows no sign of rust. Sometimes the exterior sheds tiny bits like dandruff and then I apply this mixture. I live on the ocean and the chest is near a window and against a forced hot water heating pipe. It is black and twice in my lifetime I have rubbed it with a mixture of boiled lindseed oil and turpentine.the same Since it was purchased, nobody has painted the chest. I have not found a way to reset the keyhole with the lid "cock" or reset the keyhole access mechanisms.but maybe this was just the The decorative metal screen must be removed to manually Open.but only after yet another button is rotated so another tool mayĮnter and permit the person opening the chest to withdraw a single dog This key pulls dogsĪway from under a heavy lip in the chest body edge so the lid will The keyhole cover can thenīe lifted fully and rotated to let the large key enter. By moving aside another rivet head or button, another tool movesĪ metal bar upward to release the keyhole cover. By moving aside a rivet head, one tool presses down a Rather than a system of two or more separate keys, there is a sequence that Without opening the top lid.but of course, if the lid were unlatched, itĬould not be opened without removing the padlocks. Padlocks also have no useful function in that the chest will not open The decorative keyhole piece on the front is without a keyhole. A metal plate covers the springs and plungers fitted in the lid and this plate is painted with satyrs.ĭo you have any idea of anyone I could contact who might nbe interested in helping me learn more about this chest? The chest is very heavy and made of iron bands with a very elaborate sequence of tools and keys to open the lid.Two heavy padlocks secure two hasps but are not important to entry. I have an old iron chest my grandfather bought about 1900 in Egypt or Spain and I would like to try to find out more about it's origin, use, value, etc.
Medieval? Iron Chest Identified! Armada Chest 17th Century Germany