Tool chests obviously come in many different shapes and sizes, but few are really special. H.O. Studley's amazing tool chest was made back in the 19th century, and is an inspiration to those of us who dream of building the perfect tool chest.
I have looked at a lot of the different types of tool chests and am really amazed at many of the designs that people have come up with. But perhaps the most incredible one I've seen is one that Woodworking magazine featured years ago. It is an absolutely beautiful tool chest to behold. It was the chest made by the 19th century stonemason and master carpenter Henry O. Studley. A bit of research about Studley revealed that he was a piano maker that worked in Quincy, Massachusetts for a company called the Poole Piano Company. He worked to build his tool chest over a long thirty year career, and it is just stunning. I would never presume to be able to build anything like it, but it does get a guy thinking.
As a piano maker, Studley had hundreds of tools to house and use. As he acquired more and more tools, he would work on his chest to make it accommodate those tools. It is believed that he kept the chest on the wall by where his workbench. He made it out of materials used to make pianos - rosewood, mahogany, ebony, ivory, and mother-of-pearl. You owe it to yourself to do an image search and see what this amazing chest looks like. It is one of the world's truly masterful tool chests. It literally fits more tools in it than seems physically possible. Not only is it a work of art, it holds over three hundred tools! And, it isn't really that huge. When shut it measures a modest 39" high x 18" wide x 9" deep. Other tool chests have nothin' on this bad boy. Each tool has a holder fashioned to keep it in its place and to show it off. Now that beats digging in a tool box any day of the week.
Studley retired from piano making when he was in his 80's. He died in 1925, but before he did he gave the chest to a friend. Later, that friend's grandson loaned the chest to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. in the late 1980s. Since then it has been sold several times to private collectors.
So, as I contemplate the tool chests that might inspire my humble version yet to come, I pay homage to, and am inspired by, H.O. Studley, for his masterful example of an amazingly functional and beautiful chest.
Garage Overhead Storage: Something to Think About
Garage overhead storage is something you may not have thought of to include. You should, for there are a couple of great options available.Sentry Safe: Part of Your Protective Defense
A Sentry safe acts as a part of our efforts to protect our valuables in a world of threats.5 Tips when Looking at Foosball Tables
Since more people have been aware of soccer in recent months, foosball tables have also enjoyed more popularity. If you are in the market for a foosball table, here are 5 tips to keep in mine while you shop around.