Military Campagin Chest desgins?

[riclepp]

Evening all.

I think that this might be a strange request, but here goes. I promised that I would make my son a chest for hime to put all his toot in and believe me he has a load of it.. Anyway, we made a deal; whereby he gets rid of stuff and I will make any chest he so wishes! Ever get those moments when you think "I should not have said that". He cam back with i=his choice oh and by god did he come back with a choice :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

He wants a full replica Military Campagin Chest. So my question is, dose anyone know where I can get some decent plans for one! I am happy with where to get the metal work and the wood from.

Many thanks in advanced and yes I will do a wip for it.

 

[houtslager]

nope, but I have restored enough of them for antique dealers over the years, so look in auction catalogues from the last few years and you'll get a good idea of the different styles of campaign chests.

hth

K

 

[AndyT]

Chris Schwarz has been writing about campaign furniture a lot on his blog with useful looking info on hardware and stock selection.

 

[No skills]

Yes it seems to be a fave subject over at lost art press, I would search the blog for campaign chest for some info - don't know about plans but hes writing a book on them atm but I think the release dates at the end of the year.

 

[No skills]

Are you making it in mahogany?

 

[riclepp]

Thanks all for the replies. I hope to do it in Mahogany if not too cost prohibitive.

 

[No skills]

Good, hope you can find a reasonable cost supplier.

 

[Dangermouse]

Mahogany and brass chests were for officers of rank and the lower ranks used cheap wood and iron fittings. I have come across a lot of painted pine ones and very few mahogany and brass ones or do you mean a chest of drawers in which case only officers and rich ones at that had them.

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

Hi Richard, there are many different designs of campaign chest, but they are mostly very similar. They are always in two equal halves. The original ones came with their own pine packing boxes, the feet would be unscrewed and put in a drawer and some were secured with bolts through the pine packing case. They are equal sizes ( typically 39"W x 18"D x 19'H for each half, excluding the feet ) so they could go either side of an elephant or camel. The configuration of the drawers was mostly to have two equal sized drawers on the bottom and on the top to have two short over one long drawer. Some had a fitted secretaire top drawer. Dangermouse is half right about the timber used. Most of the chests here were made by the Army and navy store and they would be made of Mahogany or oak or pine with oak or pine drawer linings. The ones made in India would generally be made of Teak or Camphor and I have worked on one made of solid Indian rosewood, but there is evidence that some made here were also made of Teak and Camphor. They were not made for rank and file soldiers just officers and the diplomats that went out to pillage the colonies. The brass handles and corner brackets were fitted and then sanded flat with the surface, so much so that often the brass screws can look like studs as the slots were nearly sanded right out. Not all had carrying handles on the side, the brass ones tend to be added later and are just decorative, proper carrying handles are usually iron.
Here are some nice examples.
http://www.campaignfurniture.com/detail ... ockNo=7751
http://www.mdantiques.com/collection-58 ... _no_2.html
http://campaignfurniture.com/archivesde ... ockNo=6285

 

[RogerBoyle]

Some very good info there
Thank you

 

[riclepp]

Thanks for all the info

I have looked at Mahogonay, but it is just way to expensive.....need a second mortage :shock: :shock: :shock:

So I am now at two choices either sapele (nearly the same colour...never work sapele before..... any pointers) or Oak....what do you guys suggest.

Managed to find a set of plans, going to the Army Museum in Chelsea in a few weeks, lets see what they have. I might even write to Army and Navy to see if they have any plans.....assuming that is the store that made them.

 

[No skills]

http://blog.lostartpress.com/2013/05/02 ... ning-1891/


I personally would use sapele, but I'm just sick of oak atm - I would imagine most of the joiners here should be well versed in its use as its popular for doors/windows.

 

[DTR]

So I am now at two choices either sapele (nearly the same colour...never work sapele before..... any pointers)

I find that sapele is rather soft and marks very easily. At least the stuff I've been given does.

 

[marcros]

what about keruing?

 

[riclepp]

Never thought of it to be honest, best look into that as a possible alternative

 

[marcros]

I only thought about it because I remembered Dodge using it on his long case clock, next to Brazilian Mahogany!

 

[riclepp]

Okay thanks, i'll have a chat with Dodge.