Trunk Toolbox-1870:38x17x15 in.,Drawers-3 Tiers,Unusual

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(ck&42908II)
~38”x17”x15 ½” tall trunk is older than most, from the 1870’s. Its patent date is cast into the hardware.
~In excellent condition, fully operational and complete. Only defect is heavy brass lock that needs to be riveted back in place. Has no damage, neglect, abuse, or misuse. Most likely was in use until relatively recently.
~Its origin is mysterious and enigmatic. Certainly it is a piece of history. The above average workmanship is uncommon. It was designed for travel and/or heavy use.
~Exterior is covered with lacquered heavy canvas, standard seagoing waterproofing, indicating a marine use. Was originally painted olive drab, then later given a coat of battleship grey, which points to a military origin.
~Sides are covered with thick 2” wide oak bands, heavy corner and edge reinforcements, banding, intricately cast iron hardware, and secure locking mechanisms. Attachment rivets look to have been hammered by hand.
~Interior has 3-tiered system of removable drawers that run the length of the trunk. Drawers each nestle into their corresponding ends, built gradually shorter with each successive descending tier. Drawers fit respectively into their own tier based on their length. When removed, they form trays for tools, parts, etc., making work more organized and professional.
~Lid has sealed compartment and door with brass lock. Looks to be made of walnut or Eastern U.S. hardwood.
~This was a working trunk, and almost certainly didn’t belong to your average, well-to-do first class passenger. It was designed for someone engaged in a specialized journeyman trade, most likely a lucrative one, as trunk required a hearty investment of time and money. It was someone who would have had to have all his tools and parts at his fingertips, and not be very likely to move them around a lot.
~My guess is that it could very well have belonged to a shipwright, but I don’t know. One thing for sure is that its date of around 1870 and its provenance from Pennsylvania seem steeped in history. Possibly someone out there knows how to decode its past and figure out its story. It certainly has mysteries, anomalies and riddles that need to be decoded.