A peak inside this magnificent tool cabinet, thanks to a video made by Norm Abram (and the person on the Old Tools Forum who posted the link).
Norm shows off the interior here.
Thank you to Dean, who posted this link in the comments section, where you can read more about the tool chest.
I think it would have been pretty cool learning from Mr Studley.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kari.
That is one cool chest. So he made the chest for all his tools, that`s it no more tools to buy! I somehow think I will always have another tool to buy.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me most about the Studley Chest is the size. Somehow, seeing the other pictures and posters, I imagined it to be larger, at least 4' tall. But that thing seems tiny beside Mr. Abram. Realizing this, the fact that it weighs near 300 lbs. makes it even more amazing. How do you fit 300 lbs. of anything other than solid lead into such a small cabinet?
ReplyDeleteI am going to be building my own cabinet sometime soon, and I think my own plans just shrunk a little realizing that some careful layout will save a lot of space on my wall. Mind you, ease of accessibility will still be the main rule I follow.
Thanks for sharing this video. Truly awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that Kari. I've only seen the poster (on a computer screen). That was very cool seeing all the moving parts of the chest.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'll join the "Thanks for Sharing" crowd and say that it sure makes my slide out organizer look like a cheap toy. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteA "peek" inside the "peak" of toolboxes.
ReplyDeleteMr. Studley must have had quite an impressive brain to figure out that layout. I wouldn't know where to begin. The little gothic cubbies are very cool.
ReplyDeleteAnon, nice one. ; )
Every time I see a picture of this, I imagine what it must have been like to put things back in! Just putting the tools away must have been like solving a Rubik's cube. Although given it's intricacy, he probably had a 3d picture in his mind of exactly where everything went.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kari, after getting over the awe that comes with seeing one of these pieces of art, I can help but wonder what the world was like at the time, where one had the time to dedicate to such intricacy and detail whilst producing something functional at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIan - woodcanuck
Kari...another inspiring post! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts...I wonder at what stage of Mr. Studley's career that he built his tool cabinet.
...He must have maximized his time.
...He had great teachers that passed the craft on to him.
...He was devoted to his craft.
...He kept his tools tuned, oiled and sharpened.
...He set high personal standards for himself.
When I first saw the H.O. Studley tool chest, I was shure that someone out there had built a tool chest along the same lines as Studley’s. I've only found one in all my searching. It's a simplified version but retains some of the detail of Studley's tool chest.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.woodcentral.com/contests/wallcabinet/
Dean
If you’re interested in a very brief history on Studley’s tool chest, you can go to the link below. The story is at the bottom of the page.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/tool_chest_made_by_studley.htm
Dean
I didn't know that there was video of this. I had seen pictures but didn't ever realize how intricate all the compartments were and the levels and layers to things. Amazing. My only complaint was how short the video was, come on Norm give us more than a tease!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this.
Oldwolf
Thanks for the comments everyone. I wasn't sure how many people had seen the video. I had not and was thrilled when someone on the Old Tools Forum posted it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean, for the links to wood central and masonic museum.
Oldwolf, I wish the video had been longer, too. No wait, I wish I were there to inspect it myself!
I love this too chest. The Masonic square and compasses stands out.
ReplyDelete