One of the largest makers of chests in the United States is the Lane Company of Altavista. The company began by making ammunition boxes during World War One the company began the manufacture of more domestic and decorative chests.

Made with moth repellent cedar, these chests have been designed for the storage of fabrics such as linen. The chests were aimed at young girls from early on in the history of the company with Shirley Temple fronting the company as a girl and promotional 12" miniature boxes distributed to high school girls.

LANE CEDAR CHEST ALTIVISTA VA SALESMAN SAMPLE FOUR BESCHE BROTHERS BALTIMORE MD    US $9.99

LANE CEDAR CHEST TRINKET BOX    US $9.99

Vintage Mini Lane Cedar Chest Altavista VA salesman promo sample model    US $9.99

Cedar Lane Hope Chest Maryland Area    US $167.50

Vntg Mini Lane Cedar Hope Chest Keepsake Box Poplin Furn Farmingham Hudson Mass    US $6.99

Vintage Mini Lane Cedar Chest Jewelry Box Haverty Furniture Co Greenville SC    US $9.95

Lane Salesman Sample Cedar Chest Smiths Furniture Store    US $8.99

Lane Cedar Lined Hope Chest Oak Exterior    US $80.75

Lane cedar chests are gorgeous looking chests and provide you with a beautifully decorative piece of functional furniture.

A voluntary replacement program of Lane Chests was initiated by the Lane Company in 1996 to replace the locks on chests manufactured prior to 1987 after six children suffocated inside the boxes over a period of years between 1977 and 1994.

Prior to 1987 Lane chests latched automatically when the lid was closed. When young children played inside the boxes they could become trapped and ran the risk of suffocation.

You can determine whether the lock of the Lane chest you own is an old lock or a new lock by closing the chest lid without depressing the locking button and then attempting to open the lid without touching the button. If it opens you havea new lock, if it doesn't open the lock is an old lock.

Take a look at some of the other quality chests available on the site such as map chests, bombe chests, Roos cedar chests. As well as the various types of full-sized wooden chests it is also possible to find an impressive selection of Lane miniature cedar chests for sale too.