Just to follow up about my blog post yesterday about my $10 Lane cedar chest, I wanted to remind/inform people that if you have a Lane or Virginia Maid brand chest made 1987 or earlier, the lock needs to be replaced. My mom still has her Lane hope chest from the 50's and she got her lock replaced a long time ago (Lane will send out a free replacement). Too many kids were crawling inside and getting themselves locked in - with tragic results. Lane estimates there are still 6 million chests out there (occasionally showing up at yardsales etc) - that need replacement locks.
So I called today to get a free lock replacement. Here is information about the locks.
Anyhow, I talked to a customer service person who explained how to determine the age of some of the older Lane cedar chests. If you need info on how to determine the age of your Lane cedar chest - you should call customer service at Lane and see if they can help you too. Mine has a birthday of April 15, 1967. Above is a picture of the serial # (style #). To determine the age, work backwards from the Serial #. Take the last two numbers (40) - reverse them and you have 04 - for April - the 4th month of the year. The next two numbers (51) get reversed to 15 - the 15th of the month. The next two numbers (76) get reversed to 67 - meaning 1967. The first number - #2 - just represents which plant # it was made it. So there you have it - 04/15/67
15 comments:
Thank you for sharing the recall information in this post. I know the post is old, but my child died just 6 weeks ago in our family hope chest. The hope chest had been past down through three generations and none of us heard of this recall. I learned to late! Our Lilly crawled in to play hide and seek but she wasn't found in time. Please tell everyone you know about these hope chests! Save a life, 6 million are still at risk!
I am so sorry to hear this. What an awful tragedy. I am deeply saddened by your loss.
When I was six, I locked myself in my mom's cedar chest. I was in there for awhile, screaming and banging. Thankfully my aunt, on her way to bed, heard me. Everyone else was still downstairs. My mother purposely broke the lock after that, and years later, my sister and I had cedar chests too. My sister's was from the 50s and mine was from the 60s; we purposely broke the locks on those too because of what happened to me.
Regarding the replacement locks, which I would love to get; I have my mother's chest (the one I was locked in)and I would love to have a lock on it again, that is safe. I know it is from the 40s but I think my serial number and style must be on the bottom and there is no way I can turn this big thing over! I am going to call to see if I can get a lock without the numbers; I can send pics of my cedar chest.
I recently purchased a Lane Chest made by Knechtels limited, Hanover, Ont. They style N044215 Serial NOK121135. The example you gave for determining the age doesn't work with this serial number. Would anyone know how old it might be? There is a Canadian copy right of 1931 and 1935 burnt into it. Thanks.
My serial number is 043028 whats the date on that lane cedar chest
I was told the year isn't switched/reversed that 54 would be 1954 not 1945 is this true w/all of their chests?
My chest has only this features of this article are covered by one or more of the following US patents and then it lists had different serial numbers it goes want to save Horan patents other US and foreign patent pending what does this mean is this the serial number
Your serial number is underneath the bottom of your chest.
I just came across this post and it is very helpful however my serial number is 9075 only four digits. Has anyone seen this? It appears to be painted not burnt into the wood like the picture shown above. Any help would be great. Thanks
What year for serial no. 348101 style no.482043 Alta vista, vi?
What year for serial number 851140 style number 851138
The only info I have on mine is:
model 5439
Can anybody help me out with this ?
I have a Lane Cedar chest without a serial number. The style number is 482-S. Will I be able to get the lock replaced without the serial number? I have no idea of its age. Any suggestions to date the piece?
it is a federal law that all items with a recall must not be sold without first getting the part replaced/fixed, if you contact Lane co. they will send you a free lock. just give the co. the serial # found under the chest and they will mail you the right replacement lock. if you have no serial # just give the style #.
The link to the online form took me to a dead link. Here is the current link. You can fill out the form online, or it includes a phone number so you can call with questions. https://www.lanefurniture.com/about/product-safety
Hello, Just came across this post. I have a hope chest with the painted #9018, I too was wondering how I can get more info on when it was constructed and by. Have you learned anything more?
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