Just…wow. On the block at the Martin J. Donnelly Nashua spring auction is an actual Dutch tool chest – complete with carpenter’s tools, brought to the U.S. from Holland by Marinus Steenland. According to Jim Tolpin in “The Toolbox Book,” Steenland emigrated in the late 1800s, but the chest is “thought to have been built several generations earlier.”
The estimate is from $2,500-$5,000.
p.s. You can build your own Dutch tool chest for a bit less with me in Port Townsend, Wash., in June…though I admit it might take a few decades to look quite as cool.
p.p.s. Thanks to John Cashman for the auction link.
Rude Mechanicals Press Blog 
That’s so cool 😎
That thing is GORGEOUS! And a new one can be made to look old(er) by judicious application of finishes, lettering, etc., even if it will lack the history of this one.
It would be very cool to spend some time with this DTC. I want t know more about the tool rack, how tall it is, it seems to have casters, etc.
You probably cost the winning bidder a thousand bucks. Shoulda asked for a commission.
Nah — I haven’t near the effect on pricing as Schwarz. Maybe $5.
I believe that due the Transitive Property of the Schwarz affect, you have an equal effect on pricing.
It looks like he nailed the top shut at one time. I wonder if that was for the voyage over or something else.
I’ve been looking at the top on mine as a blank canvas…There are some ideas here.
Right? I love this one. I need to do more to the outside of mine.
If anyone is interested in painting their chest that color I would suggest go to a Diamond Vogel paint store asking for flat Windmill Green. It was developed by the factory to be as close as possible to that specific green of Holland.
Do you know where this tool cheat ended up?
The original owner was Marinus Steenland, a Dutch immigrant who settled in Passaic, New Jersey. His granddaughter is a close friend of mine. I have done her genealogy and came across this during my research.
Any leads would be appreciated!
Thank you!
Courtney
So sorry – I just saw this. The chest was sold by Martin Donnelly auctions within the last two years. https://www.mjdtools.com/