Don Williams and I are deep into the guts of his book on H.O. Studley’s tool cabinet and workbench – doing everything we can to get the book out in March 2015 – just in time for the exhibit of the chest at Handworks.
We have found a hole in the visual record of the cabinet that we would like to fill. The cabinet was on display at the Smithsonian as part of the exhibit “Engines of Change: The American Industrial Revolution 1790-1860” in a vignette with several other tool chests for various trades. Though the exhibit lasted almost 20 years (late 1986 to mid-2006), the Studley tool cabinet was included for perhaps only a third of that time, probably 1994-1999.
We know that thousands of woodworkers saw the cabinet during this exhibit. But we do not have a photo of the cabinet in the display. Do you?
If so, please send an e-mail to Don Williams. If your photo fits the bill it could end up in our forthcoming book on the cabinet and workbench.
Thanks in advance for any help in this matter.
— Christopher Schwarz
I may have one from twenty years ago. I’ll let you know.
As I remember,it was behind glass with the duncan phyfe chest, with a sign stating no photos please. I recall searching the museum store for a copy of the poster. I ended up with the old version from Taunton. Sorry, can’t help here.
I think it is important to note H.O. Studley’s trade. He worked in a piano shop making all the keys, hammers, levers, etc., work as one. As a professional organ builder, I know first hand the nuances in getting keys to function correctly with the right feel and touch for discerning organists. His tool chest may look over the top for an average cabinetmaker, but, this set up would be crucial for a person in his trade. It would be interesting to study an old Poole piano and attempt the work that Studley did. I hope you have more about his work in the new book. The bench and tools are just an end to the means.