What is this thing?

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Old chest (solved) (imgbox.com)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I am restoring an old chest and while removing a cover under the lid I found this label. As you can see, it's completely undecipherable except for "***halle & co." However there's another label underneath it. I wonder if I can separate them by putting it in water (like stamps off an envelope), but I'm afraid of destroying it if it has any value whatsoever.

The chest is made of wood and metal, but it's in a horrible state. Hinges and screws have been replaced prior to my owning, and the wood is damaged. I plan on restoring it, but would like to know it's history. Judging by materials and the label, I recon this is from 1900-1940s and American.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

No, not on the wood anywhere. There are several layers of paint and I was quite surprised to find the label under cardboard cover.

Wait.. I have the handles which I cleaned for paint using terpentine. Not sure if they're original, but the side handles have markings on the inside that says "2 Turner H.038 Australia".

Guess it's from Australia. Or at least the hardware.

https://ibb.co/pPgLysg