Help to identify a very unique set of drawers

Hey y'all !

Been like a 15 years since I've been on here. It is nice to find my way back.


I've come accress a very interesting set of drawers that needs restoring. But I could use a little advice on it's origins and if it could be with purchasing.

The owner has it advertised as a dresser, but I'm thinking it is industrial drawers, maybe 1940's, given it has simple handles and is more deep than wide. The slide out tray would be for examining whatever was kept in the drawers. It also has some interesting marking. Size is 450W x 530D x 850H.

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VERY!

I think the convict marks would yield good results on a search.

I like the tray. Its novel and its a rather obviously useful design.

Convict marks! That's what they are

Then I would think this piece could be 19th Century colonial (given a quick G-search at similar markings).

Defence Dept. WWII

Would you think that this piece could be very rare and perhaps I should contact a museum?

Cool, so atleast I was right about the age being around 1940's. And WW11 would fit the design being an ex-defence piece.

Ok, so if anyone is interested I think I figured it out (and thanks heaps for the above replies!)

It is ex Government Defence Dept. WWII (probably British) around 1940's. the symbols on the side DD (Defence Dept) with the triangle in the middle known as the Broad Arrow which indicated Defence owned. Probably used in some office for storage, tools, maps or files. It would probably be oak and plywood construction.

It is ex Government Defence Dept. WWII (probably British) around 1940's. the symbols on the side DD (Defence Dept) with the triangle in the middle known as the Broad Arrow which indicated Defence owned. Probably used in some office for storage, tools, maps or files. It would probably be oak and plywood construction.

I looks suspiciously like one side, the RHS generally, of a draftsman's table. The drawer slide out table was very handy for laying out scale rules etc.

The LHS was generally an open or closed cabinet with one or two shelves for storage of rolled maps & plans. The table top spanned both units and supported a ramped drafting board on wedges. I worked on them late 1970's and early 1980's at two different employers one QLD state gov't the other Commonwealth.

The depth of the units could be anything from 900 mm to over 1500 mm depending upon the primary tasks. The one I had at Qld Gov't was over 1500 deep, and beautiful clear wide board quarter sawn QLD Maple, as my primary task was maintaining town and parish maps. The other was more around the 900 - 1000mm iirc as the office I was in was more your typical general drafting, mechanical, structural, electronic schematics etc.

Certianly, pre 1970's as drafting machines came into vogue about then and were generally used in a standing position rather than seated in most drafting / architects offices.

Top and second drawers generally had a rail attached to either drawer side to support one two or three levels of sliding trays that were often custom sized to store Rotring drafting pens, cartridges or ink bottles, compass / divider sets, planimeter's etc (for measuring distances and area on maps / plans.)

Military campaign chest.

Defence department 1940s ish Australian hardwood (probably mountain as or similar) possibly plywood parts as well. Machine dovetails. Would be an office kind of thing.