Just published in late December, this is a great book and catalogue reprint that covers the 'smallwares' of the Lakeside Craft Shops. The introduction gives a historical account of the company and the parent compainy, Wisconsin Chair Co., and the early version of the LCS which was called the Woodcraft Guild. The 1912 catalogue reprint is full of plant stands, smoker cabinets, cellerettes, book racks, footstools etc. Now that this book is out, pieces from this company are bound to get more collectable with prices probably going up. Available from Turn of the Century Editions at their eBay store.

Stonecat.....I purchased a cedar chest at a yard sale and the small metal plate on the inside says Lakeside Craft-Shops. Would you happen to know when it was made. It is in very nice codition.

quote:

Originally posted by B-cat:
Stonecat.....I purchased a cedar chest at a yard sale and the small metal plate on the inside says Lakeside Craft-Shops. Would you happen to know when it was made. It is in very nice codition.

Well now that's a good question, because according to the catalogue intro they were advertising cedar chests as early as 1914 but the first version of the company went under by 1919. The company, however, was reincorporated (new owners) in 1922 as "Lake Side Craft Shops" (without 'The' infront, and 'Lake Side' as 2 words, not 1). The second version of the company lasted to 1934 and was known almost excluisively for making cedar chests, but some other furniture as well. They started to call their cedar chests the 'Bluebird' line, and even after 1934, this name lived on with another reincorporated company (Dillingham Mfg Co).

So I would guess yours is from the 1922-34 period, but maybe its 1914-1919. Can you confirm if LakeSide is one or two words, not that this helps because the history notes also say that they inter-mixed the 2 spellings in official records from 22-34. If you could post some pictures it would be neat to see if it's Mission style or something that looks later. A picture of the tag would be great as well, because I have a data base of shop marks going that I would love to add it to.

The tag says The Lakeside Craft-Shops, Sheboygan Wisconsin. The chest is 47-1/4 long,22-1/2 wide and 23-1/2 high wih wooden casters and (3) 3inch wide copper bands across the top and down the front and i believe copper handles on each end made by stanley. Also the lock and clasp on the front is made by Eagle. It is not in the mission style that i have seen pictures of but rectangular with rounded edges. I will try to get pictures posted for you as i do not have the means to do so i will have a friend do it for me.