Henry O. Studley was a piano maker first for the Smith Organ, Co. and later for the Poole Piano Company. He was an old world craftsman that learned from the best during a period when the piano and organ industry housed some of the most talented tool and wood craftsman in the world. In the early 1900s, Henry pooled his experience and began work on what he considered the ultimate tool chest.
The chest holds over 300 specialized tools and takes up about 40″ by 40″ of wall space when closed. It was constructed of piano scraps – mahogany, rosewood, walnut, ebony, and mother of pearl can all be found gracing the little box. The fine craftsmanship is exhibited by the fact that each tool fits snugly into its space, often with a satisfying click.
Since Henry’s death in 1925, the box has been subjected to a few different owners and numerous museum exhibits. It now belongs to a private collector.
