How to Open a Stuck Lid on a Lane Cedar Chest

Lane cedar chests were originally made during the early 1900s and continued production through most of the century. The lids originally were made to latch automatically, but in 1987 a new design changed the chests so that they would not latch automatically and children who got closed in could get out of the chest. While efforts were made to correct problems with the older chests, sometimes the lids can get stuck.

Things You'll Need

• Key
• Small hammer
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Place the key in the lock and tap it with a hammer. If the locking mechanism is the problem, this will sometimes help the key catch the lock and unlock the latch so the lid lifts back off.

2. Remove the hinges. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws holding the lid in place. These are located at the back of the chest.

3. Lift the lid from the back. If the latch in the front remains locked, the lid will pull up and need unlocking to lift completely off. If it comes unlocked, the lid will lift away smoothly.

References

• Lane Furniture: FAQ
• CNN: Company Fined $900,000 for Defect Blamed in Child Deaths

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish