New Locks for Old Cedar Chests

Lane Home Furnishings asked the Canada Safety to help locate and make safer for children airtight cedar chests made between 1912 and 1987.

Lane estimates that up to one million of these pre-1987 cedar chests may be found in dwellings throughout Canada. The company is offering owners a new, safer lock free-of-charge. The new locks, used on all chests since 1987, must be latched manually from outside the chest and will not be engaged automatically when the lid is closed.

Long after these chests have passed from generation to generation or through estate sales, they are sometimes used as toy boxes or left empty in basements, garages and sheds. Unsupervised children playing in a chest can close and lock the lid, making an airtight seal. There have been tragedies of this kind in Canada.

Owners of old Lane or Virginia Maid chests owners can obtain a safe, new lock by calling toll-free 1-800-856-8758 or registering at Lane's Web site (www.newlock.net). As of May 2002, hundreds of chest owners have inquired about, ordered and received the new locks.

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