MikeW
>I am uncertain the value of probate records for determining what tools a particular person--or a great number of other people--have regarding being all-inclusive of a person's tool estate. There really aren't that many as compared to how many furniture makers there was.

For instance, I don't have Parson's book on Maj. John Dunlap in front of me right now, but he had somewhere around 22 chisels when his estate was reckoned in 1792. "Handsaws" is a singular listing. How many? Which type? A single "tennant" saw is listed. A couple bow saws listed distinct from the hand saws. And some carving tools...

Is Dunlap's estate records, an arguabley "country" maker (not in a "major metro area) typical? Atypical? How do we know? Would such a "country" maker have more or less tools than a metropolitan maker? How would we know?

I'm not trying to be argumentative. Rather, there is so little we know and I am uncertain as to the utility of probate records confined to few being applied to the industry of furniture making as a whole.

I think the same (and more) questions applies to chests. How many furniture makers had them versus what we might consider a carpenter? Where are they? What type were they? Stylistically, what percentage had decorative inner elements? Probate records offer little hope to satisfy those and far greater number of questions regarding chests and thei contents.

Take care, Mike