Gerstener Small Chest -- Unusual Interior Design... N 230

The box is in very good overall condition.  The handle is in good shape (often they are pretty deteriorated...).  The only fault is that the two latches for the lid are broken.  The LH one is complete but the over-center lever is loose & does not stay in place.  The RH one is missing the over-center part...

The LH latch is complete put is "worn" and doesn't stay in place when the latch is released.  When latched, though, it works fine. 

The RH latch is missing the moving part.  This latch is pretty old and a quick look online doesn't show a replacement.  There's more modern version that appear much lower quality and the shape is not quite the same.  So, no direct replacements that I can find... 

This is the LH latch released.  The over-center moving part does not stay in this position.  With a little bit of movement, the part falls out of it's retaining area.  I can probably modify/fix it to stay... 

The leather handle is in very good condition.  Just a little bit of leather cream and a little bit of dark brown color should make it look like new. 

The top compartment is pretty uniquely designed.  Appears to be designed to hold a specific product/tool... 

The LH side on the inside is designed to hold a very specific item.  There's a recessed area for something to sit on and the bottom is actually a tray that slides out a couple of inches.  I found a site that was talking about the same box.  So it appears to be somewhat of a production item.  They were talking about it being for a dental instrument...

The LH shelf slid out...

This second from the bottom drawer has a divider built in to hold something pretty specific, since the other three drawers don't have the divider... 

This is the LH latch moving part.  It's really high quality.  I don't think I'd be able to find a replacement.  Gerstener sells replacement hardware, including latches, but their website doesn't show this latch... 

It's a little over 2" long 

A little less than 1.5" wide

Inside the drawer area, there's a number (N230) written on it, 

In the top compartment, left hand side, there's two strips of wood that has nail homes in it.  Something was mounted to these strips, it appears. 

Closeup picture of the thin strips of wood in the top compartment. 

On the right hand side  of the top compartment, there's evidence of something having been nailed in place.  There's three nail holes towards the front of the box (as shown in the picture above) and three holes in the back.  the felt also has an impression of something having been mounted to it. 

Nail holes towards the back of the top right compartment. 

The latch/clasp has a slot at the bottom to allow the clasp to be removed.  There must be some sort of retaining spring that's missing on these.  That must be why the clasp just falls out...