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Finding the Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest?

September 15, 2020

A Murphy hope chest with a padded seat.I have a few pieces of furniture that I've considered selling, including a hope chest with Murphy 4250 stamped on the back. I'm hoping someone knows what it might be worth? Any information / history about the brand in general and/or the model # specifically would really be appreciated!

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The marking inside a Murphy hope chest.
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
September 15, 20200 found this helpful
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Murphy is a good name brand for furniture and also for hope chests. Today young girls no longer are interested in buying a hope chest for the future and starting to save for the day they get married. That seems to be a long past tradition and not one that was carried on after the 1980s or so. I know my mom was into this when I was growing up and thought it was necessary to have one but I disagreed with her on this one.

People are still interested in buying these but not for hope chest but to store blankets in or other items. On average the basics sales price a person gets when selling one of these is $135 to $150 tops. I know people say you can get more for these but when you look at the ones that have sold most people are only making $135 and still need to pay the PayPal fees.

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
September 18, 20200 found this helpful
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You're correct about there being a lot of confusion about the numbers on the Murphy Cedar chests as they may or may not relate to the year of manufacture.

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There are some companies that use the method you refer to when dating their items but Murphy is not one of those companies.
You will find pieces with numbers like - 17 or 25 so how can that be the year made when the company was only in existence from 1946-2004? This date of operation was supplied by a relative of the original owners.
"Hi; My name is Lawson Murphy. My family manufactured cedar chests from 1946-2004. We shut down manufacturing due to Chinese competition."

Cedar chests are slow sellers but usually sell for several hundred dollars when they sell.
Here is a copy of a comment made in 2018 in answer to someone about a particular chest. This listing had been posted for a while before this comment was made and this is 2 years later and the chest has not sold.

"Here is a nice chest that has been listed (and relisted) for some time but you may want to place a watch on it to see if it sells.

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www.ebay.com/.../141427558853

There is a lot of information in some of the past postings:

www.thriftyfun.com/Determining-the-Age-of-a-Murphy-Cedar...
www.thriftyfun.com/tf14273541.tip.html
www.thriftyfun.com/tf75936578.tip.html

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31 More Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

July 2, 2020

I have a cedar chest that has Murphy 20 on the back and it has a drop down shelf in it. What is it worth?

Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest? - open cedar chest
 
Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest?
 
Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest?
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
July 3, 20200 found this helpful
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There is one on eBay going for $200. Also on chairish.com Murphy chest are offered at $300 to $600. Its a lovely piece!

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
July 4, 20200 found this helpful
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Just keep in mind the asking price is not the price that people sell these for. Most cedar chest asking price is quite high and can range anywhere from $200-600.

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If you find ones that have sold the selling price is quite a bit lower. Most chests I can find that have been sold range from $125-175 tops.

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March 5, 2018

It is in very good condition. I am hoping to find out what it is worth.


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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
March 6, 20181 found this helpful
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All cedar chests have a serial number that doubles as the manufacturing date. If you see a number such as 04140 inside the chest this would mean it was manufactured on April 1, 1940. This will help you to determine how old the chest is and give you a better idea as to the value of your chest. Furthermore, the condition and style of the chest play an important factor in determining the actual price of your chest.

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In order to give you a good price it is best to look at a photo of your chest. Otherwise, I can give you a good guess from what others are selling theirs for online. From what I can find you should be able to ask $120 to $200 for this depending on the condition of the chest.

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June 12, 2020

My wife has a Murphy cedar chest that I am fixing to redo. On the back it just has Murphy and #19. I haven't taken out everything from inside yet.

I am trying not to. The inside is in great shape.

Age and Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest? - chest in a garage or workshop
 
Age and Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest?
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
June 12, 20200 found this helpful
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On eBay this chest ranges from $175 to $450. Also this consignment link has one- www.chairish.com/.../1960s-handcrafted-cedar-chest

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
June 12, 20200 found this helpful
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Cedar chests are not fast moving items as very few people are interested in owning one anymore. The most popular time for cedar chests was when they were known as 'hope chests' and that term no longer means anything to most people.

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We live in a fast moving world and most families move many times over their lifetime and they usually want light weight, easy to move furniture.

ThriftyFun receives a lot of questions about cedar chests so maybe you can find some of the answers from previous postings helpful in your search.
I hope you are just interested in the age (curious) and plan to redo the outside for your wife to keep in your family.

"There is a statement from a family member of the Murphy Cedar Chest company on a Thrifty fun site that states the following:
"Hi; My name is Lawson Murphy. My family manufactured cedar chests from 1946-2004. We shut down manufacturing due to Chinese competition. "

www.thriftyfun.com/Determining-the-Age-of-a-Murphy-Cedar...

www.ebth.com/.../6927075-cedar-chest-by-murphy

Here is a link to a chest like yours that sold for $72 in 2017.
Looks very nice.

www.ebth.com/.../6927075-cedar-chest-by-murphy

There are very few Murphy chests listed for sale right now and I have not seen any evidence of any being sold in several months so I do not feel there is any way to state what the value would be.

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February 3, 2022

Recently my sister in law passed away and we are trying to settle her estate, as well as her mother's. Could someone help us with an estimated value for this 4045 Murphy Chest?

It is in really good condition and I am just trying to help my brother out as much as I can. Thank you.

A cedar chest on a light colored floor.
 
An open cedar chest
 
A cedar chest on a light colored floor.
 
An open cedar chest
 
A cedar chest on a light colored floor.
 
The underside of a cedar chest.
 
A cedar chest on a light colored floor.
 

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Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 59 Tips
February 3, 20220 found this helpful
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This Murphy cedar chest is listed for $450.
www.ebay.com/.../141427558853?hash=item20edbd49c5...
This will give you an idea of different chests for sale on ebay:
www.ebay.com/.../bn_81012536?rt=nc&_sop=15
In 2018 this chest was auctioned and sold for $35:
www.liveauctioneers.com/.../59984344_vintage-murphy-cedar-chest

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February 21, 20220 found this helpful
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Murphy 4045 Cedar Trunk was sold for $ 103 www.ebth.com/.../5678712-murphy-4045-cedar-trunk
The asking price of another Murphy Cedar Chest numbered 4045 in excellent condition, but lid has some crackling of the clear coat finish
was $ 150 www.broadlandshoa.org/.../
You chest looks great, I think the price is about $ 200-300, but the price depends on the demand in your area.

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November 3, 2006

I bought this Cedar Chest for $25.00. On the back it says Murphy #23 in black letters and numbers. It also has wood handles. Can anyone tell me anything about it. Murphy has gone out of business.
I would like some History on the Cedar Chest. By the way it has wooden caster on underside. Size is 54" long, 21" wide, and 19" deep.

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 519 Posts
November 3, 20060 found this helpful

I have done research on some of my old furniture on the net - Google the name - you get pieces of information that you can put together to get some sort of picture of the item - works for a lot of stuff....

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November 10, 2019

I have a Murphy 7244 cedar chest with a floral pillow top. I am wondering how much it is worth?

Value of a Murphy 7244 Pillow Top Cedar Chest - top view of the chest
 
Value of a Murphy 7244 Pillow Top Cedar Chest
 
Value of a Murphy 7244 Pillow Top Cedar Chest
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
November 11, 20190 found this helpful
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Your chest looks in great condition and if you look on eBay people are asking between $150 to $250 for the chest. I would try and sell it locally to avoid the hassle and cost of shipping this item off to the buyer.

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April 14, 2018

My Murphy cedar chest is marked 4017. Is it an antique? How much could I sell it for?

Value of a Murphy Cedar Chest
 

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Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
April 15, 20180 found this helpful
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It all varies on what platform you sell on and potential interested buyers.

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April 22, 2018

I am looking for the value and age of a Murphy cedar chest with 2 hearts on it. I am helping a friend.

Thank you!


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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
April 23, 20180 found this helpful
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These were made in the mid 20th century. If the condition is good it is worth in the $100 range.

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June 10, 2022

I would like to see how old my Murphy cedar chest is.

Markings on a cedar chest.
 
Numbers written on a cedar chest.
 

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October 26, 2018

Have a Murphy cedar chest and would like to know how old it is?

Thanks.

Determining the Age of a Murphy Cedar Chest - open cedar chest
 
Determining the Age of a Murphy Cedar Chest
 
Determining the Age of a Murphy Cedar Chest
 

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