Q:I have an upright cedar chest that was in my grandparents' house for many years. Inside the lid, it is marked "West Branch Novelty Company, Milton, Pa." I think it's mahogany. Can you tell me anything about it?

A:West Branch Novelty Co. was founded in 1893 in Milton. The company started out making bamboo furniture, but by the early 1900s cedar chests were its most important product. The company made boxes for shrapnel shells during World War I. Furniture production was resumed after the end of the war. The company is no longer in business. Many different styles of cedar chests were made. Some sell for $50 to $100 or more, depending on size and condition.