This is one of those pieces that still tells its story.

Vintage solid-wood field chest originally used by Keystone Exploration Company of Houston, Texas, a company involved in geophysical/seismic surveying for oil and gas exploration.

The original, heavily aged labels remain attached to the chest and provide unusually good provenance. One identifies:

KEYSTONE EXPLORATION COMPANY

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

PROJECT 1326-SAA

LINES 100–1300 (INCL.)

A second surviving project label references Project 693-SAA and survey work involving Schleicher, Sutton and Irion Counties, Texas, with portions of the original label now missing.

Also still attached is an old Railway Express prepaid receipt from Houston, Texas, indicating the chest was actually shipped as part of Keystone's operations. Taken together, the labels suggest this was a reusable field/transit chest that traveled between Keystone's Houston operation and geophysical survey crews working Texas oil country.

The large hand-painted “279” on the front was most likely the company's identifying or inventory number for the chest.

The interior is completely open without fitted instrument compartments, making it most consistent with a chest used to transport or store survey maps, seismic records, field logs, project paperwork and related geophysical records rather than a fitted instrument case.

Measures approximately 22" wide x 16" deep x 10" tall.

Constructed from real solid wood with original metal hardware. Considering its age and working history, it remains remarkably solid and attractive. It has scratches, stains, worn finish and other authentic field wear throughout. One upper corner has noticeable old animal/rodent chewing, clearly photographed. The damage is localized and the chest remains structurally solid.

The original paper labels are extremely worn and fragile and have intentionally been left untouched.

A genuinely unusual piece of Texas oilfield, geological, seismic and geophysical exploration history—great for an oil & gas collection, Texas history collection, industrial décor, office display, or simply as a fantastic old storage chest with real provenance.