What Is an Edward Roos Cedar Chest?
Edwards Roos cedar chests, commonly known Ed Roos cedar chests, are a vintage line of cedar chests manufactured by the Ed Roos Company of Forest Park, which operated from 1918 to 1951. The Ed Roos cedar chests were originally bridal hope chests and were marketed around the world.
The Roos family had a previous company, the Roos Manufacturing Co., which was founded by Edward Roos. After his death, his two sons, Otto and Edward, took over the family business and renamed the company to the Roos Cedar Chest Company, which was based in Chicago and manufactured cedar chests.
In 1916 during World War I, the factory was shut down because these chests were considered to be a luxury. However, in 1918, Edward Roos moved to Forest Park, Ill., where he opened the Ed Roos Company of Forest Park. During its operational period, this company was the biggest manufacturing plant in Forest Park and provided employment to approximately 400 people. In 1943, Edward Roos died at age of 62. Shortly after his death, the production of the company was once again restricted by the government because of the second world war. The company never got back on its feet after this, and it was sold in 1951.
