I'm from the U.S., so pardon my ignorance about 'ull and this may seem a silly question, but are there any towns nearby with a Chinese district? Here in California, I'd go to Chinatown in either San Francisco or Oakland to find such a thing -- or ask my friend who works at the SF garbage tip to scout one for me (which, in fact, I've just done...I'm in a maritime music/sea chanty band, yet I'd never heard of a tea chest bass. Now that I have, I must have one! Thank you!)

Here's an informative page about tea chest basses.