Cabinet
19 Sep, 2019
Antique 5-tier globe business cabinet
ANTIQUE 5-TIER GLOBE BUSINESS CABINET
18 September 2019
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This is an oak cabinet with the name “Globe .” printed in gold colored letters on the front of the top piece of the unit. No printing or other identification appears anywhere else on the unit. The unit (all pieces) is 41 ¼ “ wide and stands 66 “, top to floor. Tier 1 is a 2-drawer base piece that sits on the floor. It is 17“deep and 10” high. Tier 2 is a 7-drawer piece presumably used for filing. It is 17” deep and 13” high. Tier 3 is a 12- drawer piece 17” deep and 13” high. Tier 4 and 5 form a 2-piece bookcase stack 12 ¾ “deep and 13” high (each bookcase). The top piece fits on top of the top bookcase. It is a nominal 12 ¾ “deep and 3 ½” high. Because the bookcases have less depth than the pieces below it, 4 ¼ “ shelf is created between Tier 3 and Tier 4. The unit was easily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning and pictures. The two bookcases can be interchanged; likewise for Tiers 2 and 3.
MORE DETAILS (all Tiers are a nominal 41 ¼ wide)
Tier 1…2- Drawer Base Piece (17d x 10h). Each of the two drawers is a nominal 19 ¾ w x 5h x 16d and can be interchanged.
Tier 2…7-Drawer Piece (17d x 13h). Each drawer is a nominal 11 1/4h x 5 1/4w x 16 ¾ d and has a horizontal side rail running on each side of the drawer and a slide rail groove along the bottom of the drawer for a “files tightener.” Only one of the 7 possible tighteners exists. The 7 drawers are interchangeable
Tier 3…12-Drawer Piece (17d x 13h). The drawers are arranged in two side-by-side stacks of 6 drawers each. Each drawer is a nominal 19 1/4 w x 1 1/2h x 15 1/2 deep and each has an easily removed wooden divider down its middle; four of the 12 dividers are missing.
Also, each drawer has two 1” dia holes drilled on its floor. All drawers are interchangeable.
Tiers 4 and 5.Bookcases (12 ¾ d x 13h). Bookcases are essential identical except that in Tier 5, the groove for the glass door slider is made of metal; the grove in Tier4 is made of wood.
Top Piece…The “Globe .” is well centered on the top edge of the piece (there is a “.” after the word “Globe.”
COMMENTS
The unit is very similar in design and build to something that would have been built by the Globe-Wernicke Company, well known for its high-quality furniture during the early 1900s. However, there is no “G-W” sticker, or any other identification apparent anywhere on any of the pieces of the unit. This could suggest that this unit was actually manufactured by the original Globe Company before Globe bought Wernicke in 1899.
The unit is in good shape, even considering the irregularities listed below. All the hardware and handles are in place and generally tight. A few nails are a little loose here and there, and one is missing. He unit is very attractive and immediately noticed by people aware of quality furniture.
IRREGULARITIES
• Only one of the 7 “file tighteners” exists for the Tier 2 component.
• Four of the 12 dividers for the Tier 3 drawers are missing.
• One of the grooves for the glass door slider on one of the bookcases is made of metal. This suggests that sometime during its life, the bookcase needed repair.
• There are water rings and a small bald spot on the floor of the upper bookcase.
• There is white paint, or something similar, on the edge of one of the Tier 1 drawers. This is very noticeable. An expert can probably remove this with good success.
• There is some slight streaking on the top of the Top Piece.
• Some of the nails are slightly lose, but there is no missing hardware.
• There is some spotting and wear, particularly near the bottom of the unit. This is minor, particularly considering the probable age of the unit.
BACKGROUND
This unit came from the home of my aunt and uncle who have been deceased for almost 20 years. I recently acquired the home and its contents and realized that this unit and a few other items in the home may have significant antique value. Where and when my aunt and uncle acquired the Globe unit is unknown for certain, but there is some indication that they acquired the unit while living in the Omaha, Nebraska area in 1956. They moved to New Mexico (the current location) shortly after that and evidently took the unit with them. The unit was always protected from the environment, but never “packed away.”
END
Estimate: $800 - $1,600