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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: doofdaddy on July 07, 2009, 01:27:46 AM

Title: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: doofdaddy on July 07, 2009, 01:27:46 AM: I have this old cabinet that folds up and looks like a shipping container. When I unfold it, it looks like a finished cabinet. The doors fold out and cover the sides. They're covered with a veneer.

There's a top piece that unfolds and looks like a piece of crown molding.

Here is a link to some photos and a video where I open the cabinet up.

http://vintagecabinet.blogspot.com/

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3696555971_1ed6dce4d3.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3697364502_417047ef76.jpg)
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: cogar on July 07, 2009, 08:12:58 AM: Doofdaddy, my 1st guess is that it is an old "mail order" cabinet that one could order from a catalogue. Like way back when things were primarily "shipped" by Railroad and/or horse and wagon. Thus, it was its own shipping container and the "finished" parts of it were protected from the bings, banks and scratches of shipment.
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: regularjoe2 on July 07, 2009, 10:35:35 AM: Might be a shipping/display box for mirrors ( spiegel=mirror ) ?
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: luxetveritas on July 07, 2009, 10:57:07 AM: Yep, spiegel is "mirror" in German. Not everyday I get to use my limited college German :)
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on July 07, 2009, 11:04:14 AM: Spiegel is also a catalog company. I remember one of the big game shows in the 70's used to give Spiegel Catalog gift certificates. They are still around:

http://www.spiegel.com/ (http://www.spiegel.com/)
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: KC on July 07, 2009, 11:31:01 AM: My first thought when I have been looking at this post was Spiegel Catalog.
In 1848 Joseph Spiegel emigrated from Germany to the US. In 1865, Spiegel started a home furnishings store in Chicago.

Here is their logo: http://www.spiegel.com/ (http://www.spiegel.com/)

Here is their history http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2857.html (http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2857.html)

Since they are still in business, I am sure you could contact them and find out through some kind soul if this was in fact a shipping - storage - display container used by them. I am betting it is.
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: luxetveritas on July 07, 2009, 12:35:00 PM: I would agree, it is much more likely that it is from the catalogue company, Spiegel. Not used for transporting glass :)
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: regularjoe2 on July 07, 2009, 05:15:43 PM: Yes , the Spiegel folks are a possibility too .

It is a little odd that the Spiegel Co. would use hand-painted calligraphy (under a label) , to me .

The address on the box appears that it might be a European one , perhaps .
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: KC on July 08, 2009, 09:06:18 AM: This could have even been an item they sold! It looks pretty neat!
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: cogar on July 08, 2009, 02:06:27 PM: Sears-Roebuck sold houses, big houses, shipped them by Railroad, included everything, ready to assemble.

There is a big, beautiful, two-story Sear's home just 2 doors down the street from me.
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on July 08, 2009, 03:21:03 PM: There are a lot of Sears cabins in the Santa Cruz Mountains where I live. A friend used to have one. Nice little cozy places, the one thing I didn't like was that his model had a very low beam in the kitchen, low enough for me to knock my head on at 5'10" tall!

Since the Spiegel logo is in script, is it possible that this is an early version of the Spiegel company logo?
Title: Re: What type of cabinet is this?
Post by: D&b antiques on July 08, 2009, 04:35:13 PM: If you take a look at the 1923 copy of sears roebuck you could buy a barn also. starting at $ 630.00 Dollars. summer cottages were averaging a $ 1,000.00 Dollars. two story frames house's a little over $ 2,000.00 Dollars.