What did this dowel do...?

[Markola]

I'm rehabbing an old record cabinet that's been severely abused (faux leather glued to the top, "repaired" with hammer and nails, etc.). I might not bother but it looks like it was originally made to fit under a VV-VI or similar, which my son happens to have (and he needs somewhere to park it).

SO... the original shelves were two @ ¼" thick and one (slightly shallower) above those @ ⅝" thick. I can make replacements. But this thing was also drilled on the inside of the left & right side panels - above the shelves - for what seems to be a 7/16" dowel, which would span the rear of the cabinet interior about halfway up. (See pic of side panel - this thing's currently a pile of pieces.) There's probably an obvious function for this dowel, but I can't figure it out. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, if anyone recognizes the make or manufacturer of this cabinet, I'd be happy to learn who originally made it.

Thanks much!
Mark

[miker2001]

There would have likely been dividers on the top shelf so records could be stored vertically. The dowel would have prevented the records from rolling out.

[alang]

I have a record cabinet with a similar dowel across on the upper shelf. The upper shelf does not go all the way back, which means there is a broad gap in the back where things could fall down. The dowel across prevents 10" records or albums from sliding too far back. It was missing when I got the cabinet, but a regular oak dowel from the hardware store did the job. Maybe the dowel in your cabinet serves a similar purpose?

Good luck with the restoration!
Andreas

[Markola]

Thanks, Andreas and Mike! I'll put a dowel in the holes across the rear of the cabinet interior. (Easy to do now, much harder to do after it's all glued back together!)

But I'm still curious, if anyone knows - why did the top shelf not extend as far back as the two lower shelves? (And why didn't all of them just go all the way back, for that matter? Would have actually been easier, given the method of original construction.) I know there's something about this I'm missing.

I guess inquiring minds want to know... ha!

[Jerry B.]

Could the difference in depth be the difference between 10" records and 12" records? Jerry Blais

[Markola]

Could the difference in depth be the difference between 10" records and 12" records? Jerry Blais

Maybe so. Maybe the bottom shelves were for laying either 12" records or sheet music flat, and the above area was for storing 10" records vertically...? Hmm...