Found a nice Record Cabinet - information requested

[Roaring20s]

I just picked this up and I've never seen one like it before... and I like it!
Adding it to the growing list of projects.

It is a very light weight blonde wood that smells like Cedar.
I've also never seen shellac bead-up like this! I was told it spent most of its life in San Francisco.

Love the carved panels with chinese architecture. On side is daytime and the other is night.

No maker marks. Any ideas?

Thanks,
James.

[Garret]

Very nice cabinet! It almost looks like it has been exposed to a lot of heat at some point, perhaps a fire? In any case, it is a good piece worth keeping!

Garret

[zenith82]

I've never seen one like that either, though it's a very interesting piece. The styling looks is similar to some pieces of British furniture of the early 1900s I've seen in the past.

I agree the severe alligatoring of the finish was likely caused by heat exposure. It could have been near a fire, or it could be the effects of being stuck in a hot attic for 75 years.

Nice find!

[mattrx]

I once restored an L-Door with this type of alligatoring. It had been stored in a small tin roofed shed for many years. Quite a bit of heat and humidity was the culprit, I think.

pics here: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... hilit=door

Matt

[Roaring20s]

The styling looks is similar to some pieces of British furniture of the early 1900s I've seen in the past.

Yes, I agree. I was browsing many images and the european styling is in line with this.

I will have to wait to reveal its exterior beauty. Other projects are in the way.

James.

[Remmotors]

Very cool cabinet!! The beads in the shellac are from an excess of rubbing oil used when the cabinet was originally finished. The oil separates from the shellac over time much like oil and vinegar salad dressing. This cannot be reamalgamated or "flowed-out", all you can do is leave it as it is or strip it and refinish.
Roy

[Phonofolks]

By looking at the slots this may have been a cabinet for music box discs.

[Roaring20s]

By looking at the slots this may have been a cabinet for music box discs.

Music Box Discs!
The top storage allows for 10.25" discs to roll in, and the bottom for 12" discs.
It came with a Vic IV sitting on its 16.25" top, and I did not even think to check the disc sizes.
Now I will change my search parameters.

Thanks,
James.

PS: Thanks for all of the help and comments!

PS: PS: Been searching, and not being a Music Box guy I've noticed that those disc cabinets have one sized slots.
I think it's still a Record Cabinet!
I did notice that some of the 12" slots still have remnants of a cushion in them. That raise a record up to catch the upper slot. I found and tested a English record that is 10.25" and it would NOT roll in. The older discs measure a full 10" and later discs are just a bit smaller. The missing liners are the cue to it functioning properly!

[Roaring20s]

I have been scouring the internet looking for a similar cabinet. European styles are the closest thus far.

The other thing that I have not seen while searching is the use of cylinder locks on the cabinet doors. The last two cabinets that I've acquired have them.

Below is the only one that begins to come close with a drawer and side carvings. Found it on a auction site in the UK.

This is the other cabinet I have with a barrel lock.

Next, the style differs, but it has the tapered shape.

James.

[Roaring20s]

It was only 100 degrees with a nice breeze today, so I decide to start stripping ... the cabinet.

Spent the afternoon working on one side, and it went well.
I has worried about the carved bas relief panel, not knowing if it was applied gesso or all wood.
Happy to report that it's one piece of carved wood.

Looking closer at the cabinet's construction, it does not seem to be mass produced item. There are numerous pencil notations for adjoining parts. Some of them in areas that should have been removed prior to shellacking.

James.