The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have an old cylinder record cabinet that came to me from my mentor collector, Ira Dueltgen. He said it came from one of the stern wheel flat bottom boats that traveled on the Columbia River in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I always assumed it was built by a local cabinet maker. Anyone have any thoughts about it? Thanks for your opinions. Jerry Blais

No idea Jerry, It's pretty awesome though. Very intersting when something out of the ordinary shows up.

Wes

It appears to be made from fir. So, I would guess a utilitarian cabinet of some sort. It would be really cool if you could find evidence of it coming off an old stern-wheeler's bridge or even the ships name. Many were being scraped in the early 50's.

I can't see a record cabinet being made from a lesser wood by a well known maker like Herzog or Salter for domestic use.

Hi Jerry. I had one similar about 5 years ago. It held 10 cylinders on each shelf and had about 7 shelves. Mine differed in that it had a single door. I will try to find a picture of it on my computer but not sure if I still have it. Thinking about it now I wish I didn't sell it.

Rich Gordon

Hi Jerry, Nice cabinet! Looking at the exterior and interior views the doors appear to be white oak, the interior view shows the quartered oak rays in the back panel veneer, and the sides appear to be oak as well, if the shelf surface that the back edge of the cylinders rest on had been wiped with polish one might be able to see it's grain. A keeper for sure Allen.

Very cool cabinet, Jerry! Not to quibble with you too much A Ford 1, but I'll bet you a shiny quarter that the doors are Douglas Fir. I've got quite a few 1920's built-ins made out of the same stuff. I think you're right about the back panel being Oak, however. In any case, it's a cabinet worth having.

Regards,
Martin

Very nice display cabinet for your cylinders.

The design fits the story of a river boat. Having slots for each cylinder so they do not role or slide forward or back yet able to display each label for the selection by the customer/crew member. Obviously not designed for an open water boat though or many of the cylinders would jump out at the user when the doors were opened.

I think that you would find a lot of interested buyers if you ever needed to make room for your sports memorabilia.

Bruce

Jerry,
This is indeed a very cool cabinet.
All of the details including the beaded mullion as well the door with the large light and 2 panels with simple details inspired by the first colonial revival in the 1880s on the raised panel make it look very utilitarian. The appearance is exactly that of built-ins and utility cupboards circa 1890 - 1905. The fact that it uses slide cupboard catches rather than mortised furniture locks also makes it look something for the kitchen, office or work room rather than the parlor. I am wondering if it could have been intended for a school or office or even a very nice dust free area to keep record stock at a store since there were several jewelry dealers that were also Edison jobbers.

What especially interests me is that the secondary wood used for the back is grained in a typical mid to late 19th century manner to sort of resemble quarter-sawn white oak. This would have been done before being applied to the cabinet and could have been reused from some where else. I would be interested to see the back.

Not so much odd as very cool in my opinion.

Darren