1
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 28, 2019, 08:20:54 pm »Well,, I wasn`t entirely wrong !!
If you were wrong then I missed it. :-) I appreciate your help.
News:
Wow! Antique-shop.com forums are in the big #1 spot on Google for the search term "antique shop forum", for 4 years running!
Thanks to YOU.
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Pages: [1] 2
If you were wrong then I missed it. :-) I appreciate your help.
2
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 28, 2019, 08:19:00 pm »The round medallion plate is what was typically mounted to the front of the Cheney wooden cabinet (the cabinets was made in Grand Rapids Michigan - by Berkey & Gay Furniture Company). There was a square metal plate that had a the Style # and Patent # that was located inside the cabinet. Cheney produced many styles of cabinets well into 1925 (year Mr. Cheney died). So...your medallion could be from anywhere in that time range forward.
[/quote]
The weird part is, the medallion looks brand new. The screws holding it in look aged but not the medallion itself. I would have expected it to tarnish.
3
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 28, 2019, 09:56:49 am »
Yes, I am thrilled! And lucky for me, the lock was the same on all four doors, so I only needed the one key...we only had the one blank that was big enough. He suggested I use a stretch cord to actually attach it somewhere inside the drawer (which has no lock) so there would never be any danger of losing it. I am going to make an attempt to find another key of similar size before doing that.
I am so hooked on old furniture now. :-)
Thanks for all the help!
I am so hooked on old furniture now. :-)
Thanks for all the help!
4
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 27, 2019, 09:00:05 pm »
Ok, here's the latest development in this saga of this cabinet:
A friend told me about a local locksmith who was exclusively mobile and I called him. His prices were reasonable so I went for it...he had a key made in about 15 minutes, using a barrel blank I already had. He just cut it a little. He told me to keep looking in shops for old keys of the same size, and he could stop by and cut more. Apparently ordering a blank in this size would be about $20, so this will give me an excuse to prowl some antique places.
NOW, when the upper cabinet was opened, I discovered a medallion fixed to the back wall on the right, which would have been above the phonograph player. It says "Cheney Talking Machine Company". I looked them up and, as near as I can tell, someone had this cabinet modified not only for the "talking machine" but the left side has some added wood that's clearly for organizing/storing vinyl records. That bit is not all there but it's definitely made with a machine, and has screws in it. (Even the locks don't have screws, nor do the hinges).
My working theory is that someone wanted a phonograph player (the new very expensive one...it cost $240 in 1914) but didn't like the look of the cabinets, so they had one built into this cabinet, which is much bigger and more ornate than the cabinets made for the machines. The company was in Chicago but I suppose someone could have built it into the cabinet elsewhere...still, the fact that they'd go to the trouble of mounting that medallion makes me think it might have been done by the factory.
I'm adding new photos, and giving a shout out to Travis, who made my new key. :-)
If anyone knows anything about this new twist in the story, I'm all ears. Thanks!
A friend told me about a local locksmith who was exclusively mobile and I called him. His prices were reasonable so I went for it...he had a key made in about 15 minutes, using a barrel blank I already had. He just cut it a little. He told me to keep looking in shops for old keys of the same size, and he could stop by and cut more. Apparently ordering a blank in this size would be about $20, so this will give me an excuse to prowl some antique places.
NOW, when the upper cabinet was opened, I discovered a medallion fixed to the back wall on the right, which would have been above the phonograph player. It says "Cheney Talking Machine Company". I looked them up and, as near as I can tell, someone had this cabinet modified not only for the "talking machine" but the left side has some added wood that's clearly for organizing/storing vinyl records. That bit is not all there but it's definitely made with a machine, and has screws in it. (Even the locks don't have screws, nor do the hinges).
My working theory is that someone wanted a phonograph player (the new very expensive one...it cost $240 in 1914) but didn't like the look of the cabinets, so they had one built into this cabinet, which is much bigger and more ornate than the cabinets made for the machines. The company was in Chicago but I suppose someone could have built it into the cabinet elsewhere...still, the fact that they'd go to the trouble of mounting that medallion makes me think it might have been done by the factory.
I'm adding new photos, and giving a shout out to Travis, who made my new key. :-)
If anyone knows anything about this new twist in the story, I'm all ears. Thanks!
5
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 25, 2019, 08:58:09 pm »
Wow, thanks for the heads up. Would never have dreamed that would happen.
I'm shopping on line for key sets. :-)
I'm shopping on line for key sets. :-)
6
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 24, 2019, 10:31:07 pm »The ones I had for my French Cabinets were difficult and required turning the key 3 times around to unlock all the locks (6 on the one cabinet and 3 different keys)
Yeah, european locks can be a pain, why i suggested just disable them, easier all round but still, you gotta get door open first so there is that.
Totally agree about leaving the locks open! :-)
7
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 24, 2019, 10:29:17 pm »The ones I had for my French Cabinets were difficult and required turning the key 3 times around to unlock all the locks (6 on the one cabinet and 3 different keys).
I totally trust Michael's keys (817) 581-8992 and know they have more locations in Mid Cities nearest you. It's worth a phone call!
Thank you, I will keep this number and call if I can't find a key on my own. There are some shops here in town that might have a few. Worth a shot!
8
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 24, 2019, 10:24:54 pm »https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xskeleton+keys.TRS0&_nkw=skeleton+keys&_sacat=0
Skeleton keys are not hard to match !! For much less than you would pay for a locksmith just buy a bunch and try them !! If we shop owners could do it,, so can you !! You might have to wiggle it a little !! Not a single shop owner that I knew back then ever called a locksmith !! We kept a stash of skeleton keys !!
Great idea! I'll go shopping tomorrow...several places close by that might have some keys :-)
9
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 23, 2019, 10:52:20 pm »
I found a locksmith in Bedford who said he could make keys for me, no problem...but I'd have to haul the cabinet to him, and leave it for a while. Honestly, now that I have it I don't want to take it anywhere.
Actually it's not the TAKING part that bothers me...it's the LEAVING part that makes me nervous.
Any recommendations on a locksmith who might come this far west and do keys for me? Or where I might pick up some keys to try? I saw some on line that sold as a set, didn't know if they'd be worth the effort. I think they were about $30.
Actually it's not the TAKING part that bothers me...it's the LEAVING part that makes me nervous.
Any recommendations on a locksmith who might come this far west and do keys for me? Or where I might pick up some keys to try? I saw some on line that sold as a set, didn't know if they'd be worth the effort. I think they were about $30.
10
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 19, 2019, 07:51:26 pm »
Can you take a picture of the inside? and back?
The cabinet is locked, so no photos of inside until I solve that. Will take photos of back when I have help to move it, but there may not be enough space left to post them. Going to go look at some Dutch cabinets now!
11
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 18, 2019, 11:24:27 pm »Go to a few antique shops in your area or look on ebey !! Will not be difficult to find a skeleton key that will work !! Don`t discount the "not so big" keys !! You just need one that will turn the tumbler !!
Really? Heck, my mom has a few skeleton keys on a ring at her house. Might try those out just for fun. Wouldn't that be crazy if she had a key already that would fit?
12
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 18, 2019, 11:20:18 pm »Your house is big enough to make a perfect setting for the cupboard, which regardless of age or origin will be the only one in the neighborhood I bet. It reminds me almost of a vestry from a church?
Here's a seller from overseas that carries interesting pieces: http://www.bae.be/inventory/individual-items
Yes, I think I have the only one in the neighborhood! I just love it! Never been this excited about furniture before!
13
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 18, 2019, 07:15:48 am »
I wish I could, but I have no keys yet. Judging by the outside of the lock, these skeleton keys are going to be monsters. Just hope they don't cost me a fortune to get made.
And thanks for the value estimates, I was hoping I got a fair deal. I have a couple of other items I'm going to be asking about that I came across around the same time that I got the cabinet. I'll put them on a separate question because they are totally unrelated (not furniture). It's funny how I stumbled across these things when I wasn't really looking for them.
I'm wondering now if there are any good antique shows/sales near me that aren't in the dog days of summer...y'all know of any? I'd like to go to one and just look around. Anything within four or five hours drive would be good...I can get to San Antonio in five hours, or maybe Tulsa, or Bossier City.
And thanks for the value estimates, I was hoping I got a fair deal. I have a couple of other items I'm going to be asking about that I came across around the same time that I got the cabinet. I'll put them on a separate question because they are totally unrelated (not furniture). It's funny how I stumbled across these things when I wasn't really looking for them.
I'm wondering now if there are any good antique shows/sales near me that aren't in the dog days of summer...y'all know of any? I'd like to go to one and just look around. Anything within four or five hours drive would be good...I can get to San Antonio in five hours, or maybe Tulsa, or Bossier City.
14
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 17, 2019, 09:25:09 pm »
The Aumbry cupboards are so cool. I assume they are pretty rare?
15
Antique Questions Forum / Re: Identity Unknown (Furniture origin)
« on: September 17, 2019, 08:53:31 pm »OK Jacon 4 ( hit the right key this time) You paid between $750. and $1200.although the lower is what I would think !!
Whew! Y'all had me a little worried, but I feel good now! I found it on Facebook Marketplace (or more accurately, it found me, jumped right off the screen). Original price was $600 but she accepted $500, maybe because there were no keys for the locks. I felt like I got a good deal, it was worth $500 to me. I told my kids that they have to pick a nursing home with rooms big enough to allow me to have this cabinet, and then they can bury me in it.
I think I'm going to become an antiques fiend now. :-)
Pages: [1] 2