Sellers Hoosier Cabinet, Made in Ontario, Canada?

[TJBurly]

Hello All,

I have acquired a Sellers Hoosier Cabinet that appears to have been made in Ontario, Canada.  The nameplate is faded but appears to read:

SELLERS
KITCHEN CABINET
"The Best Servant in Your House"
-Southampton, ONT-

Can anyone confirm that Sellers actually did manufacture in Ontario, not just Elwood, Indiana?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Jason

[greenacres]

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-furniture-hutches-display-cabinets-Antique-Sellers-Kitchen-Hoosier-Cabinet-W0QQAdIdZ555904158

Is this your ad?

[greenacres]

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/oak-hoosier-cabinet  The second one down appears to be yours. Depends on the condition.  Theres one below for $695.

[TJBurly]

Thanks Green Acres,

Yes, that is my cabinet in the first ad and it does appear to be the same model in the ebay ad for $695.  However, that piece is clearly labelled as being made by Sellers in Elwood, Indiana and not Southampton, Ontario.

I was wondering if anyone was familiar with the company Sellers and the history of their manufacturing from this facility in Canada?

Appreciate the input,

Jason

[Dogaman]

TJ,

Might want to check out this site; maybe email them. Good luck!

http://hoosiercabinet.com/

[TJBurly]

Thanks Dogaman,

Your suggestion to hoosiercabinet.com led me to some of the old ads that they had posted there.  Several of them referenced a Canadian branch in Brantford, Ontario but still nothing in Southampton.

I finally found this one on Ebay that listed a Canadian Factory in Southampton, Ontario, Canada. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920-SELLERS-KITCHEN-CABINETS-AD-CABINET-OVERVIEW-SCENE-ELWOOD-INDIANA-/350943198731

With the nameplate being so faded, I couldn't be certain what it read but this confirms it.

Much appreciated,

Jason

[Dogaman]

TJ,

Try taking a blank piece of paper and use a lead pencil or crayon and make a 'rubbing' of the name plate. It might pull out something you can't see with the naked eye.

[mart]

https://www.google.com/#q=Sellers+kitchen+cabinets%2C+southhampton%2C+ontario

Check this google page !! There is a Ladies Home Journal article referencing them as well as several CA. Kijiji ads with them for sale made in Southhampton Ont. !!

[TJBurly]

Thanks Mart,

The Kijijji ads are actually for the cabinet that I now have, but your Google search did lead me to something in the Canadian Library Archive.  An image of the old Southampton factory taken in 1923-24.

I also found some other info on the buildings history:

Vanstone and Morans Furniture Factory, S.M. Knetchtel Chair Company, Sellers Kitchen Cabinets, Bell Furniture

Vanstone and Morans Furniture Factory, Southampton had ceased to operate by 1890.

Samuel Miller Knetchtel operated S.M. Knetchtel Chair Company from this building.  His father was Peter Knechtel who operated a saw mill from the mouth of the Saugeen River.  The company manufactured all kinds of chairs including high chairs.

Oak kitchen cabinets in three sizes were manufactured by Sellers Kitchen Cabinets, an American Company in the building for a short time.

Bell Furniture also used this building as a chair factory after 1907.

[talesofthesevenseas]

LOVE the old Hoosiers of all types, they are such great pieces of furniture and still useful today. My old "possum belly Hoosier" is one of my favorite things in the house.

[mart]

Did the magazine article have anything about it ??

[TJBurly]

SevenSeas, love the styling of potbelly cabinets!  I can understand why it would be your favourite.

Mart, I think the article that you are referring to in the ladies journal is the same advert from ebay that I posted above?  That is where I confirmed that there was a Canadian factory in Southampton.  The old adverts can be really helpful.