Bay Colony Antiques is proud to offer for sale this fantastic early 20th century antique 4 drawer legal size filing cabinet. The cabinet was made by Library Bureau Sole Makers who were founded in 1876 and really came into stride supplying equipment, furniture, and other services to the many new Carnegie libraries being built across the country. Library Bureau Sole Makers crafted files of all sizes along with a wide array of other library & office furnishings like desk, desk chairs, display cases, etc.. When grading Antique file cabinets we always start with how they are constructed. Examples with paneled sides and paneled backs will always command a premium over the ones with plywood sides. After looking at the construction, we like to take a look at the grade of the wood itself. This file is constructed with vibrant grain Tiger Oak with large rays and flecks present in the grain. This is a legal size file with the drawers having useable dimensions of 15 1/4” wide x 24” deep x 10 1/2” tall. All of the drawers actuate with ease and retain all of their original hardware except for the file rods. If you’ve been contemplating purchasing an antique file cabinet, we cannot recommend this one enough. The finish is absolutely beautiful with only minor surface wear, mainly on the back. Most files don’t lock, and when they are fitted with locks the key is almost always missing. This did come to us with a key and the single lock secures all of the drawers. The cabinet is signed Library Bureau Sole Makers on a brass tag underneath the top drawer and a couple of the drawers retain their original Library Bureau paper patent labels. The file cabinet measures 20 3/4” wide x 27” deep x 51 1/2” tall.
