Help with a Globe Wernicke bookcase

Hi all,


New to the forum here, so thanks in advance. I have a Globe-Wernicke bookcase I'm trying to learn more about.

I know there are tons of them out there, but I think this one is a little special. First off, it has all the signs of being one of the oldest. It has no labels at all. The size is handwritten on the top of each unit. It has that stenciled company label. But, it also has a dowel system to open the drawers, and it is super smooth. I have seen many similar cases but none ever with the dowel system, rather they all have that metal scissor system.

Anyone know anything further about this particular bookcase? I find the closest info about it at this website: https://deepdoodoo.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/globe-wernicke-bookcases-the-standard-style/


Photos attached here.

Thank you,

 

From the same source ...
https://deepdoodoo.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/globe-wernicke-elastic-bookcases/
No mention of that dowel, but it may add some information as to what is older.


... and just because it's interesting ...
https://ia800306.us.archive.org/9/items/wernickesystemel00wern/wernickesystemel00wern.pdf

 

The oldest patent date is 1891, and the most recent 1900, so yours wont be not much more than 10 years after the original patent. Maybe the thing to do is to find out when the metal scissor system was introduced. Looks like yours runs on ribbons. I imagine they had a tendency to break, which might be why a new system was developed.

@Roaring20s : I never imagined these as floor-to-ceiling units, or in a stepped configuration.

 

Thanks for the brochure. Very interesting to read. No word on the dowel, though yet. Thanks for the reply!

 

I have 2 early matching oak Globe-Wernicke bookcase and both have your ribbon and pole (spring inside) system, mine have a burnt in stamp as well as the transfer, other than that they are the same in design.

 

I have the same vintage. These appear to be the earliest ones. I am missing one of the brass capped spring rods and cannot find a source anywhere. I inherited this stack and I am trying to find a source for the spring rod and the slotted hardware it sits in and even though I can replace the strap, I'm having trouble locating one that is the same design/color combo