Featured Small cabinet

Experts I need help !!!
I have this little, I’m thinking a store display storage cabinet.
3 drawers that open from both sides with dividers. I’m wondering if there was a sign of some sort on top just because of the holes. I could be completely wrong. I would like to learn a little more about it before I go cleaning and restoring preferably to its original state. Any guesses, thoughts, info..
Thank you!!!!!

 

Looks like a spool cabinet. It would originally have held thread, and there would have been labels on the drawer fronts describing what was inside. I don't know about the holes on top; perhaps there was once a display of some sort.

The unfortunate thing is that, because it's not in good condition, the labeling - not to mention the wood's patina - is gone. You might clean up the wood, but those desirable key elements would be missing. On the other hand, the good thing is that these have traditionally sold fairly well, so if it were cleaned up it still might have some value, just not nearly as much as if the original elements were intact.

 

Pics of the insides?
I was going to say type set drawers for printing letters/words?

 

Clean it gently with a very soft brush before you do anything else. I’ve found all sorts of interesting things that way, and often things look unbelievably better afterwards.

 

Here are some pics of the drawers. It definitely needs help. I appreciate the info and definitely any suggestions on cleaning it!!

 

the tools inside look worth more than the piece itself..

 

i made the same comment when I bought it.

 

I think its always been exactly what it is now.Can anyone else just smell that pic ? That smell of oil and steel and dust ?

 

Yep, now that I see the insides, it looks like it's always been a tool chest. My bad.

 

spools, thread , optical lenses, doctors tools, insect specimens at museums,I think lot's of things used similar cabinets "back in the day" ..... that one definitly spent some time as a machinist cabinet. just as useful today as it was when new !

 

My first thought was a spool cabinet, too... but then I noticed the hook/latch thingies holding the drawers closed. Never seen those on a spool cabinet, which were store display units. More likely for a cabinet/box that was going to be carried around, ie: tools! But otherwise... sooo similar.

 

I would clean it up with a little murphys soap or very diluted ammonia. And put a finish on it. It would sell well around my neck of the woods in Missouri but I would probably keep it. Another great storage for my art supplies!$75.

 

I also thought about it being a machinist/small tool cabinet. For some reason the holes on the top are bugging me. If I could figure out what was attached to the top ( since the holes are perfectly lined up ) that would definitely answer the question of what it was used for. Thank you for all the opinions and suggestions, keep them coming

 

What kind of wear is there, if any, on the underside of the top around the holes?

 

Update

just finished cleaning up the cabinet. Still looks used but I like the way it came out with just cleaning, no sanding, staining just good old scrubbing. I found more holes on top the 4 holes x2 in the middle that form squares do not go through completely. The other holes are drilled through. A friend mentioned possibly some sort of machine mounted on top with parts in the drawers. But still have no idea.

 

Love it. It looks so much better! Thanks for coming back with an update.

 

I love the way you made it look. Retaining the aged, mellow appearance. Very nice.