Dave Macfee writes:

 

This dental cabinet I'm restoring is Cabinet #65 made by Ransom &
Randolph company.  It is featured in a catalog published in 1901 by

H.D. Justi and Son. (Cost in 1901: $105..wow ) I've done a lot of

work to research this in order to replace what is missing, but there is

one detail I'm coming up short. The catalog description says the

metal trays and some other locations are covered with high quality

"cabinet cloth".
 
First question: Does anyone know specifically what type of cloth is
being referred to in this 1901 terminology?
 
Secondly, what can be purchased today and where?  I assume this

is a much higher grade of cloth than most available felts. The type

of cloth you'd see in a jewelry case comes to mind. I did some

searching on velvet, jewelry cloth, and other terms, but didn't come

up with anything. Does anyone know sources for high quality

material that would measure up?
 
I'm puzzled that the metal trays would be covered with felt. The

catalog spec says "The revolvable bracket tables are 12 inches in

diameter and are covered with cabinet cloth". I wouldn't think the

cloth would be glued down to a metal tray, so was it just a loose

piece cut to the diameter or maybe a slightly larger piece held in

place by some elastic sewn into the perimeter so it could be slipped

over the edge of the tray?
 
I'm going overboard on this one as the customers are willing to pay

what it takes including my research to get this to original shape.  It

is a really interesting project.  The trays and brackets are missing,

as well as the curved glass door for that opening. We will make the

bent door, and we're working with a nearby foundry to do the

castings for the trays and brackets. There's enough information

from the catalog that I think we can make the new brackets and

trays the correct overall size and function, but we don't have the

small detail to do it perfectly. If anyone has access to more

information on the cabinet and especially on these brackets, I

would of course love to hear that.
 
Macfee, KS

Macfee gives an update:
 

Everyone,

These responses have blown me away. Groop is awesome. Thank

you so much for the feedback, ideas and sources.

I sent a letter today to the contact Fred Woodall gave at Ransom
& Randolph. I'll post anything I find out, and also update as it
moves along. We're a few weeks away from starting it.

Here are a few shots of the cabinet in it's current condition.
The finish is much lighter than the pictures show. It's been
stripped and refinished for certain. I found a card stapled under
one of the shelves for an antique dealer/refinisher with a date of

1955 when the work was done. There is plenty of evidence that
a strong red dye was used in the original finish schedule, but it
looks like the refinisher used bleach to remove as much as he
could (sigh). I will replace that of course.

If you look closely at the back view of the inside of the cabinet
(the back has been removed), you'll see a dark finished box that
is the original finish. I'm thinking I'll preserve that remnant of

the original finish. It should polish up no problem. This box
holds all the dental tools, and was intended that it can be
removed from the front so the dentist could take his tools on the
road. You will note the handle on top of the box. There are a

few small pieces of interlocking trim on the front side that are
easily removed so the box can slide out the front opening. Pretty
Spiff.

One of the big issues will be the missing curved glass door for
the circular compartment. We have to build that from scratch

and try to figure out what their system was enabling it to rotate
rotates into the cabinet. I think I have a pretty good idea how
they did it, but it would be really nice to get some better
pictures of the original equipment.

Ditto on the 3 circular trays and brackets that store inside the
circular cabinet. These are gone. I hope I can get some better
illustrations of these as well. Fortunately, the text description
in the catalog gives the diameter of the trays (12") and from
that you can pretty well deduct what the dimensions are of all
the other parts.

The curved wood door you see in the pictures IS NOT the

original design. But it is interesting where that curved door came

from. When the cabinet was modified, they used what was

formerly the interior back of the cabinet and incorporated it into

a new turntable, such that it became the show door. Not a bad

try.. but in the closed position with the plain mahogany on the

outside show, it is flat ugly. In any case, I'm thrilled to have that

as I will return it to its position as the inside back.

Thanks again for all the leads. Wow.

Macfee, KS