Acquisition: Shaw-Walker Furniture Company 4 drawer vintage filing cabinet
On February 7th, I picked up a Shaw-Walker 4 drawer filing cabinet that someone had decided to leave for scrap. Despite some serious rust and a few physical holes on the bottom, most of the cabinet is in reasonable shape and functional. The locking mechanism is still mostly in place, though the piece is missing the locks and keys. Each of the drawers has one or more file stops, of a few different styles.
It contained a handful of paperclips, some sewing patterns, and some check stubs from 1976. I suspect it’s likely from the late 40s to early 60s, but it’ll require some research to track down a more specific manufacturing date as the interior has no immediate clues.
Given the general condition and rust, I think I’m going to fast track it for refinishing this month before I tackle the monster, which portends quite a bit more work and effort.
Top of the filing cabinet with an intact Shaw-Walker badging, but missing locks.
Drawer rollers in Shaw-Walker Filing Cabinet. The curved piece of metal at the end rotates to lock the drawers into the cabinet, but they can be switched to allow the entire drawer to be removed.
Removeable drawer roller mechanisms. Two of these insert into the side for each drawer.
Interior view of the top right corner of the filing cabinet with holes where the locking mechanism would typically be.
A view into the cabinet with the drawers all removed. There’s obviously some serious rust at the bottom. Did someone accidentally pour their 2 liter bottle of soda in here and leave it?
An oblique view into the empty cabinet with no drawers.
View of the interior of the empty cabinet featuring one of the drawer rollers and the locking rod on the back wall of the cabinet.
Empty interior of Shaw-Walker filing cabinet. Someone had accidentally lost one of the flat file stops which is stuck on the back wall of the cabinet. I’ve rescued it for later use.
I’m not sure what the purpose of this round sticker was, but despite the rip it looks like it reads “145”. Perhaps a price tag for a used sale at one time?
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Chris Aldrich
I'm a biomedical and electrical engineer with interests in information theory, complexity, evolution, genetics, signal processing, IndieWeb, theoretical mathematics, and big history.
I'm also a talent manager-producer-publisher in the entertainment industry with expertise in representation, distribution, finance, production, content delivery, and new media.
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Made some good progress on furniture refinishing projects today. The weather has finally warmed up a bit for improved painting and drying times.
Day Four on the Shaw-Walker Filing Cabinet
Rust mitigation, sanded, cleaned, and primed all four drawers, primarily the front faces and edges, though the full bottom on one drawer;
Primed the bottom of the cabinet to prevent further rusting;
Next steps:
Choose a paint color and get clear coat;
I’m half tempted to mount onto steel plate and add casters, otherwise felt stripping/feet to prevent scratching floors;
Finish cleaning hardware (not sure how much better these might get without replating) and remount
Day two on the Steelcase stick leg office chair #2
Spray painted all sides with two coats and left to dry
Sanded down the chair back, washed it, and spray painted with two coats and left to dry.
Next steps:
Clear coat;
Reupholster the seat (same Quidditch material as the other?);
Re-assemble;
Fix broken foot on one leg;
Strip and refinish chair #1
Made some good progress on furniture refinishing projects today. The weather has finally warmed up a bit for improved painting and drying times.
Day Four on the Shaw-Walker Filing Cabinet
Rust mitigation, sanded, cleaned, and primed all four drawers, primarily the front faces and edges, though the full bottom on one drawer;
Primed the bottom of the cabinet to prevent further rusting;
Next steps:
Choose a paint color and get clear coat;
I’m half tempted to mount onto steel plate and add casters, otherwise felt stripping/feet to prevent scratching floors;
Finish cleaning hardware (not sure how much better these might get without replating) and remount
Day two on the Steelcase stick leg office chair #2
Spray painted all sides with two coats and left to dry
Sanded down the chair back, washed it, and spray painted with two coats and left to dry.
Next steps:
Clear coat;
Reupholster the seat (same Quidditch material as the other?);
Re-assemble;
Fix broken foot on one leg;
Strip and refinish chair #1
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