Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Spool Cabinets
By Terry and Kim Kovel
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In the old days when clothes were sewn and mended at home, spools of thread were household essentials. You would see a spool cabinet in any country store, usually on the counter. They were shaped like a miniature chest of drawers, with lettering on the front of each drawer, often on a plaque or window, telling you the company's name, the type of thread and colors of thread stored in that drawer.
The Merrick Thread Company is known for its spool cabinets with rotating displays behind glass. They tend to sell for higher prices than the typical chest-of-drawers spool cabinet. PHOTO CREDIT: Kovels.com
This one is a different style -- which may be one reason why it sold for $1,063 at an auction by Case Antiques. It is cylindrical, with a stenciled glass door that leaves the contents visible. A revolving case ensures that you can get a look at everything inside. When it was filled with spools of thread, customers' eyes must have been drawn to the colors and motion.
Merrick, the thread company this cabinet advertises, was known for this type of display. In 1893, Merrick Thread Co. was sued by Coats, another thread company that would later become J&P Coats Ltd., which is still producing thread today. Coats claimed that Merrick thread spools were marked with a design too similar to theirs, creating confusion between the two companies' products. The case was dismissed. However, considering the patent date of 1897 on this cabinet, its unusual design may have been intended to assert Merrick's identity.
Q: I have an old gooseneck lamp. It's in good condition and it works, but the finish is worn. Here is what's on the back: "Magic Arm Co. PAT. 2665.870." Would you be able to let me know if it's worth anything?
A: A "Magic Arm" is an adjustable, articulated arm often used in drafting lamps. These lamps were kept on or attached to drafting tables or drawing boards for artists, designers and engineers. The magic arm gives the user more control and precision over where the light is focused, which helps when you are working with small details. The term is used by multiple companies that make drafting lamps and other design supplies today. Acme made Magic Arm drafting lamps in the mid-20th century. Vintage drafting lamps have sold at recent auctions and in online shops for $50 to $200, depending on their size and condition.
TIP: An unglazed rim on the bottom of a plate usually indicates it was made before 1850.
CURRENT PRICES
Pottery, bowl, Hopi, round, turned-in rim, cream ground, geometrics around upper body, black, solid brown, speckled brown, signed, Cheryl Naha Nampeyo, 10 1/4 inches, $150.
Glass-blown, tumbler set, diagonal stripes and multicolor canes, two each of yellow, blue, pink, green, signed, Black Sheep studio, c. 1996, 4 1/4 inches, eight pieces, $270.
Bicycle, wicker and bamboo frame, front basket, hand brakes, marked, Wuxing, 37 x 54 x 25 1/2 inches, $900.
For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com
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