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Antique Rare Art Metal Construction Co. of Jamestown New York Industrial Military 20-Drawer Steel File Cabinet | Custom Alder & Steel Credenza

A truly one-of-a-kind piece of American industrial history, this substantial 20-drawer filing cabinet combines two antique steel file cabinets with a custom-built Alder wood surround and reinforced steel base. The result is a dramatic, highly functional statement piece that works beautifully as a credenza, library cabinet, office storage piece, media console, or oversized apothecary-style cabinet.

CREATOR: Art Metal Construction Co., Jamestown N.Y.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: c.1940s. 
MEASURES: 
73 3/4” length 
62 1/4” height 
26 1/4” depth 

DRAWER MEASUREMENTS (behind divider):
20 1/4” deep
12 1/4” wide 
9 3/4” total height 

The Art Metal Construction Company, Inc. was founded in 1888 in Jamestown, New York. Its industry was metal furniture and office equipment and its headquarters remained in Jamestown, New York. In February 1968, the firm was acquired by Walter E. Heller & Company. The Art Metal division of Art Metal-Knoll was purchased by Tomar Industries, Inc. in 1970. In June of 1971 the plant was shut down.
Art Metal Construction Company (1900-1959) 

We intentionally preserved the original painted finish and decades of patina rather than refinishing the drawer fronts. The scratches, wear, oxidation, dings and imperfections are part of the history of these cabinets and give the piece the character that simply cannot be replicated with a new finish.

ORIGINAL FINISH & PATINA

The paint on the drawer fronts, drawers and steel cabinet bodies is original. We carefully cleaned the drawer fronts and applied a clear acrylic protective finish to revive the color and restore a subtle sheen while preserving the original aged appearance.

We considered repainting or powder coating the drawer fronts but ultimately chose to preserve their authentic finish. Expect visible scratches, scuffs, small dents, dings, worn paint, areas of oxidation/rust and other age-related imperfections. These are intentional characteristics of the finished piece rather than something we attempted to conceal.

Because the exterior sides and backs of the original steel cabinets had considerably more wear, we designed the custom Alder surround to encase them while leaving the beautiful original drawer fronts exposed.

RESTORED HARDWARE

All removable hardware on the drawer fronts was stripped, cleaned and professionally powder coated in Yankee Gold by Prismatic Powders, creating a warm aged-brass appearance that contrasts beautifully with the original painted steel. 

This includes the:

+ Drawer pulls (original) 
+ Decorative pull mounting accents (original)
+ File label holders (original) 
+ Small knobs located along the bottom of the drawer fronts (original). One of the small lower knobs is missing; please see photos.

CUSTOM ALDER CABINET & STEEL BASE

Because these antique steel cabinets are exceptionally heavy, the surrounding cabinet and base were engineered specifically for this piece.

The custom wood enclosure was constructed from 3/4" Alder plywood and Baltic Birch plywood.

The entire piece is supported by a custom-fabricated steel base/frame, which was then clad in Alder so that the cabinets visually appear to rest on a substantial wood base while retaining the structural support of steel underneath.

Handles were installed on the sides of the wood enclosure to make it easier to move the empty wood cabinet on and off the steel base.

IMPORTANT: These handles are not designed to lift or move the assembled cabinet with the antique steel filing cabinets installed.

DRAWERS & INTERIORS

All 20 drawers have been cleaned and detailed. The drawer interiors are generally in good antique condition, although the paint inside one drawer is noticeably faded. Some drawers also show areas of age-related surface rust and wear.

We cleaned, degreased and waxed the original drawer slides/trays. The drawers open and close reasonably smoothly considering their age and original industrial construction.

Each drawer also includes a removable 1/4" prefinished Birch plywood bottom panel, providing a clean, flat surface for storage while protecting the original drawer bottom.

ORIGINAL DIVIDER MECHANISM

One small knob is missing - located at the bottom of each drawer front was originally connected to a steel rod used to move an internal file divider forward and backward.

The remaining rods have been removed/cut flush so that each drawer now has a flat, unobstructed bottom suitable for more versatile storage.

LOCKS

The locks located on the two bottom drawers are original, but are not functional.

CONDITION

This is an antique industrial cabinet with extensive authentic wear.

The exposed drawer fronts have scratches, scuffs, dents, dings, worn paint and areas of oxidation/rust consistent with decades of use. The concealed exterior portions of the two original steel cabinets have considerably more cosmetic wear, including numerous scratches, scuffs and several dents.

The custom wood surround was specifically designed to conceal those heavily worn exterior surfaces while preserving the original drawer fronts.

Please review all photographs carefully. We consider the variations, wear and imperfections to be an important part of the character of this piece rather than flaws associated with a newly manufactured cabinet.

WEIGHT & MOVING

This is an exceptionally heavy piece.

We estimate the combined weight of the assembled cabinet at approximately 600 lbs.

The two antique steel cabinets can be removed from the custom wood enclosure for transportation. We strongly recommend moving the piece in separate components rather than attempting to move it fully assembled.

To make installation and removal easier, we applied APT UHMW polyethylene tape to the bottoms of the steel cabinets. This allows them to slide much more easily across the waxed interior bottom of the wood enclosure.

Because of the size and weight, professional furniture movers or multiple experienced movers are strongly recommended.

INSTALLATION / REMOVAL OF STEEL CABINETS

Our preferred method is to place the empty wood enclosure on a furniture dolly or a stack of protective foam/yoga mats. Slide the steel cabinet toward the front of the enclosure and carefully tilt it forward until several inches of the cabinet extend beyond the front edge. The cabinet can then be carefully tilted onto the edge of the wood enclosure, slid backward, and maneuvered into its final left or right position.

The same general process can be reversed for removal.

Because each steel cabinet is extremely heavy, this should only be attempted by people comfortable handling large, heavy furniture.

20 drawers • Original painted steel • Restored Yankee Gold hardware • Custom Alder surround • Reinforced steel base • Removable Birch drawer liners

This is not a reproduction or a newly manufactured piece designed to look old. It is a substantial antique industrial filing system whose original character has been deliberately preserved and paired with a custom-built cabinet and base designed specifically for it.

A rare statement piece for an office, library, loft, retail space, studio, historic home, or interior where authentic industrial character is appreciated.

I am happy to facetime prior to purchase. 

**FREE USA SHIPPING**
USA shipping only. Does not apply to Hawaii and Alaska. Florida and NYC area has restrictions. We will ship to Florida, New York City and surrounding boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and Hoboken) for a fee, potentially. The logistics of delivery to the City, Unions and HOAs make it impossible to deliver for free. Please contact me for rates to these specific areas. You will need to contact and coordinate delivery with your building's approved movers. Florida deliveries may qualify for free shipping, but may take longer than usual due to the transport schedule. You are also welcome to pick up or arrange your own delivery in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for a discount. All sales are final. No refunds, returns or cancellations.

Items are sold as is with no warranty. Depending on size, location and availability, shipping may be delivered via LTL semi truck, Uship, truck, trailer or van. They will deliver to your doorstep, loading dock, garage, or curbside - depending on delivery method and packaging. If shipped via LTL, the item will be securely packaged in a crate or on a pallet. Please take all necessary measurements prior to ordering to ensure the items will fit into your access points, door, elevator, stairwell, etc. My usual go-to transport company delivers furniture with Sprinter vans (sometimes with trailers) and typically only has one person to deliver, so they will need an extra set of hands to help unload from the van. I will remind you of this once purchased - along with their contact information as tracking information. They are not equipped to offer a tracking number. Once it's in the hands of the delivery company, I do not have any control over the equipment used, age, gender, race or ability of the drivers. We do not offer white glove delivery inside the home in the free shipping option - please contact us prior to purchase for additional labor rates and fees. Please also contact us prior to ordering if there are any sort of logistical shipping restrictions - eg. height and weight limits, restricted access, truck size limitations, etc. These restrictions can result in additional fees and may affect the ability to deliver. ****