Posted 3 years ago
trunk_junkie
(55 items)
With Old English polish on the top now. Looks much much better . Should I polish the rest or leave it alone?
Just added the last two pics and I am laughing at myself. I guess the next time I post about something, I better check the bottom first to see if there's any info there. HAHAHAHAHA. Oh well, Eastlake eat your heart out. My table may not be from you but it's just as pretty.
Helmers Mfg Co operated from 1800 to 1899.
Wow, this table is at least 120 years old if it was made in 1899.
Not sure where your dates came from. Label is 20th century and found online sources of them operating in the 1940s:
https://www.leagle.com/decision/19505339eptcm5241388
Couldn't find a history or start date for the company.
scott
Here is an obituary that puts the company as starting in 1888 and still operating at the time of the obit (1918):
http://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/1918ks/bioh/helmerhj.html
Also, here is a late 20th century cabinet (construction confirms dating) bearing the SAME label on the back:
https://www.chairish.com/product/1330602/late-20th-century-vintage-helmers-manufacturing-co-duncan-phyfe-china-cabinet
scott
I can't find the document now that I had found yesterday where it said the Helmers Mfg Co operated from 1800-1899. I should have saved the link but did not. I would love to believe it's older than 1940 but it's not really that important because I'm not planning on selling it. I just love to have a piece of furniture's history to pass on to my kids when I die. I still love the table whether it's 120+ years old or not and will enjoy using it. If I do come across that document that gave those 1800 dates, I'll share it here.
I did notice that the label looked like a 20th century one so who knows.
This comes up in a basic search:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/541839398901166253/?nic_v2=1a3W0imXO
A lot of online sites use broad categorizing for furniture (ebay does the same). And of course it is seller's choice/ may not be correct.
I'd be confident in the bio (incorrectly called an obit by me) that is cited in posting #4. The information is from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, compiled and written in 1918. The founder was still around at this time.
scott
Thanks so much Scott. Yes, I have noticed in the past that what is said on a sales post on Ebay or Etsy or elsewhere is not always accurate and I take those pieces of info with a grain of salt. However, the article I was viewing that had the 1800-1899 dates on it was, in fact, an article that had a colored background. There was one link I brought up from my "computer history" whose link did not open to the article anymore. So maybe that was the link that had the info I used. At any rate, I do so appreciate your taking the time to research this and will go by what you found. My table appears to be younger but.....I'm still excited to even have it.
Glad to help out.
Age doesn't equate to value and desirability. Eastlake and many other 19th century American furniture pieces are not appreciated today and values have dropped in multiples over what they were bringing in the 1990s.
Thanks for sharing your table-- if you like and use it that is all that really matters!
scott