Of treasure hunting and detective work

by Sharlene Irete

People Editor

My grandmother came home with an old dentist cabinet she bought in a long-forgotten antique shop, probably about 1970.

I loved that oddball piece of furniture with the green marble bottom, glass knobs and the many little drawers with porcelain compartments. I inherited it after my grandmother died and my parents hauled it here from Las Vegas in 1988.

After reading the label on the cabinet saying it was made by the American Cabinet Co. in Two Rivers, Wis., I did some research and found a photo on the Internet of another dentist cabinet just like mine. But that's where my trail of information ended.

I talked to Antiques Plus owner Martha Williams, who organizes the Genoa Antiques Show and Sale twice a year. She and other experts provide appraisals on antiques for $5 per item, with no limit of items. This season's show is Saturday and Sunday at the Genoa Town Hall and benefits the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra.

Martha recommends bringing a good, full-length photograph of large items and furniture to be appraised at the antiques show.

Martha found out more about my particular cabinet and shared what she found: It was made in the 1920s and had the original glass knobs. She said one piece of original equipment was missing " a black metal top that fit over the milk glass shelf to protect it from breaking. Fans of the PBS series, "Antiques Roadshow," are probably waiting for the bottom line: appraised value of my dentist cabinet is $2,500 to $3,000.

See what Martha wrote about the dentist cabinet in the related article, "Martha's appraisal."

Even though she said the piece was in good shape, Martha gave me pointers on how to restore the finish to its original luster with ultra fine steel wool and Howard's Restore-a-Finish.

The cabinet is next my table and the bigger drawers hold tablecloths and napkins. The smaller drawers hold candles, paper coasters, trivets and other flat things. My grandmother used the cabinet for her costume jewelry.

"You could use that cabinet for scrapbooking, jewelry or in a barbershop," said Martha. "The more purposes you have for your antiques means more attractive selling points."

Martha said she spent two hours on the Internet researching my cabinet. And just like detective work, things can fall into place after an important clue.

"It was hit and miss, but I finally hit it when I found it was made by the Hamilton Co. That was like finding a nugget," she said.

Martha said she prefers using books to the Internet for her research, but always thought she was "cheating" if she didn't know about an item at first glance.

"I went to two 'Antiques Roadshows' just to observe how the experts do their appraisals and they had many boxes of books with them," she said. "I like books but if you don't have to look in them, that's a bonus.

"A lot of people like the stories about the antiques. I'm surprised to know that's what people really want at their appraisals. Doing appraisals can be time-consuming but it's a lot of fun."

Martha said her favorite antiques are furniture, but she knows about all kinds of antiques, with the exception of war memorabilia. Other appraisers at the Genoa Antiques Show and Sale have experience with jewelry, glass, textiles, Native American items and war memorabilia.

The 15th annual Genoa Antiques Show and Sale with appraisal clinic is Satuday and Sunday at the Genoa Town Hall. Admission is $1.50 and appraisals are $5 per item, with no limit of items. The show benefits the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra.

Information, genoaevents.com or 782-4951.

This is fine example of a 1920s mahogany dental cabinet made by the American Cabinet Co. of Two Rivers, Wis. The company was founded in 1880 by J.E. Hamilton of the Hamilton furniture company. By 1896, they designed a line of dental cabinets and sold them under the name of American Cabinet Co.

These cabinets were designed by Growen and Soik, the latter a dentist, in their spare time. They manufactured the cabinets in the Hamilton factory. By 1901, the American Cabinet Co. was incorporated into the firm and the name was kept.

The cabinet is in very good condition with 16 small drawers and six large ones. All hardware is original. There are milk glass trays in the top drawers. It has a beveled mirror and diamond shaped panels on the top doors.

The top is milk glass. When not in use, the top was protected by a metal top that fit over it. The bottom is solid marble for weight and ease of cleaning.

The cabinet does have some scratches and a small stain which can be brought back to life by using Howard's Restore-a-Finish and fine steel wool. We will have these items available for sale during the show.

I would place the value of this dental cabinet at $2,500 to $3,000.

n Martha Williams is owner of Antiques Plus in Genoa and organizer of the semiannual Genoa Antiques Show and Sale. This season's show is Saturday and Sunday.