Determining the age of antique metal cabinets can be tricky, but there are some tips and tricks you can use to identify cabinets from 1919. With a bit of detective work, you’ll be able to learn more about the history and value of your vintage cabinets.

Inspect the Style and Design

The style and design of metal cabinets changed over time, reflecting popular trends and manufacturing techniques of each era.

Key Style Elements in 1919

Ornate designs – Cabinets from the late 1910s often featured elaborate engravings, florals, scrollwork, and other decorative details. This reflectes the Art Nouveau style popular at the time.
Dark finishes – Tinplate and steel cabinets from this era typically had dark galvanized finishes in colors like black, deep brown, or dark green. The dark look was fashionable in the early 20th century.
Flat or gently curved fronts – Fronts were often flat or only slightly curved, without the heavily rolled fronts of later styles.
Glass doors – Leaded or stained glass in cabinet doors was popular in high-end cabinets in the 1910s and 20s.
Wood accents – Metal cabinets would sometimes incorporate wood panels or trim, especially around glass cabinet doors.

If you have a cabinet with these design elements, it’s a good sign it dates back to around 1919. The more ornate detailing, the more likely it’s from this era.

Check Manufacturer Marks

Look inside the cabinet or on the back for any manufacturer’s marks, stamps, or labels. This can directly indicate when and where your cabinet was made.

Some companies producing metal cabinets in 1919 include:

Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company
Youngstown Steel Cabinet Company
Porcelain Steel Cabinet Company
Durham Metal Products
Marsh Capron Manufacturing Company

If you find one of these or other early 20th century manufacturers, you can look up the years they were in business to date your cabinet.

Examine Construction Methods

Earlier metal cabinets typically used different joinery and assembly methods than modern productions:

Riveted joints – Cabinets were often assembled using metal rivets rather than welds. Visible rivet heads along the seams can indicate older construction.
Soldered joints – Lead soldering was also commonly used on seams and joints. Look for visible solder.
Thinner metal – Steel and tinplate metals tend to be thinner on antique cabinets vs more modern mass productions.
Wooden backs – Older cabinets frequently had wooden back panels rather than metal.

These more primitive assembly methods can be a tip-off that a cabinet dates from the early 20th century or earlier. The cruder the construction, the more likely it’s from the 1910s.

Consider Hardware Styles

The hinges, handles, latches, and other hardware can also provide clues about a metal cabinet’s age:

Ornate hinges – Decoratively shaped hinges with articulated knuckles were popular in the 1910s.
Porcelain knobs – Glass or porcelain knobs were often used rather than metal.
Latches – Simple slide bolts or hook latches were typical in earlier cabinets rather than magnetic catches or more complex mechanisms.
Keyholes – Keyholes may be present to lock cabinet doors rather than combination locks.

If the hardware has an antique look and simple function, it likely fits the era of 1919 cabinets.

Assess Condition Wear

The amount of wear, tear, and restoration a cabinet has undergone can hint at its age:

Patina – An old patina, such as flaking paint, tarnish, or rust staining, takes decades to accumulate. This can indicate vintage age.
Wear patterns – Signs of extended use like scuffs, dents, and abrasions on edges and surfaces suggest older origins.
Repairs – Poor antiquated repairs or replacements like mismatched hinges point to greater age.
Remnants – Vestiges of old hardware, labels, or mechanisms beneath newer replacements can be clues.

The more naturally worn and aged a cabinet appears, the more convincing its vintage status. If the wear doesn’t look artificial, it’s likely a good sign of age.

Research Hallmarks and Stamps

Hallmark stamps, engraving symbols, and other markings may be present on very old silver, tin, or brass components:

City marks – These indicate where a metal piece was assayed and include initials like a lion for London.
Date letters – A letter code represents the year a piece was hallmarked.
Maker’s marks – Symbols or initials represent the company that produced a metal component.

Consult resources on identifying antique hallmarks to interpret any you find. This can verify a cabinet contains pre-1920s metals.

Consider Getting an Appraisal

If you want definitive proof of age and origins for an antique cabinet, consider hiring an appraiser who specializes in vintage metalwares.

They can examine details like joinery, metal gauge, hardware styles, finishes, and more up close to accurately date and authenticate a cabinet. This provides the most reliable confirmation of a 1919 or earlier production.

Appraisals also help establish value for insurance purposes or if you decide to sell. Look for an appraiser accredited by organizations like the American Society of Appraisers.

Conclusion

With some close inspection and research, you can gather important clues to determine if your metal cabinets truly date back to 1919. If the style, construction, materials, markings, and condition all point to an early 20th century origin, you can be confident you have identified a vintage cabinet. An appraisal can provide the final confirmation and details on your antique’s background and worth for your full enjoyment as a prized historical piece.

How to Tell if Your Metal Cabinets are from 1919

Determining the age and origins of antique metal cabinets requires a careful examination of various details that indicate the era in which they were manufactured. Here are some tips on what to look for to identify if your metal cabinets date back to 1919:

Examine the Styling

Ornate designs – Cabinets of the late 1910s were often more elaborately embellished than later productions, with decorative moldings, carved details, glass inlays, and metal trim. This reflects the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styling popular in the era.
Dark finishes – Tinplate and early steel cabinets typically had dark galvanized finishes in deep greens, browns, and black colors. Lighter colors came later.
Flat or gently curved fronts – Doors and drawer fronts tended to be fairly flat or only slightly rolled. The deeply curved fronts were more common in the 1920s and 30s.
Glass cabinet doors – Leaded or stained glass in doors was a signature accent in high-end cabinets of the time.
Wood accents – Metal cabinets from this period sometimes incorporated wood trim, panels, or handles, especially surrounding glass doors.

Inspect Manufacturer Marks

Look inside or on the back of the cabinet for manufacturer marks that can directly date the piece:

Standard Sanitary MFG – From the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, in business from 1899-1935.
Youngstown Steel Cabinet Co. – The Youngstown Steel Cabinet Company, operating 1901-1929.
Porcelain Steel Cabinet Co. – Porcelain Steel Cabinet Company, active 1911-1957.
Durham Metal Products – Durham Metal Products Company, 1917-1978.

Finding an early manufacturer mark confirms a pre-1920 origin.

Examine Construction Methods

Primitive assembly techniques differentiate early metal cabinets from modern versions:

Riveted joints – Rivets rather than welded seams indicate pre-1920s construction.
Soldered seams – Lead soldering along joints and seams also point to early fabrication.
Thinner metals – thinner gauges of tinplate and steel were typically used in older cabinets.
Wooden cabinet backs – antique cabinets often had wooden rather than metal backs.

These labor-intensive methods were common in the early 20th century and help authenticate vintage origins.

Look at Hardware Styles

Early hardware can also provide dating evidence:

Ornate hinges – Decorative articulated hinges were popular in the late 1800s into the 1910s.
Glass or ceramic knobs – Early cabinets tended to have glass, ceramic, or porcelain knobs rather than metal pulls and handles.
Simple latches – Slide bolts and hook latches were typical before more complex locking mechanisms.
Keyholes – Keyholes for locking doors point to pre-combination lock origins.

Hardware styling matches the aesthetics and functionality of the early 1900s.

Consider Wear and Condition

The amount and type of wear can also indicate vintage age:

Patina – Flaking paint, tarnish, rust staining, and crazing take decades to develop naturally.
Evidence of use – Dents, abrasions, and scuffs suggest years of handling.
Poor repairs – Mismatched hinges, knobs, or latches imply antiquated fixes.
Remnants – Old paint or hardware remnants under newer parts is a clue.

The more naturally worn and aged a cabinet appears, the more convincingly antique it is.

Look for Hallmarks

Inspect any silver, tin, brass, or chrome pieces for hallmarks:

City marks – Initials represent where a metal piece was assayed, like a lion for London.
Date letters – A letter code indicates the year a metal element was hallmarked.
Maker’s marks – Initials or logos for the company that produced a metal component.

Consult antique hallmark resources to help date and authenticate a cabinet’s origins.

Consider an Appraisal

For definitive authentication and proof of a cabinet’s 1919 origins, contact a qualified antique appraiser. They can examine details and construction to accurately date and evaluate your cabinet.

Conclusion

Close inspection of styling, manufacturer marks, construction methods, hardware, condition, hallmarks, and other details can help identify if a metal cabinet truly dates back to 1919 manufacturing. Seeking an appraisal from a knowledgeable professional can provide confirmation and valuation for insurance and resale purposes. With some careful sleuthing, you can determine the origins and learn the history of your vintage metalware cabinets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dating 1919 Metal Cabinets

Determining if your antique metal cabinets were made in 1919 takes some detective work. Here are answers to some common questions about identifying and dating vintage metal cabinets from this era:

What style features help date 1919 metal cabinets?

Look for design details popular in cabinets of the late 1910s like ornate engravings, dark finishes, leaded or stained glass doors, flat or gently curved fronts, and wood accents. The more decorative the cabinet, the more likely it’s from circa 1919.

Did any manufacturers mark cabinets with dates in 1919?

It was not common practice for manufacturers to directly date stamp cabinets in 1919. However, some makers like Standard Sanitary MFG and Youngstown Steel Cabinet Co. only produced cabinets in a finite timeframe, so their name marks can confirm a 1919-era cabinet.

How can you tell if a cabinet is riveted versus welded?

Riveted cabinets have visible metal heads along the seams. Welded seams may show signs of welding residue but will not have protruding rivet heads. Riveting points to pre-1920s construction.

What type of glass would be found in 1919 cabinet doors?

Leaded and stained glass were popular choices for high-end cabinet doors in the 1910s and 20s. This decorative glass reflected the Art Nouveau styling of the era. Plain glass with wood muntins was also used.

How can you date vintage hardware like hinges?

Hinges with articulated knuckles and decorative shapes tend to be from the late 1800s into the 1910s. Simple utilitarian hinges without ornamental designs fit 1920s-1950s cabinets.

If a cabinet has replacement hardware, does that mean it can’t be from 1919?

Not necessarily – the original hardware may have been replaced. Look for any remnants like old screw holes that indicate the previous presence of early hardware. The cabinet may still date to 1919.

How do you interpret hallmarks to date a cabinet?

Hallmarks include symbols for the city, date letter codes, and maker’s initials. By consulting resources on antique marks, you can decipher them to authenticate the age of cabinet components.

Why hire an appraiser to date a cabinet?

Appraisers have extensive experience and resources for accurately dating and valuing antiques. They can examine details and construction methods in person to definitively assess if a cabinet dates to 1919 origins or not.

Conclusion

Researching stylistic details, manufacturer history, construction techniques, hardware, and other material clues can help you assess if metal cabinets stem from circa 1919 manufacturing. Professional appraisals provide confirmation to back theories on origins and appraise value for insurance needs.

Conclusion

Dating vintage metal cabinets like those from 1919 requires a careful examination of construction details, design elements, manufacturer marks, hardware, hallmarks, condition, and other clues. Key style features to look for include dark finishes, ornate designs, leaded glass, flat fronts, and wood accents. Primitive assembly methods like riveted seams help authenticate age, as do period-correct hardware styles. Finding manufacturer marks from companies operating in that era can also confirm origins. Assessing wear and patina provides evidence of age. Lastly, having a professional appraiser inspect and date a cabinet can provide definitive confirmation and valuation. With some detective work, you can determine if your antique metal cabinets were manufactured around 1919 and learn about their origins and history as nostalgic artifacts from the past.