The bookcase has been kicked around a lot and, at some point. lost it's glass doors. It also suffered some breakage to the foot section, which I repaired by replacing the missing panel and re-gluing the legs.
There is a sizable chunk missing which I hope glue will help hold together.
The top has some water damage that I hope I can remove.
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I started the refinishing process today. Here is a picture of the shelving units before restoration.
There is birdseye maple veneer in the back and some other kind of wood for the bottoms. Oak on the sides and front edges.
I am using Formby's Refinisher to take off the old darkened varnish and some of the dark finish and will then re-varnish. I'm not touching the back panels, as they are in good shape. There is a decal on each of them that says "Widman". Looking up that company has yielded the following information: J.C. Widman & Company started in 1899 in Detroit making furniture, then merged with the Humphrey Bookcase Company in 1910 to form the Humphrey-Widman Company. They were bought out before 1923 by the Udell Works, who continued to make bookcases using the Widman patents in the 1930's. The J.C. Widman Company changed to manufacturing automobile bodies.
"Since 1873 The Udell Works has held to high ideals of better
workmanship, careful and progressive design and the best of material in
building furniture.
The name Udell has been synonymous with quality for more than half a
century. Always, the name Udell has stood for the best in materials and
the finest skill in wood working. Udell sectional bookcases are typical of
every article that has ever borne the name. They have niceties of
construction and finish that stamp them as the peer of any bookcase on
the market.
The non-binding door does not and cannot stick. The door guide
absolutely prevents friction. Doors operate on roller bearings and are
instantly removable. The sections are dust-proof and practically
moisture-proof. A metal dust shield at the top of each section protects
the books. The doors are air cushioned, and slide back over the dust
shield.
Several years ago, The Udell Works purchased the stock, machinery and
patents of the J. C. Widman Company of Detroit, Michigan. Udell
bookcases retain all of the valuable and exclusive mechanical features of
the Humprey-Widman bookcases that were manufactured by them for
twenty-two years, plus our advanced designing and manufacturing.
Udell sectional bookcases are offered to the retail trade as profit-making
merchandise. They have the same Udell quality, dependability and
workmanship, that have for more than fifty years distinguished the
products of this pioneer firm. You can depend on Udell."
This company is selling PDF's of 5 Udell catalogs of furniture from 1899 through 1932. I'll bet my No. 190, Class F is in one of those catalogs. Here is a blurb about the 1927 catalog:
1927 The Udell Works - PDF
This is a high resolution digital reproduction of an original 1927
catalog for The Udell Works. This catalog features Udell Sectional
Bookcases and includes a net price list dated 1/25/27. It is 24
pages, including the price list and front and rear covers. Specific
models pictured include "The Library" Combination No. 57;
Standard-Combination Nos. 26-F, 46-F, 28-F, 29-F; Standard for
Law Books-Combination No. 130-F; Standard High
Base-Combination No. 476; "Adam" Combination No. 456;
"Queen Anne" Combination No. 486; and the "Colonial"
Combination Nos. 43-F, 71-R, 32-F. Product features include the
Non-Binding Door "Door guide absolutely prevents friction, or
sticking of any door, furthermore, they operate on steel roller
bearings and are instantly removable without the use of tools.";
Air-Cushioned Doors "Perfect air-tight construction gives you an
absolutely cushioned door without the use of felt or packing.";
Metal Dust Shield "A steel division between the books and
receding door, protecting the tops of the books from dust or
damage. No sectional bookcase is perfect without this protection."
After using the Refinisher these rings are still showing. I had hoped they were just in the varnish. I guess they will have to stay, along with the spilled ink on the other side of the top.
Finished. Used an oil-rubbed finish. Sibley approves.
I added my collection of vintage Tom Swift books.
I don't know if this bookcase was obtained new and was just plain abused over the years, or was second-hand, but I think my great-grandfather would admit it looks pretty good now.
