[Publib] Care and Feeding of a Card Catalog

Wed Apr 4 13:54:47 EDT 2007

Michelle, great find!   How old is it?  That will determine the kind of finish it has -- newer = polyurethane, older = varnish (probably).
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/woodfurniture is but one of many websites with advice.   Consider that in its original setting it was dusted and that was it, and it's held up this long, so dusting is likely all you'll need to do. 

I use a 30-drawer Library Bureau unit in my quilting studio to hold thread and notions.  It originally held a genealogy index, circa 1925, and was intended to be freestanding (paneled on 3 sides).   It's maple with mahogany stain......There's a 3-piece modular file cabinet, oak, in my home office.  Made by Globe-Weis (office furniture).  Two file drawers hold files and a six-drawer cardfile holds office supplies.  Probably 1920's.

Lise, depending on your decor and how big your unit is -- you can take it off its base and use it as a coffee or end table.  You can put it in the dining room to hold silverware, serving utensils, and linens.....When we sold all the catalogs at the Fargo Public Library one purchaser of a 60-drawer unit said he'd use it for nuts and bolts in his auto restoration shop.

Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lise Chlebanowski
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 11:25 AM
To: michelle.l.caulk at us.pwc.com; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Care and Feeding of a Card Catalog

Along the same topic...does anyone have clever uses for one? I inherited a card catalog, but the drawers remain empty while I try to decide what to do with them! Any ideas? I thought about storing jewelry, but I don't want it in the bedroom....

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Old Town Library

328 W. Western Ave.

Avondale, AZ   85323

lchlebanowski at avondale.org

623-333-2611

623-333-0260 Fax

Now Reading: Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Now Listening: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of michelle.l.caulk at us.pwc.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:21 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Care and Feeding of a Card Catalog

Hello all! 

I lucked out at an estate sale and was able to purchase an antique oak card catalog.   The enterprising former owner had even constructed little cardboard surrounds for each drawer, so the bits and pieces don't fall through the slats cut down the middle.   

So, what are the best materials/formulas to use when cleaning and preserving the wood?   I'm thinking that good ol' Pledge is fine enough for my circa-2000 dining room set, but not for the catalog, which has become the centerpiece of our house. 

Thanks! 

Michelle 

_______________________________________________ 
Michelle L. Caulk | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | Information Services Organization | Research & Information Services 
3109 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd| Tampa, FL 33607 | *: 813-348-7813 | 7: 813.990-5948 | *: michelle.l.caulk at us.pwc.com <mailto:michelle.l.caulk at us.pwc.com>  
Click here to submit a research request <https://knowledgecurve.com/cgi-bin/rightnow.pl?page=ask>  

_________________________________________________________________
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20070404/567ca8af/attachment.htm