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Home / The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture

The most adorable vintage kitchen cabinet we’ve ever seen

Kate - Updated: August 25, 2020

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintageHere’s something you don’t see every day — the most adorable vintage wood kitchen cabinet ever! Reader Sarah spotted this mini model during a trip to an antique store in her area. It appears to be a salesman sample for Modern Woodwork, Inc. to showcase their craftsmanship and available kitchen hardware, which is affixed to the back. Super cute! 
salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage

Sarah writes:

I found a knee-high working kitchen cabinet that was used as a salesman’s model back in the day. It has knob, hinge, and pull options attached to the back and is absolutely adorable. I thought you readers might get a kick out of it. I found it at Antique Village in Mechanicsville, VA.

salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage salesman sample kitchen cabinet vintage

Such a fun find, Sarah! Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us.

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The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture woddities: wonderful oddities

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16 comments

Comments

  1. Kathy says

    August 7, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    If you look at old Armstrong Flooring ads (nice collection on the Antique Home Style and Mid-Century Home Style web sites) you see those sort of round concave knobs starting in the 1930s and they hit the mainstream in the 40s-50s, and lasted in one form or another into the 1970s or so.

  2. Joe Felice says

    August 7, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    How cute! Were those knobs inspired by flying saucers? There are reports that President Eisenhower actually met with aliens, and started the men-in-black program.

  3. Nadine says

    August 5, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    OMG! It’s so nice <3

  4. Markie says

    August 3, 2016 at 10:18 am

    I am buying a 1951 midcentury modest home. Each room has built-in cabinets and drawers instead of closets, all with thick wood like this cabinet and all with the big dish knobs. We love them!

    • Mary Elizabeth says

      August 5, 2016 at 7:38 am

      Markie, we are currently recreating the built-ins era in our 1959 house. The dining room has a built-in buffet with drawers and cabinets, the living room now has a built in stereo cabinet, and the master bedroom has a storage wall with shelves and drawers. I think we love them so much because it reminds us of our old trailer. 🙂 Also, it means the rooms can have much less furniture. A wall of built-in drawers and shelves appears to take up less space than two dressers and a bookcase, but it actually creates more storage space.

      • Markie says

        August 18, 2016 at 11:39 am

        That is a very good point. Less visual clutter! 🙂

  5. Samantha says

    August 3, 2016 at 12:09 am

    I think it’s for a vintage camper! Perfect for a travel trailer!

    • Samantha says

      August 3, 2016 at 12:11 am

      I mean it would be perfect with places to put things, it says salesman sample lol! I missed that. I’ve had my head in my 63 Kenskill a lot lately! ????

      • Carolyn says

        August 3, 2016 at 8:26 am

        Pam and Kate – have you considered doing a post/uploader on travel trailers? I’ve seen some in teh background of your previous posts, they’re “popping up” (yuck, yuck) on the street, and Mallards were produced in West Bend, WI where I was born. AND I bought a “hunter’s special” 14 yrs ago and really could’ve used your blog to rein in the Project Creep (DH) to keep more of the original features intact.
        And patios next spring.

        • Markie says

          August 3, 2016 at 10:20 am

          I belong to a group where all of us resto/reno vintage trailers and camp in them. They are very popular!

          • Mary Elizabeth says

            August 5, 2016 at 7:27 am

            Markie, I’m so glad you are enjoying your vintage trailer and have found places to camp. When we had a 1982 Terry Fleetwood, we found that many campgrounds did not allow vintage trailers. We fixed up everything on that trailer–the heater, the water heater, the upholstery, one whole wall stripped out and replaced, the curtains, you name it–but when it needed to be completely gutted to fix the floor we called it quits. One of the reasons we didn’t go forward with the project is that so many campgrounds in our area didn’t allow trailers more than 10 years old, especially as seasonals.

  6. Maria says

    August 2, 2016 at 3:48 pm

    This is the exact same style of cabinet in my grandparents’ 1953 house! Unfortunately, my uncle is going through and rehabbing the small home, and the old kitchen cabinets will probably end up getting ripped out… or, at the least, those wonderful silver dish-knobs will be swapped out for something more “modern.” Ugh.

  7. Trudi says

    August 2, 2016 at 11:45 am

    So cool! I’m going to be in Richmond visiting my daughter so I think we’ll check out Antique Village!

    • Sarah Janeczek says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:59 pm

      Antique Village is great! If you are looking specifically for mid-century furniture, check out Urban Dwellers and Born Again Furnishings. They’re a little pricier but they have some wonderful pieces.

  8. Bette Jean says

    August 2, 2016 at 9:17 am

    What are you going to do with it?

    • Sarah Janeczek says

      August 2, 2016 at 9:43 am

      Hi Bette Jean,

      I didn’t purchase it but I think it would make an adorable night stand for a kid’s room!

      Sarah

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