The History of Hoosier Cabinets | Van Dyke's Restorers (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of the Hoosier Cabinets? ›

The cabinet got its name because most of them were made in Indiana. The first Hoosier cabinets appeared in 1898, created by a furniture company called Sellers, in New Castle, Indiana. Popularity of the cabinet grew up until the late 1940's when the records for the cabinets became scarce.

Dating A Hoosier Cabinet. It is difficult to identify the exact date of a Hoosier cabinet manufactured by Coppes Napanee and there are no hard and fast rules to apply. However, the type of finish, metal ID tag, how it was assembled, and the style of the flour bin will give you some clues.

Antique Hoosier Cabinet Values

While all-wood examples in perfect condition can fetch nearly $2,000, those requiring some restoration work may cost as little as $200.

The majority of Hoosier Cabinets were made with oak. However, due to oak's scarcity in the late 1940's, manufacturers used any type of solid wood they could find. Often two or more wood species were used to manufacture a single cabinet, and many of these cabinets were painted to hide the varying wood spices used.

HOOSIER - pronounced hoo'zher - is an inhabitant or native of Indiana, and the name of our National Forest. No one is quite sure where the term originated for sure, but there are five primary theories.

The Hoosier Cabinet Era

and G.I. Sellers and Sons, were closed in 1942 and 1950 respectively, making Coppes Napanee the only manufacturer of Hoosier Cabinets still in operation today.

Make sure to search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production This information can be found on the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and on the lower edges of pieces.

One way is to look at the edges of the cabinet. If they are smooth and shiny, then it is likely that they are made out of laminate. Another way to tell is to feel the surface of the cabinet. Laminate surfaces are usually smooth, while wood surfaces may be rougher.

A true Hoosier cabinet consists of two pieces – a top and a deeper bottom. The bottom typically has several drawers for organization, with a tin-lined drawer to keep bread fresh, and at least one large cabinet for dishes and storage. The table-like top would pull out, made of wood, tin or porcelain enamel.

Ballard says you should refinish the cabinets already in your kitchen if the current design is functional. If you don't want to change the set-up of your cabinets, refinishing them can give a dated color or stain a fresh new look without costing you a fortune or putting you and your family through a full-scale reno.

How do I find the make and model of my cabinets? ›

The period of manufacture for Hoosier Cabinets begins before 1900 and lasts till the 2nd World War, a period of approx. 40 years, until the modern built-in kitchen cabinets took over the business.

Many contribute the name of the cabinet to this company, while others contend it is named after the nickname for Indiana as that is where most of the cabinets were manufactured. Hoosier cabinets were more than just a cabinet; they were a must-have in most homes.

For well over a century and a half the people of Indiana have been called Hoosiers. It is one of the oldest of state nicknames and has had a wider acceptance than most.

There was once a contractor named Hoosier employed on the Louisville and Portland Canal who preferred to hire laborers from Indiana. They were called "Hoosier's men" and eventually all Indianans were called Hoosiers.

The tradition of the Cabinet arose out of the debates at the 1787 Constitutional Convention regarding whether the president would exercise executive authority solely or collaboratively with a cabinet of ministers or a privy council.