Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/2/2008

Question
Eileen, saw your response to a question in 2007 to a gal who was selling her cabinet.  I have a Showers cabinet in it's original wood  shape.  I would say it's in very good condition.  It has the roll top in tact, 2 top doors with inside shelving, large swing out door on the bottom with slide out top shelf and 3 drawers on the right side.  The bottom drawer is metal and the top drawer is divided as for silverware.  Can you tell me the age of this unit??  You are the only one who I've been able to find who seems to know anything of these cabinets.  Origin?  etc.  Thanks Eileen!  Jill from St. Paul Nebraska

Answer
Hi Jill
Nice to hear from you.
Jill you are giving me credit here that I don't deserve LOL.
But thank you for the kind words.
All I know about these cabinets I found on line.
I found this about Showers..
"Showers Brothers Furniture Co. - Bloomington, Indiana
Showers Brothers was once billed as the largest furniture factory in the world. The population center of the United States in 1910 was on the site of their factory complex in downtown Bloomington. Although some real estate on the south side of town was sold to RCA in the 20's, Showers Brothers continued in business through the Depression. The Depression in Bloomington was not as bad as elsewhere because the shareholders of Showers (a small group inter-related by marriage) chose to forego dividends, which enabled the company to continue. Eventually, labor became so expensive relative to labor in North Carolina that the firm was sold. I believe it was sold to a Chicago company (Juvenile Furniture Mfg. Co., or something of the sort). This didn't last long though, and the remaining real estate was sold to Indiana University for $1 (sometime in the early 50's). Over the years, fire destroyed part of the factory. The remainder was used largely for storage; the old office building/showroom has been the home of the Indiana University Press for many years. About ten years ago the University deeded most of the remaining factory to a consortium which developed the place into office space. Now Bloomington's City Hall is located in the biggest building, along with some university offices and some private enterprises."

Here is the link to the site
http://members.aol.com/warriorkin/hcabst.htm

Jill there is a wealth of info out there about Hoosiers.
Here is an example
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=history+hoosier+cabinet&meta=

Also check out the images.
Perhaps you will find yours
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=%20hoosier%20cabinet&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&t...

Also Jill I apologise for the delay in getting back to you.
We had a wicked storm that knocked out the internet.
And it would be great to see a picture of your Hoosier.
These are wonderful old pieces.
I have had the pleasure of working on a few.
Kind Regards
Eileen