Early 20th Century Maine Shoe Factory Numbered Wood Rolling Cubbies / Industrial Shelving Cart

Details

Description

Early 20th Century Maine Shoe Factory Numbered Wood Rolling Cubbies / Industrial Shelving Cart

An exceptional early 20th-century industrial factory … Read more Early 20th Century Maine Shoe Factory Numbered Wood Rolling Cubbies / Industrial Shelving Cart

An exceptional early 20th-century industrial factory storage cart originating from a former shoe factory in Brunswick, Maine, an area with a rich history of New England shoe manufacturing.
Standing an impressive 66 inches tall, this narrow rolling storage unit was designed for use on the factory floor and retains the utilitarian construction, numbered compartments and wonderful surface character developed through decades of use.

Constructed primarily of wood, the cart features 10 open storage cubbies arranged in five tiers, with two compartments per level. The cubbies retain their original hand-applied numbers, 0 through 9, visible on both sides of the unit — a wonderful surviving detail from its working life.
Each compartment also incorporates an unusual sliding wooden backstop, which can be repositioned within the cubby. These movable dividers would have helped organize and contain materials as the cart traveled through the factory.

The entire structure rests on four small iron casters, allowing the unit to roll as originally intended. Its tall, narrow proportions make it particularly versatile: substantial enough to serve as a statement piece while measuring only approximately 16 inches deep.

The wood retains a warm, naturally aged surface with extensive evidence of its industrial past — worn edges, scratches, stains, old marks, color variations and beautifully softened areas from years of handling. It has not been stripped of the character that makes original factory furniture so appealing.

Today, the piece could be repurposed beautifully as a bookcase, record or media cabinet, retail display, studio storage, pantry shelving, mudroom organizer, wine or bar storage, or simply as an architectural industrial accent.

The combination of authentic Maine factory provenance, original numbered compartments, movable wooden backstops and rolling construction makes this a particularly evocative survivor of early American manufacturing.

Dimensions:
66" H × 36" W × 16" D
Individual cubbies:
Approximately 16" W × 10" H × 14.5" D
Number of cubbies: 10
Origin: Brunswick, Maine shoe factory
Period: Early to mid-20th century
Materials: Wood with iron casters

Condition
Good antique industrial condition with substantial age-appropriate wear from decades of factory use. The wood exhibits scratches, scuffs, stains, finish variations, small nicks, old marks and other surface wear throughout.

The numbered markings and irregularities are part of the original working character of the piece and have intentionally been preserved.

Please review the detailed photographs closely as they are an important part of the condition description. See less