A.N. Russell Practical Glove Holder 12 Wooden Drawers Store Case Ilion NY

Description

This is a wooden glove box from a department store. I bought it Christmas, 1968, from my favorite antique dealer in Lima, Ohio, Marjorie Marts. Margie told me it had come from an area store. I believe she said in St. Marys, Ohio, but I'm not positive that was the town.
This box was made by A.N. Russell & Sons of Ilion, NY. They started in business in 1881, but his piece is likely from the the late 1890s or early 1900s. This wooden case was to organize and store what I think had to be kid gloves, because each drawer is divided by card stock into 6 segments. There wouldn't be room for 6 pair of winter gloves in the drawers, so it must have been kid gloves.
The cabinet is comprised of 12 drawers, which are actually more like swivel wooden file boxes than drawers. Each is labeled with a paper label denoting glove size and color. Each has its own wooden drawer pull. Each drawer pulls out. There are no dividers in the cabinet between the drawers.
Once out and on a counter, there is a dovetailed wooden box the pulls open to reveal heavy card-stock partitions or dividers. You'll notice that in one of my photos of the drawer you can see a rounded cut-out area to open the drawer.
When I bought this, I was struck at the precision of fit and finish to the piece. This company obviously made quality cases.
The cardstock in each drawer is marked "THE PRACTICAL GLOVE HOLDER PATENT APPLIED FOR A. N. Russell & Sons, Ilion, N.Y."
This cabinet is very heavy, but I do not know actual wood type. 14" wide x 15.5" deep (16" deep with pulls protruding) x about 8.75" tall.
Each drawer/box measures approximately 14" deep x 3.5" tall as you face the cabinet x 2" thick. Weighs 18.5 lbs prior to packaging, so will be over 20 pounds, boxed.
Below info from website detailing Ilion, NY industrial history:
In 1861 Albert N. Russell came to Ilion from Virginia and went to work for E. Reminigton & Sons in charge of millwrighting and later in charge of all buildings, grounds, purchase, transportation and care of lumber, etc. This connection was severed in 1876 to devote his time to the lumber business which he and Addison Brill had started in 1871. In 1883 additional property. just west, was purchased and a planing mill built; in 1891 a sash, blind and door factory was erected, to which products were added shingles and cedar chests, and in 1895 store furniture. At this time the Citizens claimed this factory was the largest wood working plant in the country. They manufactured cabinets for gloves, thread, ribbon and umbrella holders. The ribbon cabinet, patented by A. W. McGowan, was such a success, that the mill worked night and day. The glove cabinet, patented by S. T. Russell, was also a most popular item. Many local stores used Russell cases of various kinds and the Russell agents were bringing in business from San Francisco to Boston. In 1903 the lumber business was disposed of to C. C. Kellogg & Sons Company of Utica and the store and museum case business was stepped up. All the fixtures of Fraser's Department Store in Utica were Russell made (1907). Space forbids enumerating the important buildings entirely or in part furnished by the Russell Company. In 1928 the company began to manufacture aluminum and bronze framed museum cases, the invention of William Rix. When the business was closed out (1932) the manufacture of these cases was taken over by Remington Rand, who later bought the patent, and continues to make them.