Thanks everyone. I found out it's from around circa 1906. The cabinet has a piece missing, the wooden bobbin access cover. I don't know if I will ever find this piece anywhere for sale. So I may try and match the wood and make one with the scroll saw and my husband can use the router to make the indentation for the knob.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...62576881BTxlCo