I have the same cabinet...It belonged to my best friends Mom. When they were going to move to Nevada a couple of years ago, Ruth(her Mom) took me aside and said I won't let her sell this....this is from me to you.
I miss her, but think of her often. Her sewing cabinet sits next to my computer to hold some papers. Too bad that one of the drawer pulls is broken.

Looks like shoe ? They were put in shoes to help them keep their shape. I haven't seen any of those for years.

Yep definitely shoe lasts...I have some somewhere...for keeping the shape of a good pair of shoes.

The cabinet is very sweet...should polish up nicely.

That's what they look like to me too.

I was surprised to see that cabinet...I have one. I don't remember how I came to have it. 2 people said they had one of these cabinets with sewing machines in them.....um, where would you put a machine in there? I'm confused. Interesting to learn a bit about this small piece of furniture.

I keep my serger thread spools in the deep side sections. Why is it such a coveted piece? Is it valuable?

I had one of the larger ones with a machine in it. It looks like the small one, but where it looks like drawers, it is a fake front. It pushes back so you can sit there. The lid lifts to the left and the machine pops up. I have the small one, but sold the large one -wish I hadn't now because they match.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

They look like shoe stretchers. You put them in to hold the shape.

I would say they are strechers. Either for blocking stockings or slippers that were crocheted or knitted.

What a nice cabinet!!! Lucky you!!

I'd say shoe stretchers. I have some that I use on wet shoes, it keeps them from cracking and curling. I put oil or grease of some kind on them and let them dry.

Love the cabinet and the shoe stretchers!

they look like shoe forms to me. You the things you put into your shoes to stretch them or to keep their shape.

They look like inserts for leather shoes - so that they keep their shape if they have become soaked.

That's the same thing I thought when I saw them is shoe horns, that's what they are called around here. :lol: :lol:
The cabnet is beautiful!!! Enjoy your gift! :mrgreen: :thumbup: :XD:

I have the identical cabinet!!!!!! Found it years ago at a garage sale -- I have never seen one identical before. I think the objects are shoe trees.

Here is a bit of disappearing history. My Mother was married in 1925. Her Grandmother gave her a highly prized sewing cabinet like that for a wedding gift. I have it in my home now. All of their clothes were handmade at the turn of the century. My great-grandmother even rented a room in Chicago to a seamstress in exchange for left over materials. The seamstress would come to the house in Holland, MI and stay to make clothes for the whole family. Mother always remarked "we girls" in the 1950's had more clothes than they did! I used laces and satins and bindings stored in that cabinet to make doll clothes sewing by hand when I was about 9 yrs old. PS When Gone with the Wind was first published it was a very thick book my Mother hid it in one of the side compartments from us eager readers...not deemed proper reading for us!

I have the same sewing cabinet and I love it. The other items I believe are shoe trees.

Shoe trees definitely.

second one is to put in shoes to keep them in shape

That cabinet would be lovely re-finished. That's what I'd do. Those other things are called ching-a-deras. that's what my friend used to call anything he didn't know what was or couldn't think of the name for.

They look like shoe strechers

I think so too

I am cleaning the cabinet right now and will post pics as soon as I am done. love all the comments. after I get it cleaned will see whatever goodies are hidden in the drawers.

Shoe stretchers.

my keys are sticking - sorry.

They look like what my mother used to darn socks, you put it in the sock where the hole is and then sew the 2 edges together to repair the socks Brings back lots of memories

I would use linseed oil on it you can buy strips to put where it is missing (use a old iron my husband used my good one)I think I got mine from Home Depot

ok I am posting the pics right now. the lamp shade has a quilt pattern on it that I am sewing by hand in my free time. might get it done in this life time. thanks for the tip of old english to clean it up. very impressive. thanks for all the help with the tree shoes also.

A good place to dry wet shoes is in front of the vent at the bottom of the refrigerator.

Oh, my! what a beauty! Your elbow grease really paid off!

I remember my mom having a green pair of the shoe trees. And they will fit whatever size shoes you want to use them with because the flat metal strip is flexible.

In the old days people were thrifty and resourceful. If these are shoe strechers,fine,but...consider that they may be for darning socks. People often knit their own socks of wool and mended them when they wore out instead of throwing them away like we do today.

I treasure my 'Martha Washington' cabinet too! You also may try (in a inconspicuous spot), "Homer Formby's Refinisher. I also have used 'Bri-Wax' with 0000 steel wool. All the best!

Those are to keep the shape of ladies shoes. My mom had them from the 1940's.

Sorry! I didn't get to page 2 before sending. Your treasure looks beautiful! Great job!

I collect antiques and this is a Martha Washington sewing cabinet. Mine is in pristine condition and I got it at a garage sale for $5 - best find ever! I've seen them in antique stores in similar condition to this one for $150-$200.

They're shoe trees. We used them in the 50's. The springy metal makes them fit any size shoe. My daughter has a cabinet just like that, she got from her MIL.

I would say these are darning tools. You have different sizes on each end for big and little. These look like things I have seen my ancestors use for darning sockss

It looks great after you cleaned her up!! :)