Helpful Clues to Determine the Age of Your Coppes Hoosier Cabinet
First, a word about the term “Hoosier Cabinets:” this is a broad category term that implies a style of cabinet that was manufactured in or near the state of Indiana. Most of the older free-standing styles of kitchen cabinets were actually made in or near Indiana and, therefore, can be rightly called “Hoosier Cabinets,” but they should also be identified by their specific manufacturer. Here at Coppes Commons we have collected more than 120 names of different companies that produced kitchen cabinets that are easily grouped within the Hoosier Cabinets style. This information was found in advertising in magazines, in the antique markets, or in listings on Ebay. The list can be found at the bottom of this page.
The period of manufacture for Hoosier Cabinets begins before 1900 and lasts till the 2nd World War, a period of approx. 40 years, until the modern built-in kitchen cabinets took over the business. Some of the companies that made this “HOOSIER” style of kitchen cabinet likely followed the growing popularity of the new kitchen cabinets. They may have already been in the general furniture manufacturing business and just added kitchen cabinets because the general public wanted the new style of kitchen cabinets. Here at Coppes, we continued to produce the Napanee line of kitchen cabinets (Hoosier style) while making and selling the modern style of cabinet–wall hung units with long, straight countertops on the base cabinets. There are a lot of similarities in the Hoosiser style kitchen cabinet, most likely because companies borrowed ideas from the examples on the market. The accessories such as flour bins, glassware, and sheet metal parts were likely purchased from wholesalers who sold to several companies.
To make the issue even more complex, there was a large kitchen cabinet company in New Castle, Indiana that was named “The Hoosier Manufacturing Company.” So, when people ask “is that a Hoosier”, they may be referring to the Hoosier Mfg. Co. or a style of cabinet.
The factory that made the Coppes Dutch Kitchenet and or “Napanee” cabinets has a long history. It began with a sawmill in 1876 and is still in business today manufacturing kitchens. To read more about the history of the Coppes companies, visit the “Our Story” page on our site.
To identify the exact date of manufacture for a Coppes Napanee kitchen is difficult without access to our large collection of company catalogs. The model numbers changed quickly. In the approximately 40 years that the Hoosier style kitchen cabinets were mfg. by Coppes Napanee, we have counted more than 300 different model numbers. As you may guess, the actual changes to the different models were sometimes small. The addition of a cutting board, the style of legs, for example, or a different mfg. process would change the model number. Please remember, there is no hard and exact rule for dating these cabinets. Custom orders could be made at any time, also they wisely continued to use up existing parts and supplies even if the cabinet model number had changed. The catalogs may not have reflected the exact date in a change of model number. Dating kitchen cabinets is not like dating automobiles. Newer models did not always begin in the fall of the coming calendar year. To peruse some of our catalogs, visit our Catalogs page. Coppes Dutch Kitchenets usually had a metal name tag nailed somewhere on the front. There may also be a paper label on the back, top & bottom. In addition, the model number, color, or Stencil style were handwritten on the back with a thick ink type brush.
Things to look for in dating a Coppes Napanee
1st-Type of original finish
2nd-Metal tag on the cabinet
3rd-How was the cabinet assembled?
4th-Style of flour bin
1st: What type of original finish was on the piece?
The earliest cabinets had a clear finish, such as shellac or lacquer. Painting the cabinets did not start until the 1920s. You could still order a Coppes cabinet with a clear finish (or no finish) after the cabinets started to be painted. The use of a clear finish required a better quality of wood in the construction of the cabinets. White Oak was the most common exterior wood used in Cabinets during this clear finish era (1898-1920) of cabinet manufacture at Coppes Napanee. If you are restoring a cabinet that was painted sometime in it’s history, then you need to decide what it had originally and if you want to keep the paint or do a clear finish.
2nd – Which metal tag is on the Cabinet?
This tag changed when the company changed its name or a special style of cabinet was manufactured. See pictures below of the known examples. Again, the company used one style of tag until they ran out, then started with the newer tag. The years of use are close estimates. We have no knowledge of the exact type of label on the cabinets manufactured by The Nappanee Furniture Co. between 1898-1902 . Likely it would have been a heavy paper label tacked on the back.
1902- 1912
Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Co. The company was already using a misspelling of the town Nappanee on labels (one “p”). At the time it was illegal to use the proper name of a town in advertising a product.
1913-1935
Coppes Bros. & Zook – Brass with blue or black background or Aluminum with black or blue. This is the most common tag, shown below.
1925 – 1930
This badge was used on full-size cabinets.
1927-1928
The Coppes “Electrified Kitchenet” Cabinet Tag was on a cabinet that Coppes wanted to obtain the U. S. patent for. Unfortunately, they were too late. Other companies had used electricity in different cabinets for lighting and outlets, so the Coppes patent application was turned down.
1936-1938
The “Napanee Kitchen Compact” patented cabinet was made 1936-38. This tag has Coppes Inc. , so we know that the company was incorporated after 1936.
After 1936
This tag was commonly used on smaller cabinets as well as full size
1945-55(approx.)
This is the Coppes Napanee label used on later modern style kitchen cabinets. It measures 3 3/8th in. long.
Misc. Badges
Below is a very rare Coppes Bros. and Zook cabinet nameplate. It was used in different years, sometimes in the cabinets of 1937.
We believe the following badge was used for a short time after the end of the Coppes, Zook, & Mutschler partnership (1912-13). CO = Coppes, BRO = Brothers, OK = Zook
This very thin brass embossed label is a rare tag with unknown dates for use.
Below is a logo that the factory began to use in 2020:
Here is an example of a wood burned label used inside drawers on later model kitchens.
Examples of reproduction labels of the type sold on EBAY follow.
Another type of label you may find is a paper label glued on the back (both top & bottom). The labels we have seen have the model number, the finish style or color, and possibly the store that sold the cabinet or the customer. The early cabinets may have the model and other information handwritten with a dark chalk or a black ink type brush.
3rd – How was the cabinet assembled?
These can be a deciding factor in determining who manufactured your cabinet or which company manufactured it. Here are photos of the type of side bracket used on early Coppes Napanee cabinets and a detail photo showing the way the top joint was put together. As a general rule of thumb, remember the methods changed, the styles changed, the materials changed, and using just one factor in judging the age of a cabinet may not be accurate.
4th – What style of flour bin does your Coppes Napanee kitchen cabinet have?
Below are several pictures of cabinets with different flour bins. The exact location of the smaller bins varied in the cabinets. Remember, Coppes likely purchased flour bins from a wholesaler. Other companies could have purchased the same flour bins.
1908 Flour Bin Style 1912 Flour Bin Style
1923 Flour Bin Style
1927 Flour Bin Style 
1930 Flour Bin Style
1932 Flour Bin Style
1938 Flour Bin Style
Our Collected List of Hoosier Cabinet Manufacturers:
Abernathy Furniture Co, Kansas City, MO
Acme Kitchen Furniture Co. Chattanooga, Tenn. 1917
Ariel Cabinet Company – Peru, Indiana ”Handyhelper”
Atchison Furniture Co., Atchison KS 1902
Austell Furniture Company, Austell, Georgia
Baines, Mosier Company, Allegan, MICH.
Barnet kitchen Cabinet, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 1922
Biederman Mfg. Co. Spencerville, Ohio
Boone Kitchen Cabinet – Campbell-Smith-Ritchie Co. – Lebanon, Indian
Borden Cabinet Co. The Indiana. Indianapolis IN. 1922
Border Kitchen Cabinet, Bedford, In 1920
Border Queen Kitchen Cabinet, 1913-1917
Bosse kitchen Cabinets, 1909
Brownbilt kitchen cabinet, F. K. Cox & Co. Newmarket, Australia
California Kitchen Cabinet co. 1883
Cardinal Cabinet co. The, Wabash, IN , 1913
Chambers Kitchen Cabinet, The. , Maryville, TN 1896
Chatham Kitchen Cabinet, -Manson Campbell Co, Chatham, Ont (Detroit) 1906
Chief Keokuk, The better Kitchen Cabinet, Akerson-Ringstrom Co. Keokuk, Iowa,
Colonial Cabinet Co. St. Louis, 1915
Conroy’s High-Grade Kitchen Cabinet, 1909
Crawford-Bunch Furniture Co. Statesville, NC. 1915
Culinart, Frankfort, Ind.
Curtis Cabinet Co. “Curtis woodwork”, Cabinet 1935—
Diamond Kitchen Cabinets – Shelbyville, Ind. The C.F. Schmoe Furniture Co.
Domestic Science kitchen Cabinet, 1927
“DORCHESTER, THE” Reg DESIGN 733539 GMWAHC
Dulin Anderson-Dulin Varnell Co. Knoxville, KY.
Easiwork Kitchen Cabinet, 242 Tottenham Court Road. LONDON, W. 1.
Elwell- Minneapolis Furniture Co. MN
Eureka Kitchen Cabinet, 1904
Falcon manufacturing Co. Big Rapids, Mich. 1918
Famous Line Borden Cabinets, BORDEN, IND.
Flemming Kitchen Cabinet, Made in Vancouver, Canada
Galax Furniture & Lumber Co. Galax, VA. “MFRS. of Kitchen Cabinets, Bedroom Suites & Chiffoniers.”-
Galox Kitchen Cabinet (misspelling???) 1914
Glenwood kitchen Cabinet, Eastern Furniture Co. Bangor, Maine.—1926
Globe-Bosse-World Furniture Co. “Kitchen Cabinets”.
Greencastle – Greencastle Cabinet Co., Greencastle, Indiana
H. C. Niemann & Co. Rockwell St. Chicago, IL
H. J. Scheirich, Louisville, KY, and Scheirich, Louisville, Kentucky.
Haire Kitchen Cabinet, The, The Haire Kitchen Cabinet Co. Bristol, TENN
Ham Brothers Mfg. Kitchen Cabinets. Brandford, Ont.
Harris – Brown table Co, Greenwood, Miss — Patented item? Sept 9, 1912
Harrison’s Patent Kitchen Cabinet. 1900
Hartman’s white beauty “Comfort” Kitchen Cabinet
Hastings, Hastings Cabinet Company, Hastings, Michigan. (Alme?)
Hathaway Kitchen Cabinets, Carbondale, Pa. 1895
Haverty, Haverty Furniture Co. Atlanta, GA.
Helpmate Cabinet Co. The, Little Rock Furniture Manu. Co. Little Rock, ARK.
Hoosier Manufacturing Co. New Castle, Indiana
Hoover-Bond, Store brand, Hoover-Bond store, Lansing, Mich.
HOPPER Brand Kitchen Cabinet Cupboard, Sioux City, Iowa.
Hudson Bay Company, The. Kitchen Cabinets, 1914
Hygena, Liverpool, England. 1930
Hygeno Sanitary Steel kitchen Cabinet. 1917
Ideal – Vincennes, Indiana, Vincennes Furniture Manufacturers, Vincennes Indiana.
I-X-L furniture Co (Goshen IN) 1916
JAP Sanitary Kitchen Cabinets “made in Cinn. “THE CINCINNATI FLY SCREEN CO. 1911
Joering and Pelchmann Co. St Louis, MO
John Thomas, “Manufacture of Kitchen Cabinets, Galveston, Indiana”
Justrite Cupboards & Kitchen Cabinets, Indiana Furniture Company, Evansville, IN 1915
Kelly foundry and Machine, Goshen, IN
Kemper Brothers, Founded in Feb 9, 1926 – Richmond, IN/Cincinnati, OH. —-
Keystone, Littlestown, PA Example with clock
King Mantel & Furniture Co. Knoxville, Tenn.
Kinkead Combination Kitchen cabinet, B.F. Kinkead, Inventor/Mfg. Emporia, KS. 1900
Kitchen Maid, Wasmuth-Endicott, Andrews, IND.
KITCHEN ola, “THA MASTER CABINET” “THE McDOUGAL MASTERPIECE”
Kitchen Queen, unknown, 1930
Kitchenaid, The H. E. Furniture Co., Limited, “Kitchenaid” , Milverton, Ontario 1913
KLANKE furniture co. New Bremen, Ohio. 1908
Klemp Furniture Co. The H. W., Leavenworth, Kansas. (often misspelled KEMP)
Knechtel Kitchen Kabinet Co. Western Ontario, Ca. 1925
Kompass & Stoll Co. Niles, MI. 1905
KOZY_KITCH The Electric Kitchenet Co. Fort Wayne, IN 1922
Kuchins Furn. Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO “3 K Kitchen Cabinet, Keep, Kitchen, Kleen”
Lambeth Furniture Co. Thomasville, N.C. “kitchen cabinets” 1921
Landau Cabinet Co, St Louis, Mo 1912
Leo Kahn Furniture Co. Memphis, Tenn. “Kitchen Cabinets” 1921
Little Rock Furniture Manufacturing Co., Little rock, Ark. 1915
Manson Cambell Company, The, Chatham, ONT. Detroit Mich.
Marion Cabinet Co. The, by Dearborn Desk Manufacturing Co, Marion, IN.
Marsh – High Point, North Carolina (Marsh Furniture Company) 1924–38
McAnsh, Dwyer & Co. Chicago, IL. 1905
McClernan Metal Products Co. Dept H. 122S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, ILL
McClure. Marion, IN 1912
McDougald different spelling different company ?????? 1908
McDougall Co. “Domestic Science, cabinet line made by McDougall Co. Frankfort, Ind.
Miller’s BULT-RITE Line, Stoneville Cabinet Co, Stoneville, N.C.
MONARCH ???????? & CABINETS (from label on cabinet) different than below?????
MONARCH BRAND,THE, L. HARBACH’S SONS CO. DES MOINES, IOWA 1928
Mother Hubbard’s New Cupboards, The Cardinal Cabinet Co. Wabash, IN.
Mutschler Bros. Manufacturing, Nappanee, IN. 1928
Napanee Dutch Kitchenet, Nappanee, IN (Coppes, Zook & Mutschler, Coppes Bros. & Zook, Coppes, INC.)
National” Cabinet, The National Screen & Manu. Co. Cincinnati, OH.
None Better 1911-15
Ohio State Stove & Mfg. Co. The, Columbus, Ohio (Royal Ossco all steel kitchen cabinet)
Oxford- 1930’s, Oxford, PA
Paul Manufacturing Co. Fort Wayne, IN “goes out of kitchen cabinet Business, 1915”
Perfection Colonial Cabinet Co. 2616 N. 15th St. St. Louis, MO. 1915
Platter Beauty Cabinet, North Vernon, Ind. Kitchen & bath room
Purity Kitchen Cabinet, Louisville, KY 1924
Quaker Valley Mfg. Co. Chicago, IL 1899
Red Wing Cabinet Co. Red Wing, Minn. 1917
Royal Ossce, Metal Cabinet, sold in Dayton, Ohio 1916
Ruddy’s Single Step kitchen Cabinet. Ruddy Mfg. Co. Brantford, Ont. 1926
Scheirich kitchen Cabinets “UNEXCELLED” 5 styles 1949
Schmoe, C. F., Diamond Special Kit. Cab. Shelbyville, IN 1914
Sellers – Elwood, Indiana, had lines named Kitcheneed & Mastercraft
Showers Brothers Furniture Co. – Bloomington, Indiana
Spiegel’s kitchen cabinets. 1905
Springfield Model Kitchen Cabinet, Springfield Furniture Co., Springfield, MO
Square Rand, Chittenden & Eastman Co. ?????on, IOWA,
Sutter kitchen cabinet, Michigan ??? , 1913
Tippycanoe, The, “THE TIPP BLDG. & MFG. CO. Tippycanoe City, Ohio. “Tippycanoe Kitchen Cabinets”,
Van Sciver Co. J. B., Camden, N.J.
W.B. Gifford Furniture Company?
Wayne Cabinet, The, Sold in Dayton, Ohio. “Solid Oak” (Store Brand ?)
White Barton Cabinet Company, ???
White House Kitchen Cabinet, The, 1914
Wilson – Grand Rapids, Michigan (sold by Sears)
Unsure of the following
Quality KIND, The, Schmitt & Henry Mfg. Co., Des Moines, Iowa
Dearborn Mfg. Co. Chicago. 1925 Newspaper ads. used words kitchen cabinets only?
Kitchen Cabinets made by T. R. Chambers, Maryville, Tenn. 1896
Following are possible store brands of Hoosier Style Kitchen Cabinets:
“Barbara Blount”, “our own private trademark”, Fowler Brothers Co. Knoxville, 1933
“Kitchenola”, Master Cabinet, The National Store, Washington D. C. 1915
“LIK-A-MAID” kitchen cabinets, 1922
Borden Kitchen Cabinet
Eagle Kitchen Cabinet, Rhodes-Collins Furniture Co., Pensacola, FL
Ferguson Special Cabinet, Ferguson Bros. Store, Coffeyville, KS
Gold Metal K. C. “Mail & Breese Kitchen Cabinet Club”. Topeka, KS
Hoover-Bond, Store brand, Hoover-Bond Furniture Store, Lansing, Mich
May-Sterns kitchen cabinets 1905
Paul Furniture Co. Fort Wayne, In out of business 1915
Quaker kitchen cabinet 1898 – 1912
Sherman kitchen cabinets
Shryock
W. E. Kitchen Cabinet, 1914, Davis Furniture Co. Uniontown, PA
Wayne Kitchen Cabinet, From Dayton, Ohio
Related information
TINWARE, & HARDWARE for kitchen cabinets was made by McCormick Bros. Co. Albany, Ind.
Ingram-Richardson Co. Frankfort, IN. Manufactures of PORCILIRON work surfaces for Hoosier Mfg. Co.
Vitreous Products Company, Nappanee, In – made porcelain tops for Napanee Dutch Kitchenet