Featured Cushman

Found this online in NJ. 15x26.6 - bowl on a stand with a smaller bowl with a lid screwed into the center. Stamped with “Cushman” on the underside of the bowl. Does anyone know what its original purpose was?

 

Ok thanks! That makes more sense than a salad bowl!

 

The purpose of a yarn bowl is to let the ball of yarn roll/unwind freely during active knitting, it's not simply for yarn storage. OP's looks just like an old yarn bowl on a stand except... that thing in the middle of it will defeat its purpose. Odd...

I was just about to post the above comment when I came across the following yarn bowl. Perhaps OP's bowl is missing a cover for that middle thingy?
EDIT: Just noticed that OPs post talks about "a smaller bowl with a lid screwed into the center", but no center cover is pictured.

 

Perhaps this photo gives a better view - I agree it might impede the ease of yarn movement and I can’t think of what could be stored in the small “bowl”

 

tape measure ,thimbles, markers, ....all manner of knitting things..

 

If it has a number stamped into the wood near the name, I can look it up in my Cushman reference material.

 

Sorry to steal you away from this thread, Drew, but would you mind letting me know about my Cushman chair, please? Thanks!
I posted photos in the "Finds" thread:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/finds-thread.137/page-1455#post-9542797

 

don't be sorry....when @Drew shows up.......plumb that expertise !!!!!!

 

That oval tag design was used in the 1960's (big letter C). The chair is one of their traditional designs which is not as sought after - still a well made side chair. The Cushman that gets folks exited are the 1930s-40s quirky modernist looking pieces. The 30's examples with the rectangular metal tag is at the heart of the obsessed Cushman collector . . like me. Here are some 1936 chairs.

 

Yay Drew !!!!!

 

Thanks so much, Drew!

 

This is the best photo I can get - maybe it helps? Thanks!!

 

I don't see anything under what looks to be # 'L.12'. In the 30s -50s Cushman was using a 3 or 4 numeral system -- like 5-134 or 7038. Your piece does look to be 1930s-40s. Also, they were using northern yellow birch exclusively at this time.

 

Wow - ok thanks. Think this is worth much ? I’d like to repurpose it but not if the value is high! Thanks!

 

a lot of people knit......& while I can't say high value ....if you can tap into that market.... I'll bet u could find a good buyer...
maybe even a yarn store.....for their display !!!!!!

 

Yes, that's on the mark . . . there's a fairly narrow group of Cushman items bringing big prices, generally the stylized modernish pieces I mentioned above in this post. People went a bit nut's thanks to high end boutique sellers putting 1K-2K dollars on the cooler looking Cushman. If you look on Ebay you see quite a few pieces of Cushman over priced - hence not selling. I've always felt, if selling, start it at $25. and let the market dictate value. Collectors are a strange breed though - I've seen some kooky prices realized. While this piece resides in your home, tell folks the neat New England tale of this interesting furniture maker.