Simmons metal dressers

Hello, my name is Cassie Ballard. I am a full time college student. I am 21 years old. I signed up on this website to try to get some more information about these old dressers that I got for cheap. They are metal and say Simmons furniture. They have wheels on them and these interesting nobs. I loved the way they looked. I showed my father-in-law them and he said that they can be worth money. They have the model numbers and stickers on them. I looked online and saw that my set can be worth a lot of money. I would like to talk to an expert about this. I gave pictures of both the front and back. Also, a close up on the labels on the back of them. I look forward to hearing from someone soon.

 

I saw your other post too.
Leave them where they are and a mod will probably move this one for you to the furniture forum.

 

My immediate reaction is this type of furniture may have been found in a patient's hospital room. They would also be very practical for a college dorm room. Other than denting or scratching what else can happen to it? Also the cleaning aspect would be a breeze. Wipe down with a wet cloth & your done.

Peggy

 

Hotel or something too maybe. They're great for college - pretty well kill-proof, and at the end of the year you can roll them down the hall and out the door.

 

Don't have much time to discuss your particular pieces right now. There is another thread on this furniture you may want to read through.......

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/i...er-how-to-identify-if-its-a-bell-geddes.6234/

Yours look to be in great original condition.

 

They are, of course, worth something. Whether or not they are worth big money largely depends on where you are and how you market them. You can find these on a site called 1stdibs for very high money. They are a site that caters to decorators, hardly ever sell at list price, and are way over-priced in my opinion. You often see them in big city antique shops at about half what they are found on that site for. I don't know if you read the other thread about this furniture I posted in the antiques thread. If not, you should do so.

As stated there, people prefer these stripped and clear coated or professionally painted in solid contrasting colors. Even then, there is not much of a market in some places. I never did sell mine despite having on display in our store for about 3 months. If you are in LA, Chicago, or NYC, you would have a pretty good market. A look on ebay shows sales are hit or miss. A few sold in the $200-$500.00 range but many others went unsold. Here are those results.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...sser.TRS1&_nkw=simmons+metal+dresser&_sacat=0

As stated in the previous thread, these are often attributed to Norman Bel Geddes. My research has not born that out. I believe your pieces are later production (probably post-war) and not designed by him. As such, and in original finish, the value is going to be moderate, based on where you are (unless willing to ship), and how you market them.

 

Note:

Here is a 5 drawer identical to yours in slightly worse condition for sale on ebay right now and ending Sat. Opening bid is $100.00 with a BIN of $600.00. It is in NJ for pick-up only so I should think accessible to the NYC market. It has no bids but will be interesting to see if it sells. With that high BIN, it may have a reserve. If not, I would be surprised if this does not sell.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Norman-Bel-...416953?hash=item3f6b2353b9:g:SssAAOSwGtRX1HxU

 

No bids on the above chest before end of auction. I am surprised, as I thought it quite reasonable and in a market that should have demand. Just goes to show how hit or miss the antiques and collectibles market is these days.

 

Meanwhile, something weird will go nuts. You never know.