Remington Rand filing cabinets - any info?

[erty67]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

Picked up this file cabinet to use as storage. Anyone know anything about them? All I know is it's old and it's American made.

 

[Packard V8]

Hell-for-stout. I just sold a fireproof model. Remington-Rand made typewriters, office machines, tanks, machineguns, pistols, rifles and most anything else made of metal.

jack vines

 

[erty67]

How can you tell if it's fireproof? I was fortunate to pick this up for $20 and it's heavy as a tank. slides need some lube, but it's solid.

 

[drivesitfar]

i picked up this one and i think the seller said it weighs 240 pounds empty. yes it is not your average file cabinet. also holds a ton because i might have a few hundred pounds of vises and parts in each drawer.

 

[Steinmetz]

Hell-for-stout. I just sold a fireproof model. Remington-Rand made typewriters, office machines, tanks, machineguns, pistols, rifles and most anything else made of metal.

jack vines

Also computers.

 

[drivesitfar]

not sure about fire proof, but i'd guess they could be as well as they are built. i also like the little finger latches on mine. does yours have that style too?

 

[Packard V8]

Fireproof has an Underwriter's Laboratory label on it and about an inch of asbestos (?) plate on the sides and bottom of each drawer. It was white and very visible on mine. It probably weighed 500# for a 4-drawer.

jack vines

 

[Wakefield]

Also computers.

Remington Rand was associated with the large Univac vacuum tube computers which were probably the first commercially available computers.
Also this (these) computers were associated with a team led by Eckert and Mauchly and may have been the first to use the same counting and digital technology that underlies today's digital electronics. They had first been hired to build a one-off computer for the Army. An observer of that project might have gotten credit as inventor of the computer.

So possibly venerable or historical.

I recall reading that the wiring used in the panels and connections between panels of that computer was selected for having insulation that would not be attractive to nibbling rodents!

 

[WNYflyer]

http://www.nthistorymuseum.org/Collections/remrand.html


Some historical information from a town down the road from my office. It may shed some light on the cabinet and the history of the office supply portion of the company.

I have seen all different types of Remington-Rand cabinets but never purchased one since the prices were to high for a cheapskate like me.

They just turned the North Tonawanda plant on the Erie Canal into condo's.

 

[erty67]

not sure about fire proof, but i'd guess they could be as well as they are built. i also like the little finger latches on mine. does yours have that style too?

yes, mine has those.

Fireproof has an Underwriter's Laboratory label on it and about an inch of asbestos (?) plate on the sides and bottom of each drawer. It was white and very visible on mine. It probably weighed 500# for a 4-drawer.

jack vines

don't think mine is fireproof then. nothing like that in there.

 

[davethorik]

One of my friends has a Colt 1911A1 that was made by Remington Rand. I didn't even know they made cabinets.

 

[Zedyakuza]

Here's mine. Working on removing rust on the bottom. It's pretty heavy, it's the aristocrat model. I love it. [emoji1]

 

[Steinmetz]

One of my friends has a Colt 1911A1 that was made by Remington Rand. I didn't even know they made cabinets.

Also rifles, such as the M1903, and the M1 carbine.

 

[Steinmetz]

Remington Rand was associated with the large Univac vacuum tube computers which were probably the first commercially available computers.
Also this (these) computers were associated with a team led by Eckert and Mauchly and may have been the first to use the same counting and digital technology that underlies today's digital electronics. They had first been hired to build a one-off computer for the Army. An observer of that project might have gotten credit as inventor of the computer.

So possibly venerable or historical.

I recall reading that the wiring used in the panels and connections between panels of that computer was selected for having insulation that would not be attractive to nibbling rodents!

The "one-off" computer for the Army (located at the University of Pennsylvania) was a stillborn concept. It was a base 10 machine. This greatly added to its size and power consumption. All subsequent designs used base 2 arithmetic.

 

[erty67]

Here's mine. Working on removing rust on the bottom. It's pretty heavy, it's the aristocrat model. I love it. [emoji1]

Looks identical to mine, but in a different color. Even has the same rust.

 

[ururk]

They have a beautiful one at the local property dispo - asking $25.00 for it. But... the white plates inside - which I think are asbestos plate as someone suggested - scared me off from buying it

 

[notlob]

Doubtful it was asbestos 'plate'; very likely transite, a composite cement board frequently used in insulation and fireproofing, which contained asbestos until it was outlawed ~ 1975.

Even though the asbestos fibers are encapsulated and cannot become airborne unless the fire insulation is somehow broken apart, I still would not want that file cabinet in my home or garage.

I saw lots of insulators, pipefitters, and plumbers die of asbestos diseases in a prior career.

 

[ururk]

doubtful it was asbestos 'plate', but certainly could be transite, a composite cement board frequently used in insulation and fireproofing, which contained asbestos until it was outlawed ~ 1975.

I was referring to what an earlier posted had commented - I wondered if it was plaster mixed with asbestos, or some other base material.

Too bad too - it is a thing of beauty. A shame they didn't embed the composite board between sheetmetal. A little part of me would want to try and encapsulate the board with epoxy, but I fear I'd stir up a lot of dust just moving it around.

 

[Steady Plodding]

I am interested in purchasing this 6 drawer Remington Rand filing cabinet, if you are inclined to sell....Thanks!!

 

[threewood]

Hell-for-stout. I just sold a fireproof model. Remington-Rand made typewriters, office machines, tanks, machineguns, pistols, rifles and most anything else made of metal.

jack vines

I would love a Remington Rand file cabinet to go along with my pistol.My Remington Rand 1911...

 

[Steady Plodding]

Threewood, I am new to this site. I'm not sure I understand your reply. I am inquiring if the 6 drawer Remington Rand file cabinet pictured is for sale. Are you the owner?

I see your reply to be....unless I am missing something how to read a person's reply on this site

Hell-for-stout. I just sold a fireproof model. Remington-Rand made typewriters, office machines, tanks, machineguns, pistols, rifles and most anything else made of metal.

jack vines

I would love a Remington Rand file cabinet to go along with my pistol.My Remington Rand 1911...

 

[Steady Plodding]

i picked up this one and i think the seller said it weighs 240 pounds empty. yes it is not your average file cabinet. also holds a ton because i might have a few hundred pounds of vises and parts in each drawer.

Drivesitfar: Is this 6 drawer Remington Rand file cabinet for sale?

 

[MOS3522]

The fireproof ones -- at least Moslers -- show up on auction at govplanet.com very regularly and don't go for much. They are very very heavy to move. They are also radiation rated.

Mosler Filing Cabinet Safe

LTL

www.govplanet.com

 

[Steady Plodding]

Dear MOS3522. Thanks so much for the link to govplanet...I will give it a shot. I am not looking for fire proof cabinets, just regular ones that have the 6 drawers by Remington Rand. The model name on most of them is "KOMPAKT", but not all have this name, but they are the same. I think they stopped making them in the mid 1960's but not real sure about that either. Thanks so much for your help

 

[JohnPaul]

Any one.... Who can help me with my Remington File Cabinet? Drawer is half open and can not go full open or close. A gear Is not straight in line but slightly out of ... line. Kast1 .... cabinet 1 is correct. The other pictures are from my cabinet. Please help me. Till later. Thanks in advance John Paul

 

[JohnPaul]

Any one.... Who can help me with my Remington File Cabinet? Drawer is half open and can not go full open or close. A gear Is not straight in line but slightly out of ... line. Kast1 .... cabinet 1 is correct. The other pictures are from my cabinet. Please help me. Till later. Thanks in advance John Paul

The right gear almost not to see and the wrong gear .... out of line and to see..
Last one is gear to see and not in line. Seems that the outer slider has gone to far out. How to get it back?
Also like to know how old this cabinet is.
Kind regards, John Paul.

 

[hailwood1965]

I was given a set. They are near bomb proof. You could do a glancing blow with a new car and the new car would have more damage.

 

[PMD1966]

How can you tell if it's fireproof? I was fortunate to pick this up for $20 and it's heavy as a tank. slides need some lube, but it's solid.

Moved a fireproof filing cabinet at work once. Took 4 guys to move it. Each drawer had a combination lock like a safe. Didn't see a name on it.

 

[drivesitfar]

John Paul: you might also post this in vintage section cause I started a thread years ago that you can post metsl cabinets. I owned and have owned many many Remington rand cabinets but sorry to say I’ve never needed to remove the drawers or work on them even one that was left out in the winter up here in the PNW cause these cabinets were built like tanks.

 

[JohnPaul]

John Paul: you might also post this in vintage section cause I started a thread years ago that you can post metsl cabinets. I owned and have owned many many Remington rand cabinets but sorry to say I’ve never needed to remove the drawers or work on them even one that was left out in the winter up here in the PNW cause these cabinets were built like tanks.

Thank you drivesitfar ...

Will do if I find the vintage section
Kind regards, John Paul.

 

[RTM]

Thank you drivesitfar ...

Will do if I find the vintage section
Kind regards, John Paul.

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[JohnPaul]

Thank you RTM !