Sterilization took place through the use of formaldehyde, keep in a dish inside the cabinet along with whatever instruments required sterilization. This practice came to an end due to the potential volatility and health risks involve in handling the substance for immersion sterilization. Cabinet looks great!
Barber shop sterilizers date to the 1880's to 1960's , most barber shop suppliers sold them to barbers and some were used by doctors. There were many designs down the years and until the 60's most seemed made of oak. Other barber shop sterilizers were made of metal and glass. The barber would store his sterilized clippers, shears or straights in them for use. A way that the barber could sterilize his equipment in the sterilizer would be buy a jar of formaldehyde gas sold by barber suppliers ,it was placed in the sterilizer and thought to sterilize the equipment.
Thanks. Now, for the finishing touch, I got a reproduction bakelite knob. (I suspect the metal knob is not original to the cabinet.)
Hopefully a knowing and careful barber would have used this cabinet just to store sterilized items in. (as Hanzo points out) Yet today, it is required of barbers (at least in my state) to store sterilized items in "a clean, and dust free closed container that cannot be readily accessed by clientele or others". Sara, you did an excellent job and your cabinet looks fantabulous! Handmade, homemade, or restored at home is always best I think. Happy storage!
