Eric Costello outlines how the nineteenth‑century surge in communication and recordkeeping—from telegraphs to typewriters to new federal agencies—sparked the rise of modular filing systems and the companies that built them, including Library Bureau, Yawman & Erbe, Globe‑Wernicke, Macey, Weis, and Kardex. His timeline shows how these firms adapted through mergers, lawsuits, and wartime production, ultimately shaping the durable storage designs still prized today, especially the barrister bookcases that remain some of OGT’s most beloved finds.
Eric Costello joined OGT in NYC to discuss antique filing systems, like the barrister bookcases that practically fly off our showroom floor. A lawyer and collector of books, antiques, and railroad memorabilia, Eric has deep historical knowledge of the nineteenth-century data revolution and the filing-system industry that developed in response.
His antiquarian passion took root during his first job as a paralegal: his firm had been established in 1892 and had not moved offices since 1931. Barrister bookcases, passed through generations of lawyers, were still in situ when he joined the firm in 1988.
These companies in the filing-system industry produced modular pieces that could be formed into sectional or barrister bookcases and file cabinets, with options for open bookshelves, glass cabinets, even desk units. There were also transfer cases, rough wood cases used to store past years’ files by simply removing the cabinet module, sliding it into the case, and placing a new filing module into the cabinet.
We’ve distilled Eric’s information about how the companies developed into a timeline from the early 1800s to today, but if you’d like to see everything he shared, be sure to check out the full presentation below.
The Filing-System Industry: A Timeline
Early 1800s
Offices rarely need more than a ledger and some papers in a deed box.
1840s
The advent of telegraphs allows businesses to expand their reach, causing an increase in papers from the telegraphs alone, plus the increase in paperwork expansion causes.
1850s
The additional requirements imposed by the clearing house change the way NYC banks operate—requiring more thorough recordkeeping.
1870s
Early typewriters, like the Remington #1, create a paperwork surge similar to what the fax machine causes 110 years later.
Hectographs, the predecessor of carbon paper, further enable file production by easing duplication efforts.
1876
Melville Dewey, of the Dewey decimal system, helped found Library Bureau, a library organization system company. Over the next fifty years, they will expand into business organization, card indexing, and general business furniture.
1880
Yawman & Erbe forms, focused on microscopes, telescopes, and other brass works, before shifting to general metal items—including file equipment.
The 1880 census starts with several more data points to collect per household than the 1850 census.
1886
The Shannon Letter and Bill File patented their vertical filing system in the UK, improving on prior flat-file and pigeonhole systems. These systems stored letters and papers in pull-out ledgers—essentially sideless drawers. They use up a lot of space relative to capacity and aren’t easy to extract papers from.
1887
The Interstate Commerce Commission, one of the first major federal regulatory agencies, is formed primarily to regulate railroads expanding across the US. They maintain files submitted by the companies and also submit files to the ICC and some state regulators.
1888
Carl Lundstrom, an immigrant from Sweden and patent attorney, starts his own bookcase business. His company will stay relevant and independent for the next 80 years by selling directly to consumers from the factory, keeping prices low and competitive.
Late 1880s
Schlicht and Field of Rochester, NY, sell Shannon-type filing systems to their US customers.
1890
The 1880 census is finally complete, a decade late.
1892
Otto Wernicke patents his Section Stock Case—more commonly known as elastic or stackable bookcases.
Credential Insurance starts with a need to keep paperwork from both insurance policies and claims, as well as financial investments, organized and legible.
1894
The company that will become Weis Manufacturing of Monroe, Michigan starts producing binders that use glue to contain magazines.
1896
Soldier pensions, managed by the Bureau of Pensions in Washington, DC (occupant of the largest brick office building in the world at the time), account for 40% of government spending.
1898
After being nearly sunk by investing in Schlicht & Field, Yawman & Erbe are recovering and producing their own card indexing systems.
1893
Fred Macey of Canada enters the mail-order furniture business, producing elastic bookcases.
1899
Globe Files Company of Cincinnati acquires Wernicke’s company, forming Globe-Wernicke Co., a well-known name in the filing system industry.
1901
Wernicke sues the Fred Macey Company, claiming copyright infringement. Macey asserts that as multiple companies make elastic bookcases, the patents are no good. Macey wins his case.
1903
Otto Wernicke falls out with and leaves the Globe-Wernicke Company.
1904
Fred Macey dies. Otto Wernicke takes over his position at the Fred Macey Company, renaming it the Macey-Wernicke Company, and continues to produce elastic bookcases. Globe-Wernicke sues over the name they retain rights to and win; Macey-Wernicke reverts to Fred Macey again.
Gun Furniture Company wins a gold medal at the World’s Fair for their bookcases and desks.
1910s
Globe-Wernicke differentiates their business by advertising the appeal of customizable bookcases to middle-class households—the filing system industry starts expanding beyond businesses and libraries into homes.
1920s
Schlicht and Field’s Shannon systems are still in use, but even the salesman’s guide notes that they’re difficult to get into quickly.
1925
Rand Kardex acquires Library Bureau, Dewey’s library organization company.
1926
Rand Kardex is federally blocked from acquiring Globe-Wernicke to avoid a monopoly in the filing systems industry.
1927
Rand Kardex merges with Remington Typewriter Company to form Remington Rand, Inc.
1930s
Yawman of Yawman & Erbe had died in 1921. Erbe died in October 1931, just after celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. A Yawman & Erbe file divider emblazoned with the Empire State Building, finished in 1931, exists, so the company carries on, at least for a time.
1940s
Globe-Wernicke and Shaw-Walker repurposed their factories to manufacture cargo airplane interior pieces for the US military during WWII.
Weis Manufacturing and Fred Macey Company continue producing filing systems—for the US military.
1946
Like the other companies, Fred Macey intended to return to civilian production after the war. However, by this year, their factory is being referenced as the “former Macey factory”.
1952
Gun Furniture Company, the 1904 World’s Fair gold medalist, declares bankruptcy.
1963
Weis Manufacturing was sold to Globe-Wernicke.
Present Day
Rand Kardex, which became Remington Rand, still exists as the Kardex Group, focusing on the latest development in organization: automation.
Globe-Wernicke merged with four other brands to become Cardinal Brands Inc.
Olde Good Things regularly sources antique barrister bookcases and other modular pieces from these companies.
Storage Systems Today
The beauty of these designs is that they remain functional while adding antique character and quality. We still store physical items, despite the prevalence of digital technology—the laptops and chargers have to go somewhere. As Eric noted, “The barrister bookcases … I think that’s actually one of the prettiest things that OGT sells, especially the ones with the beautiful leaded glass tops.” We couldn’t agree more.
If you are looking for a new storage piece with that antique craftsmanship, see what we have in stock today.
