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How to Date a Cushman 607 Smoking Table

In 1886, the H. T. Cushman Company of North Bennington, Vermont, began manufacturing small pieces of furniture. These included coat racks, umbrella stands, portrait easels and other decorative yet functional items. In 1913, Cushman introduced a limited line of smoking stands called "smokers." Cushman smokers became the most popular smoking stands in the country. By the mid-1930s, the popularity of smoking furniture had decreased, although Cushman still produced smokers for a few more years. Because of a lack of reference materials, dating the 607 Cushman smoker (607 refers to a model number) could take some detective work and perseverance.

Instructions

- 1
  Confirm the number 607 for your smoking table by examining the piece for a company label. This most likely will be on the back or bottom of the piece. If the label says 607, you have an important piece of information for dating your smoker.
- 2
  Take notes on the physical characteristics of your smoker. Record any decorative details, such as painted designs or turned legs, dimensions and finish. Include any information about what the smoking stand provides for the smoker, such as pipe stands, a lined humidor or ashtrays. Pay attention to unusual details; for instance, some smokers had a round indentation on the top surface where an ashtray or tobacco jar would rest. All of these clues can help you determine the era when your smoker was produced.
- 3
  Check resources on Cushman furniture. These include reference books on Mission-style or Depression-era furniture and general antique guides (often available at public libraries). Use your notes on your smoker to compare details; you might be able to determine a range of dates when your 607 smoker was manufactured simply based on styles of certain periods. The most dependable reference would be an actual Cushman company catalog that lists your smoker, but such catalogs are hard to locate. Watch online auctions, used bookstores, garage sales and other resources for Cushman catalogs you can use for research.
- 4
  As a last resort, contact a furniture appraiser. This costs money, but an appraiser may have the necessary resources to give you an accurate date for your Cushman stand. Contact an appraiser locally, if possible. If you can't get an in-person appraisal, send detailed photos and your notes by email.

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