thoroughly cleaned and refinished late 1930's antique american depression era industrial reinforced steel "secretaire" insurance company office cabinet with largely uniform brushed metal finish treated with a clear coat lacquer. the compact cabinet was designed and fabricated by the general fireproofing co., youngstown, oh. the four-legged steel cabinet with bun feet contains a single pull-out drawer, cabinet door (with combination lock) and slide out shelf. the interior is highly compartmentalized with original dark mahogany enameled finish intact. the general fireproofing company was founded in 1902 in youngstown, ohio, manufacturing fireproof building materials. during the panic of 1907, when all building practically ceased, the company decided to emphasize their line steel office furniture. their first 4-drawer steel vertical file was built in 1910, and their first fireproof safe was introduced in 1912. in 1923 general fireproofing decided to produce a standardized steel desk which could be made on an assembly line. by the 1950's, these were the largest selling commercial office desks in the world. the worlds first all-aluminum office chair was designed by the alcoa company in 1924. in 1929 general fireproofing began manufacturing their own aluminum office chairs. the goodform seating line began in august of 1932 with additional models introduced in 1935. during world war ii, general fireproofing ceased production of all its regular products in order to manufacture aircraft parts. after the war, almost the entire plant had to be converted back to the manufacture of furniture, and by 1946 the company was producing the same volume they were in 1938. in 1948, they introduced the mode-maker line of executive office desks, designed in collaboration with raymond loewy. the majority of their furniture lines were discontinued in the 1970's, and the company ultimately went bankrupt in 1989. measures 20 x 15 x 28 inches.