very rare and hard to find late 19th century vintage industrial american double unit freestanding varnished maple wood factory locker with recessed panels. contains two hinged doors with original strap handles and number plaques comprised of leather. ventilation holes are found at the very top and bottom of each door. finished on three-sides. the interior and backside have been thoroughly cleaned and repainted black (original finish). the locker unit is very clean and structurally intact. wooden lockers fell out of favor beginning in the early 20th century when insurance companies deemed them to much of a fire risk or hazard, which makes sense considering the possibility of spontaneous combustion caused by placing highly flammable oily work clothes (sometimes containing lit pipes in the shirt pockets) in unventilated spaces for long periods of time. steel furniture maker berger et al., jumped on the opportunity to fill the void by mass producing expanded steel "fireproof" lockers that would ultimately find their way in any and all factories throughout the remainder of the 20th century. manufactured by the narragansett machine co., providence, oh. measures 24 x 15 x 72 inches.