http://www.furniturecityhistory.org/company/3841/steelcase-inc

History of Steelcase furniture company

http://www.furniturecityhistory.org/company/3692/macey-co-the

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/899978637990824/

Steelcase 8 drawer (x 2 rows per drawer) card index offered for $450 in downtown Los Angeles area in late December 2023. Looks to be in good condition with some nice art deco detailing.

Antique two tone card file with 8 drawers. Extremely rare in excellent condition. Detailed handles and opener latch with beautiful metal work. These typically sell for $1400 or more so it is priced to sell. Possible delivey depnding on your location. 52" height x 15" across x 28" deep

Most likely for 4x6" index cards, but messaged owner to check

Cost per drawer: $28.12

Likely capacity: 57,000 cards

The width of the drawers of both McDowell & Craig and Steelcase desks is just wide enough to accommodate two rows of 4 x 6" index cards side by side with enough space that one might insert a sizeable, but thin divider between them

I suspect that this is a specific design choice in a world in which card indexes often featured in the office environment of the mid-twenty first century.

Were other manufacturers so inclined to do this? Is there any evidence that this was by design? Did people use it for this? Was there a standard drawer width?

The metal inserts to section off the desk drawer area could have also been used for this sort of purpose and had cut outs to allow for expanding and contracting the interior space.

Keep in mind that some of these tanker desks were also manufactured with specific spaces or areas intended for typewriters or for storing them.

https://www.joann.com/harry-potter-cotton-fabric--quidditch/16028581.html

Bought a yard of this yesterday to reupholster two Steelcase chairs. It's just enough to cover them both.