Can you adjust the drawer dividers?

Most antique haberdashery cabinets have fixed internal dividers. The makers pinned them in place to hold specific stock. Removing them usually damages the wood.

I want to use one of these in my kitchen to store utensils and cutlery, but will the drawers hold the weight of heavy metal items?

These drawers were designed for ribbons and cottons. The bottoms are thin timber or plywood, tacked gently into the frame. They will bow under the weight of heavy cutlery. You can line the bottoms with thicker board to spread the load, but the thin wooden runners might still struggle.

How do I clean the glass?

A simple mix of water and white vinegar works well. Spray it onto a cloth rather than directly onto the drawer front to protect the surrounding timber. Be gentle around the internal glazing beads. The old putty holding the glass in place is often brittle and flakes away if you press too hard.

My cabinet has a very scratched top counter surface with deep grooves and water marks across the whole length of it. Should I sand it right back to the bare wood?

Shop counters took a daily beating from coins, scissors, and heavy bolts of cloth. Those marks are the honest history of the piece. Sanding it back erases that character and usually leaves the top looking far too new. A good clean and a coat of hard wax polish will protect the surface.

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Antique Haberdashery Cabinets

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Antique haberdashery cabinets are substantial shop fittings, built with banks of glass-fronted drawers and solid counters, designed to organise and display threads, ribbons, and buttons in drapers' shops.