Q:I have a countertop painted tin pantry that includes a clock, several towers with lids, several drawers and a few bins. It is marked "Portable Pantry Company, Cincinnati, Ohio." Do you know how it was used?

A:You have a kitchen storage unit that was popular in the 1890s but lost favor when kitchens became larger and storage was offered in wall cabinets or large worktables with storage above. The Portable Pantry Co. of Cincinnati had a manufacturing plant in Salinas, Ohio. The towers held and dispensed flour and perhaps rice. The small drawers held spices, and the bins held bread products. By the early 1900s, the "Hoosier cabinet" was the popular choice for kitchen storage and workspace. An early version was a wooden table with an enameled top used as a work surface. It also had an arrangement of bins, towers and drawers to keep cooking materials organized. Painted tin pantries like yours were made by several companies. They sell for $200 to $500, depending on condition and decoration.