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MY63
September 7th, 2013, 02:00 PM
I wanted to share with you my latest purchase which I bought it from ebay
When advertised I could see the lower drawer had its own lock and the upper slope had an unusual little mechanism to hold it closed.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/9651040911_1568a6287c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651040911/)
IMG_4779_1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651040911/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9654278050_54999c75f5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654278050/)
IMG_4781_1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654278050/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Ok I will get on to the exciting bit when the box arrived I took these pictures the panel for the secret compartment was jammed, there was a small piece of wood covering the release mechanism. I removed the wood and freed the mechanism pushed a piece of wood into the hole (bottom left of the picture below)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/9651048043_33da0b8875_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651048043/)
IMG_4784 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651048043/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

The flap sprung open

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/9654283334_7364c5914f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654283334/)
IMG_4785 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654283334/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I don't anyone had been in here for some time

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/9651051055_16fda38618_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651051055/)
IMG_4786 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651051055/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

One of the secret drawers had a broken handle it took a little while to get it open but I did.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/9651052321_d47d84286e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651052321/)
IMG_4787 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651052321/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/9651053527_8ea0425669_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651053527/)
IMG_4788 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651053527/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Marias bequest list

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/9656874380_cdef0ff6a5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9656874380/)
scan0001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9656874380/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I have done some research on http://www.hygra.com/writing.html it would appear to have been made between 1780 and 1800.

Now all I have to do is restore it

Thanks

Michael

Feardorcha
September 7th, 2013, 02:11 PM
This is an exquisite find. I look forward to seeing it fully restored.

AndyT
September 7th, 2013, 03:29 PM
That's a wonderful find Michael, and the handwriting is exquisite.

MY63
September 7th, 2013, 03:49 PM
Thanks to you both
Andy any thoughts on the best way to stick the lid back together I am pretty sure it is mahogany there is not a lot of movement and the edge pieces are screwed in place with very old handmade screws. (don't fancy removing them).
It will be a very light restoration I am intending to make it solid remove the unnecessary bits and fit the correct hinges.
This one is not for sale I will be keeping this for myself.

Michael

earthdawn
September 7th, 2013, 05:08 PM
WOW ... That is AWESOME !!!

To find something like that and then dig into it and find an even greater treasure is spectacular.

Congrats :bump:

AndyT
September 8th, 2013, 05:16 AM
Andy any thoughts on the best way to stick the lid back together I am pretty sure it is mahogany there is not a lot of movement and the edge pieces are screwed in place with very old handmade screws. (don't fancy removing them).

I expect a museum conservator would advise that you leave it as is! The problem is that the mahogany is very likely to be Cuban (Swietenia mahagoni) - I was pretty sure that it's under embargo here due to its extreme rarity, but as it happens there does seem to be salvaged timber on the market. Expect to pay through the nose if you want to match the species.

The repair itself shouldn't be too bad though, just a matter of preparing some thin tapered fillets and gluing them into the cracks. I'm quite sure you'd make a better job of staining them to match than I could. The lid looks to be quarter sawn so between that and the age of the piece there really oughtn't to be much movement to worry about - all the same it would be as well to leave the box to settle down for a while before going to work.

Given the dates on the bequest sheet it was almost certainly written with a quill - I love the delicacy of the hairlines and the modest shades.

MY63
September 8th, 2013, 06:25 AM
Thanks for that Andy.
I am thinking of cleaning the box and repairing the lid not much more than that.
The original finish would have been wax and that is what I will be doing.
I am not sure whether or not to polish the brass.
Thanks
Michael

OakIris
September 11th, 2013, 07:18 AM
Another great find! I bet it will be a really fun box to work on, Michael.

Have you had a chance to look up any information about Maria Hatherell? I don't see any dates on the pages you shared with us, but there is a Maria Hatherell listed in the 1861 census for Berkshire, England....

As always, I look forward to seeing the results of your restoration work. :)

Holly

ac12
September 11th, 2013, 02:45 PM
I was watching that item, and was wondering who got it.
Nice.

It is too big to get past my wife, so I could not bid on it.

MY63
September 11th, 2013, 03:13 PM
Ac12 the seller said in the ad it was advertised elsewhere so I asked him where and he replied asking if I wanted to make an offer, I have a limit for writing slopes so I offered him a total price including shipping and he accepted it. It was cheap!

I have had this box for a few days now and it is really odd knowing the name of the Lady who owned it when it was new.
I don't want to spoil it, The boxes I have restored in the past were always scrap boxes with no history this one is different.
I think it will be staying as it is for now although I would like to see it as Maria Hatherell saw it 200 years ago, I think if I am being honest I am a little scared of destroying it.

Thanks
Michael
ps I am off to play with my embossing.

I like mango pudding
September 11th, 2013, 04:52 PM
Wow!

Did the seller know of this secret compartment and the contents inside of it?

Tracy Lee
September 11th, 2013, 06:49 PM
There are really not sufficient words to describe the coolness of this find.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 4

MY63
September 12th, 2013, 12:34 AM
Wow!

Did the seller know of this secret compartment and the contents inside of it?

No the seller did not know however after finding the documents I contacted the seller to ask if it was a family piece,
If it had been a family piece I would have sent it back to him, When I asked he told me it was something his father picked up years ago.
I did not tell him about the documents and to be honest he did not appear bothered by my questions after the sale.

The cover for the secret compartment was jammed and clearly had not been opened for some time especially as the release catch had been covered by a piece of wood which would have held the pen tray up.
Once I had pushed the cover back into place and uncovered the catch it worked it worked as it would have done when it was new the spring is so strong when opened it pushes the cover across the box.

Thanks
Michael

MY63
June 1st, 2014, 12:35 AM
I thought I would share the tale of another writing slope with you.
I have always wanted a writing slope with brass edging however they have always been out of my price range.
While scouring a local market for pens I came across this writing slope,

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/11889173483_30ce116ab2_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/j7B84H)IMG_6202 (https://flic.kr/p/j7B84H) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

All of the brass had been removed and replaced with green and gold paint.
When I first got this box I was not in a position to do anything to it so I put it to one side and yesterday I decided to make a start so I spent a few happy hours removing the paint with out damaging the finish of the rest of the box.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/14315035595_1ba8cd9bce_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nNYimx)IMG_7546 (https://flic.kr/p/nNYimx) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

When I first got the box home I checked the inside and found most of the brass but no secret compartments which was unusual as I thought this box was early there was an empty space under the pen and inkwell storage compartments this space was often used for secret compartments.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/14311744271_f1d8206f14_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nNFqXz)IMG_7551 (https://flic.kr/p/nNFqXz) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

It was only when I looked a little closer I noticed there was a difference in the amount of wood showing on the inside between the two sides
left side

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14335277823_e1b57476b1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nQL3Et)IMG_7553 (https://flic.kr/p/nQL3Et) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Right side

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/14317088794_d5f42970c1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nP9PGw)IMG_7552 (https://flic.kr/p/nP9PGw) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

When I started to touch this panel it moved slightly I had found the door all I needed to find was the key

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/14335280463_c8281c3dd0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nQL4rZ)IMG_7556 (https://flic.kr/p/nQL4rZ) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

This divider between the ink well and stamp tray was the key as I lifted it up the door sprung open to reveal the three secret drawers

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/14291941836_386fe875bd_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nLVWoh)IMG_7559 (https://flic.kr/p/nLVWoh) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

No contents this time though.

Thanks

Michael

Jon Szanto
June 1st, 2014, 12:44 AM
I like secret places.

Lady Onogaro
June 1st, 2014, 01:04 AM
That is so cool, Michael! You have a good eye for this sort of thing.

Polyhistor
June 1st, 2014, 07:33 AM
Serious case of paraphernalia envy! :) Great scores. I wish these had been more common in continental Europe. :(

MY63
June 1st, 2014, 10:06 AM
Here is the picture I should have taken yesterday with the drawers open

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14317819271_a48572f4a1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX)IMG_7572 (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Thanks

Michael

Tracy Lee
June 1st, 2014, 01:04 PM
Here is the picture I should have taken yesterday with the drawers open

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14317819271_a48572f4a1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX)IMG_7572 (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Thanks

Michael

That is just so neat!!

Holsworth
June 4th, 2014, 02:28 AM
These photos and stories of finding secret compartments are lovely!
They remind me of looking at writing slopes when I was younger, there was an antique shop next door to my parents shop and he always had a few writing slopes in. I used to go in and look through them hunting for the hidden drawers. Never found anything like your first set of photos though!

RayCornett
June 25th, 2014, 02:54 AM
I wouldnt restore it before taking it to have it appraised. Restoring it my kill any value. If it has big value you could sell it, get more pens and another portable writing desk.

My fiances father passed in November. There was an old portable writing box like these with silver wire trim that is coming off. It was his mothers. She was a serious writer and had some books published. There was a secret compartment which after about two weeks of tinkering I figured out that there was a pin on the top of the ledge where the lid meets the bottom part. If you pull it out, it releases the lock of the secret drawer on the side. In it we found the last letter his mom wrote to him when he was young, it was basically a story and poem about her knowing she was sick and would not be around much more but wanted him to know how proud she was of him and how she loved him.

MY63
June 25th, 2014, 05:43 AM
Hi Ray
Normally I buy writing slopes that no one else wants in the case of this box I paid very little for it and will never sell it.
I will only do a very basic restoration that will allow it to be used as it was intended.
The brassware is too far gone to restore which is maybe why it was removed so I will be replacing that with new brass.

I did find documents in one box which I think is the first box in this thread.

Great story by the way thanks for sharing

Michael

oldandfeelit
December 10th, 2014, 06:18 PM
Here is the picture I should have taken yesterday with the drawers open

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14317819271_a48572f4a1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX)IMG_7572 (https://flic.kr/p/nPdyQX) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Thanks

Michael

Thank you so much. I have my grandmothers writing slope and I never knew how to open the secret drawers until now. I have it years and nobody could figure it out!! Thank you

Mags
December 10th, 2014, 06:35 PM
I wouldnt restore it before taking it to have it appraised. Restoring it my kill any value. If it has big value you could sell it, get more pens and another portable writing desk.

My fiances father passed in November. There was an old portable writing box like these with silver wire trim that is coming off. It was his mothers. She was a serious writer and had some books published. There was a secret compartment which after about two weeks of tinkering I figured out that there was a pin on the top of the ledge where the lid meets the bottom part. If you pull it out, it releases the lock of the secret drawer on the side. In it we found the last letter his mom wrote to him when he was young, it was basically a story and poem about her knowing she was sick and would not be around much more but wanted him to know how proud she was of him and how she loved him.

I have to hope he knew the letter was in there and he had kept this last reminder safe in the compartment.

Finalist
December 11th, 2014, 09:02 AM
Amazing! WOW!

earthdawn
December 11th, 2014, 02:02 PM
Found this on Youtube... its short and to the point and shows a really cool mini chest

http://youtu.be/u__XGncVbM4

They really had a lot to hide back then I guess...

MY63
December 11th, 2014, 03:18 PM
Great video thanks for sharing.
I wish I could report that all of my writing slopes were finished unfortunately there has been no change.

sharmon202
December 11th, 2014, 07:32 PM
Thanks to you all for sharing, what an interesting thread. Learned a lot.

Gilbert
July 10th, 2017, 03:04 PM
Excellent project and results! Pictures here attached show my writing box minus the latching spring mechanism. What do I need to restore it to original operation? Thank you very much for any suggestions, ideas, or pointers. --Gilbert33146331473314833149


I wanted to share with you my latest purchase which I bought it from ebay
When advertised I could see the lower drawer had its own lock and the upper slope had an unusual little mechanism to hold it closed.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/9651040911_1568a6287c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651040911/)
IMG_4779_1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651040911/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9654278050_54999c75f5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654278050/)
IMG_4781_1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654278050/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Ok I will get on to the exciting bit when the box arrived I took these pictures the panel for the secret compartment was jammed, there was a small piece of wood covering the release mechanism. I removed the wood and freed the mechanism pushed a piece of wood into the hole (bottom left of the picture below)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/9651048043_33da0b8875_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651048043/)
IMG_4784 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651048043/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

The flap sprung open

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/9654283334_7364c5914f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654283334/)
IMG_4785 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9654283334/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I don't anyone had been in here for some time

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/9651051055_16fda38618_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651051055/)
IMG_4786 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651051055/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

One of the secret drawers had a broken handle it took a little while to get it open but I did.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/9651052321_d47d84286e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651052321/)
IMG_4787 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651052321/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/9651053527_8ea0425669_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651053527/)
IMG_4788 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9651053527/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Marias bequest list

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/9656874380_cdef0ff6a5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9656874380/)
scan0001 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/9656874380/) by my0771 (http://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I have done some research on http://www.hygra.com/writing.html it would appear to have been made between 1780 and 1800.

Now all I have to do is restore it

Thanks

Michael

Hawk
July 10th, 2017, 08:36 PM
Michael. Fantastic find. You seem to have a 'nose' for finding things.
As some others have said, conserve the wroting slope. Later on some one may want it restored and they will have the opportunity to do so. If it were restored and later on they would want it original, one cannot go back in time.
I basically like old stuff, as is. I would leave it alone

MY63
July 11th, 2017, 12:30 AM
Hi Gilbert
I will look at my boxes later this week and try to help you.
Your third picture is that the view inside the slot with the drawers removed. If it is then those pieces of wood have been added to block off the holes that the release mechanism.
More later.

MY63
July 11th, 2017, 09:38 AM
Ok let me see if I can explain this for you.
The brass bar you are missing acts like a see saw pivoting in the centre. By the look of the position of the hole in your inkwell slot those pieces of wood glued inside the drawer area may have been the outer edge of the support for the brass bar.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4253/35689859522_0a2580fb92_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WnMRPy)20170711_162527[1] (https://flic.kr/p/WnMRPy) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

As you can see the bar has a box around it and there will be a piece of wood inside for it to pivot on.

The shape of the bar is angled at the front to allow it to move upwards as the panel is pushed into place it will then drop down into place holding the panel in place with the aid of the piece of spring steel. When something is pushed into the hole the opposite end of the bar is pushed down lifting the front end and allowing the spring to push it open.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4236/35818551776_7923ca04a6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wzarxw)20170711_161226[1] (https://flic.kr/p/Wzarxw) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I hope this information helps

Michael