Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Vintage desk furniture

  1. #1
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Vintage desk furniture

    IMG_4207.jpg

    I shoulda. But now it's gone.

    Fred

  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    eachan (October 12th, 2021), KKay (November 24th, 2016), penwash (November 21st, 2016), Sailor Kenshin (October 24th, 2021), Schaumburg_Swan (October 11th, 2021), Yazeh (October 23rd, 2021)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    793
    Thanked 2,008 Times in 819 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    You definitely shoulda

  4. #3
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    You probably coulda, too.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  5. #4
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    double.

  6. #5
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    thrift shop find? nice.

    ...but no, you shoudn't. we all have way too many pens. I definitely stopped accumulating pen and writing related things which are bigger than a pen. just my opinion....

    C.

  7. #6
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Ok, serious question: what is the purpose behind the inside of the left-hand door? Are those elastic cords to hold something in place, or ??
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  8. #7
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    I have no idea, Jon. I don't know what the other door holds, either. Christof, had I taken it home, it would have been stuffed with paper and dip pens.

    Fred

  9. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    793
    Thanked 2,008 Times in 819 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    I believe the elastic would have been used for papers and notes it might have originally been ribbon. The white panel on the right hand side is an early version of a dry wipe board usually made from ivory along the same lines as Victorian ladies dance cards write in pencil and it wipes off with a damp cloth.

  10. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to MY63 For This Useful Post:

    eachan (October 12th, 2021), FredRydr (November 22nd, 2016), Jon Szanto (November 22nd, 2016), penwash (November 22nd, 2016)

  11. #9
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Fred, I posted the photo with my SF friends, and David Nishimura had the following to say:

    That setup was a general-purpose holdall. There are some nice American tromp-l'oeil paintings showing them in use.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  12. #10
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Probably was originally something like this:

    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  13. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Jon Szanto For This Useful Post:

    CaptainRon (November 22nd, 2016), Cyril (April 10th, 2022), eachan (October 12th, 2021), Lady Onogaro (November 22nd, 2016), Sailor Kenshin (October 24th, 2021)

  14. #11
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Fred, I posted the photo with my SF friends, and David Nishimura had the following to say:

    That setup was a general-purpose holdall. There are some nice American tromp-l'oeil paintings showing them in use.
    Funny, my avatar in FPN is tromp-l'oeil. Thanks, Jon.

    Fred

  15. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    189
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 102 Times in 58 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Of course not...ball point users have no such clutter....nor such nice taste.

  16. #13
    Senior Member Chip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    2,132
    Thanks
    98
    Thanked 1,079 Times in 632 Posts
    Rep Power
    6

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    A writer friend sent me her parents' pens (Esterbrook) to restore and was pleased to have them in working order and looking like new. Ever since, she sends me odd junkshop finds, mostly ruined pens, but also curiosities such as this writing box. The silver plating is worn and tarnished. There's not much space inside for storage, but there's a built-in inkwell and a folding stand for a dip pen, which would be convenient.




  17. The Following User Says Thank You to Chip For This Useful Post:

    Robalone (December 29th, 2021)

  18. #14
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,363 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Fred, that could look really nice after restoration
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  19. #15
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Fred, that could look really nice after restoration
    It needed very little, but someone else took it home 5 years ago. Besides, I hadn't the space for another thing like that unless it went on the top of a tall bookcase.

  20. #16
    Senior Member Chip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    2,132
    Thanks
    98
    Thanked 1,079 Times in 632 Posts
    Rep Power
    6

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Fred, that could look really nice after restoration
    It needed very little, but someone else took it home 5 years ago.
    It's not highly-finished or decorative. Wonder if it was intended for a bookkeeper, clerk, timekeeper or the like? With the date at the top and two inkwells (one for black and one for red?) The cubbyholes look too small for stationery: perhaps sized for time cards, inventory chits, or credit/debit memos?

  21. #17
    Junior Member treykion's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2021
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    I don't quite know what you're talking about. This item does look a lot like a general-purpose holdall. This thing is very, very old, and it belongs in a museum. No one has made one of these in years. There are a lot of property appraisal companies out there now. Have you heard of one? We once found some old garden furniture in the garage that our grandparents once used. In the end, it turned out to be part of an old vintage set, and it turned out to be quite expensive. We're not fans of old things, so we sold it and instead bought some stylish new garden furniture here: www.gardenfurniture.co.uk
    Last edited by treykion; November 15th, 2021 at 12:36 AM.

  22. #18
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Vintage desk furniture

    While browsing in a used bookshop yesterday, I came across a Smithsonian book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. There was a photo of a "portable" desk typical of the period that was taken on their journey. Recalling this thread, I took a couple of snaps.

    IMG_4206.jpeg

    IMG_4208.jpeg

  23. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    CrayonAngelss (November 14th, 2021), kia (May 16th, 2022)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •