In the Shaker room of the American museum in Bath (UK) is a small
"Tailoresses' Counter". It's a nice piece, a small chest of drawers
with an interesting top. The top hinges down at the back, so that it
can sit against a wall when not in use. Being an ingenious Shaker
product, the top also _slides_ when in use, so that it's symmetrical
on the chest and there's no need for a locking gateleg under the
hinged flap (the hinge is now locked by being on top of the chest
body). Effectively the folding part of the rear flap is "two
overhangs" deep, and the whole top slides forward when in use.
I'm looking for drawings for this piece, for a possible reproduction.
I don't know if there are any, although there are photographs in
several of the usual references (e.g. Shea). If I can't find them,
then I'll head off and draw it myself.
There are drawings of something similar in a couple of Handberg's
books (actually two different drawings, as they measure the back flap
differently). This is described as being from the "Andrews Collection"
though, not Bath. I've also heard that some of the Bath pieces were
bought from the Andrews collection in the '60s.
I may well measure and re-draw it properly anyway, as Handberg doesn't
draw the details of the top slide mechanism.
Does anyone know:
- If the Bath piece is indeed the Andrews piece?
- If there's a drawing of the Bath piece?
- Where these piece(s) were made?
- If Bath will ever put the top back on their wood stove the right
way round!
Thanks
Wed, Jul 21, 2004, 7:16am (EDT-3) [email protected]
(Andy=A0Dingley) claims:
In the Shaker room of the American museum in Bath (UK) is a small
"Tailoresses' Counter". <snip>
Well, this book has a "tailor's cabinet".
http://www.cambiumbooks.com/books/country_furniture/0-486-27774-7/
No way of telling if that's what you're looking for or not. I'm
thinking you're going to have to measure it, if they'll let you.
JOAT
We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
- Nanny Ogg
Wed, Jul 21, 2004, 7:16am (EDT-3) [email protected]
(Andy=A0Dingley) posted:
In the Shaker room of the American museum in Bath <snip>
After having read the subject, I almost passed this up. I thought
you were talking about you drawing Shaker furniture while you were IN
you bath. Thank the Gods it wasn't so.
Interesting. I like Shaker furniture, but never ran across any
reference to a piece quite like that. But, there's probably something
out there, somewhere, on something similar. You got me curious now, so
I'll do a bit of looking, and if I run across anything interesting, I'll
post it.
Thank you Andy, for not taking a bath. LMAO
JOAT
We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
- Nanny Ogg
[email protected] (Andy Dingley) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In the Shaker room of the American museum in Bath (UK) is a small
> "Tailoresses' Counter".
Here's a repro of it
http://www.hueyfurniture.com/shaker_furniture.asp
http://www.hueyfurniture.com/images/ShakerTailorsCabinet.JPG
Apparently Popular Woodworking did a plan in December 2000
On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:56:03 -0400, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:
> Nice.
Totally different top though. On the Bath piece, the whole top slides
forward on the carcase, so there's no need for the pull-out dropleaf
supports.
I hesitate mentioning it because the sewing table on page 146 of Shea's book
*Making Authentic Shaker Furniture* is not the piece the OP asked about. It
is similar and could be adapted to include the features of the Tailor's
desk. :-)
"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Thu, Jul 22, 2004, 11:44pm (EDT+5) [email protected]
(Andy Dingley) claims:
Totally different top though. On the Bath piece, the whole top slides
forward on the carcase, so there's no need for the pull-out dropleaf
supports.
I knew you'd said the whole top, so I was thinking just a hinge in
the joint, then maybe a T-slot. Lift the back part up level, pull the
front of the top forward, while making sure the back "runners" aligned
in the slots. That's what I was thinking. That way no need for
supports. All that thinking, and now you tell me I'm wrong?
JOAT
We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
- Nanny Ogg
Thu, Jul 22, 2004, 11:44pm (EDT+5) [email protected]
(Andy=A0Dingley) claims:
Totally different top though. On the Bath piece, the whole top slides
forward on the carcase, so there's no need for the pull-out dropleaf
supports.
I knew you'd said the whole top, so I was thinking just a hinge in
the joint, then maybe a T-slot. Lift the back part up level, pull the
front of the top forward, while making sure the back "runners" aligned
in the slots. That's what I was thinking. That way no need for
supports. All that thinking, and now you tell me I'm wrong?
JOAT
We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
- Nanny Ogg
J T wrote:
> Thu, Jul 22, 2004, 11:44pm (EDT+5) [email protected]
> (Andy Dingley) claims:
> Totally different top though. On the Bath piece, the whole top slides
> forward on the carcase, so there's no need for the pull-out dropleaf
> supports.
>
> I knew you'd said the whole top, so I was thinking just a hinge in
> the joint, then maybe a T-slot. Lift the back part up level, pull the
> front of the top forward, while making sure the back "runners" aligned
> in the slots. That's what I was thinking. That way no need for
> supports. All that thinking, and now you tell me I'm wrong?
>
> JOAT
>
> We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
> - Nanny Ogg
>
I seem to remember a table where the top rotated after the leaf was lifted
to provide seating for more people at it. Folded and stored against a wall
it was fine for 1-2 people, opened to full size away from the wall it would
seat 4, possibly more.
It's what I wanted to build for my kitchen, but I can't re,ber where I saw
it. I may have printed it out, sou it's just a matter of looking throuth a
few reams of semi sorted pages.
Joe
Fri, Jul 23, 2004, 10:29am [email protected] (Joe=A0Gorman)
claims:
I seem to remember a table where the top rotated after the leaf was
lifted to provide seating for more people at it. <snip>
Damn, damn, damn. Never heard of one like that either, but it does
seem reasonable. But, now I'm curious, so will do some searching, and
if I find anything like that, I'll post it. You guys never heard of a
couple of sawhorses, and a few planks? Or, a couple of card tables?
Damn high class people.
JOAT
Every thing that happens stays happened.
- Death waxes philosophical
On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 15:49:55 -0400, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:
>I seem to remember a table where the top rotated after the leaf was
>lifted to provide seating for more people at it. <snip>
Pretty common design.
> Damn, damn, damn. Never heard of one like that either, but it does
>seem reasonable.
Try the third Tage Frid book. There's not that much in it, but there
is a good workbench plan and a chapter on more ways to make an
expanding table top than you ever believed was possible.
That should be easy to deal with. :-)
"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:56:03 -0400, [email protected] (J T)
> wrote:
>
> > Nice.
>
> Totally different top though. On the Bath piece, the whole top slides
> forward on the carcase, so there's no need for the pull-out dropleaf
> supports.
>
Thu, Jul 22, 2004, 7:40am (EDT-3) [email protected]
(Andy=A0Dingley) says:
<snip> Apparently Popular Woodworking did a plan in December 2000
So it would appear.
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/fea.asp?id=3D1096
Nice.
JOAT
We've got a lot of experience of not having any experience.
- Nanny Ogg
It would help to know which Shaker community the piece came, as the
Shaker styles varied throughout. There are many sewing tables,
including ones that have a single fold-down leaf in the back. I have
the book, "The Complete Book of Shaker Furniture" by T.Rieman but it
is divided into separate 14 communities. If you decide to make a
drawing yourself, I'd like to see it posted.
On 21 Jul 2004 07:16:55 -0700, [email protected] (Andy Dingley)
wrote:
>In the Shaker room of the American museum in Bath (UK) is a small
>"Tailoresses' Counter". It's a nice piece, a small chest of drawers
>with an interesting top. The top hinges down at the back, so that it
>can sit against a wall when not in use. Being an ingenious Shaker
>product, the top also _slides_ when in use, so that it's symmetrical
>on the chest and there's no need for a locking gateleg under the
>hinged flap (the hinge is now locked by being on top of the chest
>body). Effectively the folding part of the rear flap is "two
>overhangs" deep, and the whole top slides forward when in use.
>
>I'm looking for drawings for this piece, for a possible reproduction.
>I don't know if there are any, although there are photographs in
>several of the usual references (e.g. Shea). If I can't find them,
>then I'll head off and draw it myself.
>
>There are drawings of something similar in a couple of Handberg's
>books (actually two different drawings, as they measure the back flap
>differently). This is described as being from the "Andrews Collection"
>though, not Bath. I've also heard that some of the Bath pieces were
>bought from the Andrews collection in the '60s.
>
>I may well measure and re-draw it properly anyway, as Handberg doesn't
>draw the details of the top slide mechanism.
>
>Does anyone know:
>
> - If the Bath piece is indeed the Andrews piece?
>
> - If there's a drawing of the Bath piece?
>
> - Where these piece(s) were made?
>
> - If Bath will ever put the top back on their wood stove the right
>way round!
>
>
>
>Thanks