This desk has had a long life. My grandfather first
spotted it, in pieces, in the garage of one of his clients. When he asked
about it, they said they were throwing it out, and gladly gave it to him.
He brought all the pieces home and began working on it, stripping the
paint, repairing a broken leg, sanding. After his heart attack and
subsequent brain damage in 1993, the desk sat unfinished in his workshop.
It came to Herndon when my grandparents were moved here a few years later.
That's when I asked for it, and my grandmother said I could have it if I
finished it. I didn't have room for it at the time, so it sat in their
garage for a few more years. Just recently I've gotten the chance
to bring it home and hopefully restore it to its former beauty.
It really IS a pretty desk, isn't it? I haven't been able to find any manufacturer markings on it, nor any other desks exactly like it. I'm still doing some research, though. I have a few details to go by, and still haven't made it to the library, so hopefully my search will be extended there.
The wooden scrollwork on the top is
nailed to the frame.
The desk stays for
the slant top are a very simple design.
The lock on the fold down top.
Unfortunately, I don't have a key!
Scrollwork on the fold down
top.
One of the Drawer
pulls, and detail work on the front of the drawer.
I have finished sanding
the main desk, and stained it Orangewood from the WoodClassics collection.
(I think that's what it's called - Sherwin Williams sells it!) The color
doesn't show up very well in the picture, but I will take more as I
finish.
As of January 17, 2003, The fold down top needs a lot of work, the veneer is coming up along the edges, and there are chunks missing. The back leg is still loose, it needs to be glued and put tightly back into place. The drawer is not as bad, it just needs a little sanding some staining, and the lock and brass drawer pulls shined.
The lock on the drawer, the top
of the slant top lock, and more scrollwork.
Here it is! Closed at the moment, but definitely in use. I found pictures of secretary desks very similar to this one in the 1900 Sears Catalog.
