BS: Antique table ....question

Subject: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:16 PM

I found a cabinet that is mahogany and you open the doors and it pulls out to make a long table.
Is anyone familiar with these, I have never seen one before,
its very unique.
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:22 PM

The house museum where I lived for 12 years until recently has one that retracts into a narrow table approximately 5 feet long. When you pull on the ring the table expands and the inner section which had folded upon itself straightens itself and the table becomes almost square. Is your table anything like that/

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:26 PM

Does it have brass corners anywhere? If so it could be campaign furniture which was carried round theatres of war in days gone by. It was often 'disguised' as a space saving measure.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:31 PM

The piece really looks exactly like a desk without the hole to put your legs .
There is no brass on it except for the pulls to open the cupboard.
It definitely is space saving and a beautiful piece of furniture .thank you !
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:32 PM

Occasionally they used to show up at 'antique' auctions here, items shipped in a lot from the UK. Those I remember were late 19th- early 20th c. and built for people with space restrictions- lower middle class, to be politically incorrect.

One I remember was well-constructed of good woods and was attractive (I bought it for a daughter), but most were deal and had become wobbly over time. The one you found sounds like one of better quality. Over here (Canada), items like this were popular with young couples just starting out and living in small apartments.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:35 PM

This piece is for sale for 350 ..I'm going to pick it up this afternoon.
It is much longer than a desk , but thats the closest way I could describe it.
Thanks again

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 06 - 03:10 PM

My friend has one. It looks like a smallish cabinet and folds out into a huge, long table. I looked it up for her, on google, with the maker's name whihc I cannot remember. Her was fairly common for its era, mass-produced. It's not at all wobbly and really a unique-seeming and beautiful piece. Good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 May 06 - 03:31 PM

$350 is reasonable. Finding any good wood product that doesn't plunder our forests is difficult.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Deckman
Date: 19 May 06 - 04:02 PM

PICTURE?

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 06 - 04:07 PM

What is this thing called?

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 06 - 04:24 PM

I found an interesting glossary but I don't think there is anything here that describes the table you have.

A friend of mine (and someone Deckman knows--Bev M., former next-door neighbor of Dad's) has a table in her sewing room that this almost sounds like. It is a box-like thing when it is closed, but when she gets ready to sew she unfolds ("unpacks" seems to describe it better) it the thing must be 10 feet long.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 19 May 06 - 04:56 PM

I have no name for it and no photo, sorry.
I appreciate everyones information though .

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 06 - 06:01 PM

I'll see if I can find the notes on my friend's and spot the info, or call her.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 19 May 06 - 07:52 PM

Thanks all , I haven't found any markings on this table.
I just bought it this afternoon actually , and the best surprise
is I thought it was 350 dollars ,
it was 39.00.
6 leaves come with the table , I can't believe I found such a great
deal at a thrift store in Wisconsin.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 May 06 - 07:59 PM

Good for you!

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Deckman
Date: 19 May 06 - 09:02 PM

Is it bigger than a BREADBOX?

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 06 - 10:56 PM

Take a photo and post it in a Yahoo album or something (Flickr is one used a lot also) and let us get a look at this gem.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Mo the caller
Date: 20 May 06 - 06:49 AM

A cabinet that pulls out to become a table? My first thought was "where do the things you were keeping in the cabinet go to when you do that?"
Sounds like Les Barker's occasional table that kept turning into a chair.
Or the item I saw in a charity shop. A coffe table/ fire screen - and just hope it didn't flip with your best teaset on it.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 May 06 - 07:45 AM

It may well be a Wake table - you pull the leaves out to rest the coffin on and keep the beer in the cabinet - especially if it pulls out to about 8ft and is 3ft wide. Very useful in smaller houses with large families.

It might also be known as a 'laying out' table or a coffin table.

If it's not one of those, then you've stumped us!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 06 - 11:43 AM

Liz, that's a category that didn't turn up in my search before. I plugged it in and see some beautiful (and seeing what they're for) sturdy long tables (most with leaves that are in the up position for other times and other uses). None that fold out, but given strong enough supports and the central cabinet being reinforced, I can see how it would work. I still lean toward Bev's sewing table, though. I don't know that it is actually called that, but it is where she is able to lay out her quilting--and if you got a table like that for $39 you are very fortunate indeed!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:05 PM

Wow!! Congrats!!

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 21 May 06 - 10:45 AM

I'll try to get photos on the website next week when my friend can help me with that . That is very interesting about being a table to lay out a coffin, I've never heard of that. The leaves are perfect so
it wasn't used very much, the cabinet itself is almost as nice as the leaves. Thank you to all.

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Deckman
Date: 21 May 06 - 03:32 PM

I'll be dying to see the pictures! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Antique table ....question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 06 - 04:02 PM

Ha!