How can you tell how old a roll top desk is?
Double-check the knee-hole, both sides of the bottom of the main drawer and the back of both the desk and its top. Finding a label lets you confirm age from a commercial history.
How do you open a stuck roll top desk?
To tackle a stubborn roll-top, first make sure the desk stands firm and all joints are tight. Then remove the backboard. You can then unscrew (from the inside) the leader or bar that houses the lock, to which the handle and pull are attached.
What is the roll top part of a desk called?
tambour
Rolltop desk, desk with a sliding roll top, or tambour, that encloses the working surface of the upper part and can be locked.
Are old roll top desks worth anything?
Antique Roll Top Desk Values Vintage roll top desks can be found in many price ranges. It is possible to find a vintage roll top desk at a thrift store for fewer than a hundred dollars; while at the same time a very high quality desk may be found at auction for well over ten thousand.
When did they stop making roll top desks?
The roll top desk fell out of favor in the early 1900s with the introduction of sleek glass and steel desks. Larger quantities of documents also made the small stacked drawers and mini-shelves impractical. The need for more storage saw roll top desks replaced with filing cabinets.
Can you remove the top of a roll top desk?
Rolltop desks used to be common. Clean off the surface of your desk, both inside the roll top and on the very top of the desk. Close all drawers and roll down the roll top most of the way. Cut from bottom to top, stopping about 2 inches shy of the top lip of the desk to saw across and remove the strip.
How do you fix a roll top desk?
Open the roll-top portion of the desk, looking inside for straps or screws which hold the top onto the rest of the desk. Remove the screws with a slotted screwdriver. Lift the roll-top portion of the desk and slide out the tambour, or slatted door, setting it cloth-side up on top of the replacement cloth.
How does roll top desk work?
The rolltop desk is simply a “pedestal desk”–a top set on two columns of drawers–with a top case added. All rolltop desks have a three-sided cabinet that has tracks routed along the top and front edges of each side, lined with metal or plastic so that the roll part, or “tambour,” will slide easily.
What kind of glue do you use to repair a roll top desk?
All that you’ll need to fix the desk is some heavy duty fabric and glue (I used wood glue, but I’m sure craft glue would work as well). Cut the fabric to be about four inches less than the width of your roll top and just slightly less than the length.
Why was the roll top desk a cheap one?
The ones he saw very costly, but this one came very cheap – because it was damaged. The roll-top was broken into pieces, one leg was awkwardly broken, and it had fire burnt marks on one side.
What is a roll top desk worth?
Antique Roll Top Desk Values For example, an 1860s mahogany roll top desk was listed in one online auction for a little over $3,000 and an American roll top from the 1920s is listed in another for a little over $4,500. Similarly, this Edwardian oak roll top has an estimated worth between $6,000-$7,000.
What kind of desk is a roll top desk?
Rolltop desks are a classic pedestal desk design with a sliding tambour door and a series of drawers, shelves, and cubbies. Handcrafted and made-to-order, our premium rolltops are available in a number of wood types like oak, cherry, and maple.
Can a door slide through a groove on a roll top desk?
SLAT WIDTH. But there are a couple of other things that come into play to allow the door to slide smoothly through the groove. One is adjusting the width of the slat, see Fig. 4. A wider slat makes a sturdier door. But a wide slat can’t slide through a tight curve. It’s physically impossible.
Where is the lift rail on a roll top desk?
There is one exception to this: the lift rail located at the front of the door. Here you want a wide piece to take all the wear and tear of being pushed and pulled as the door is opened and closed. It’s traditionally cut wider and thicker to make it stronger (like on the roll-top desk).
What kind of slats for roll top desk?
The tambour door in the rolltop desk used 5/i6M-thick slats in a 3/s” groove, see Fig. 2. This provided just enough clearance so the tambour door would slide smoothly but without rattling around when it moves.
Rolltop desks are a classic pedestal desk design with a sliding tambour door and a series of drawers, shelves, and cubbies. Handcrafted and made-to-order, our premium rolltops are available in a number of wood types like oak, cherry, and maple.
What can you do with a lift top desk?
The lift-top provides tons of additional storage space for things you’d like to keep tucked away. The smooth finish will complement any decor color scheme. Precision workmanship, meticulousness, and excellent environmentally-friendly plates.
How tall are the frmsaet keyboard drawer slides?
FRMSAET Heavy Duty Metal 14 inches Drawer Slides Ball Bearing 3/4 Extension Rails Underdesk Keyboard Slide Cabinet Furniture Drawer Hardware Accessories with Adjustable Height Bracket. (Black) . Only 7 left in stock – order soon.
Which is the most common type of drawer slide?
Metal-glide slides with levers are the most common type of drawer slide, so there’s a good chance your furniture is equipped with this kind of hardware. To remove drawers from a metal glide, follow these steps: 1. Start with the top drawer.