Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Oak Crest Roll Top Desk

« on: October 06, 2012, 04:00:11 pm »

Quite right.  Not only did I IMPLY that I had assembled the
desk I actually said I did: trouble is, it was over twenty years
ago and, as us old guys say, I sometimes have trouble
remembering what I had for breakfast (actually not: it
seldom varies :-).  I also said that the dowels held the top
to the base, which is not the case.  They are part of the
locking system, linked to the tambour.  Well, I made some
new friends (I hope) and may come back to ask how to
put the desk back together again :-).  Nah.  Thank you
for your patience.  All's well that ends well. 

Edwardsad

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Oak Crest Roll Top Desk

« on: October 05, 2012, 02:53:59 pm »

To assemble there were two dowels in the top which dropped into the base when the Tambre was raised.  .

And what is a Tambre?

Its a commune..or municipality in Italy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambre

I misspelled. The word is tambour--and its the "roll" part
of a roll-top desk.

3

Antique Questions Forum / Desk Top Resolution

« on: October 05, 2012, 12:44:33 pm »

I figured that's what it was, ..... but one never knows for sure.

I had trouble imagining a "factory mechanism" that caused 2 dowel pins to "drop" when the "slider door" or tambour was opened up the 1st time.

And I am still dubious about it.

I have resolved the problem of the roll top desk top.  The best piece of advice was from "Fred" who pointed out that the "table" of the desk is part of the top, not part of the base.  So, I climbed inside the pedestals and lo and behole, there were strips of wood to which the "table" part of the top was screwed.  The top is off.  And, as for the doubting Thomas, there were indeed dowels at the back of the pedestals.  They are part of the locking mechanism that enages when the tabour is raised and they drop onto a lever. From that point, whenever the tambour is lowered, the drawers lock.  Actually, very clever.  Cutting between the base and the top would have had no effect whatsoever.  Thank you all for your interest. Particular thanks to Fred.  It was that piece of information that led to the resolution of the problem.

Rev. Edward Frost (eagle37)

4

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Oak Crest Roll Top Desk

« on: October 04, 2012, 08:39:17 pm »

There was another guy in PA that had one for sale on Craigslist last month that said his top could be removed !!  Started to email him since anyone that has moved one before should know how,, but haven`t yet !!

Would you send me the email of this person asap?  I'm
really desperate to get this desk moved and cannot budge
it until the top is off.  I'd hate to have to leave it here for
the bank!  Many, many thanks if you can help!

My email address is edw1066@gmail.com

Rev. Edward Frost (eagle37)

5

Antique Questions Forum / Oak Crest Roll Top Desk

« on: October 04, 2012, 11:03:02 am »

PS: re: my roll top desk question:  I will send $100
to anyone who gives me the information resulting in
the removal of the top section of the desk.

6

Antique Questions Forum / Oak Crest Roll Top Desk

« on: October 04, 2012, 10:57:17 am »

Can someone tell me how to removed the top of an
Oak Crest Roll Top desk?  I am desperate.  I am moving
in a couple of weeks and if I cannot diss-assemble the
desk I am going to have to leave it.  Way too heavy for
me and my helpers (can't get it off the floor)!  The desk
is about 25 years old and was purchased from Oak Crest
Manufacturing in Vernon, CA.  To assemble there were
two dowels in the top which dropped into the base when
the Tambre was raised.  I have no idea how to reverse
this action.  If anyone has any thoughts, I'd appreciate
an email at edw1066@gmail.com.  Many thanks for any
information you may have.  I have contact just about
every furniture outlet in Vernon with no response.  Oak
Crest Manufacturing went out of business.  I don't know
when.  This particular desk is configured as as a
computer station.

Rev. Edward Frost (Edward)