Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: beautiful gold guilded magnetic bird

« on: April 08, 2013, 03:48:39 pm »

Thats given me a brilliant idea, I'm thinking maybe putting two strong magnets into my chest of drawers then slipping a large pane og flass down through the huge splits on the top and sides., then when carefully positioned it will give the illusion that my chest of drawers is floating in mid air.

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: your thoughts

« on: April 04, 2013, 12:29:10 pm »

Thats a court cupboard Bigwull,  not a dresser.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=court%20cupboard&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44770516,d.d2k&biw=1366&bih=675&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=f8VdUfuGHeiV0QWm3YG4AQ


How old it is is hard to say without looking at it more closely, there are a lot of repros out there though but it shouldn't be too difficult to tell the difference.
Did you buy it in the end?

3

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Gramophone His Master's Voice model 4

« on: April 04, 2013, 12:13:39 pm »

Yes , we need photos. Also dont go playing any cherished vinyl on it.

4

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 4 generation-old wall clock HELP

« on: April 04, 2013, 12:10:59 pm »

I go here for all my clock needs.

http://mb.nawcc.org/forumdisplay.php?22-Clock-Repair

You might get lucky and find a new pendulum there.

If it were me I'd not replace the pendulum unless like for like, that should be easy enough to repair. Inside it should be iron so the brass casing can be put back into shape and as it is brass quite easily.

5

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 24, 2013, 01:26:44 pm »

And you,re not tied to using oak..almost any hardwood will do...beech,ash,sycamore...or even a bit of Ramin....yeah toasty tootsies and a pint or two of Caffreys....much better than that English Pish...that masquerades as beer...yeah the English might be good at making Yorkshire puds but they sure as hell can,t make a decent beer....

More of a Guinness man myself, or a wee shot of Jamesons (or a wee jot of the white whiskey for special occasions, like after a Guinness).

6

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 24, 2013, 01:24:14 pm »

I could use Oak, I have plenty of it here. I would rather replace with like for like to preserve originality , why the made the sacrificial runner the one that is part of the cabinets internals is beyond me, or perhaps it is mahogany also, I need to check to be sure.

7

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 24, 2013, 11:48:55 am »

I think the runners in the cabinet were sacrificial as they seem to be soft wood, the runners on the bottom of the drawer (the easy ones to replace) were hard wood, seems a bit backwards to me.
You can just make the mahogany runner out here attached to the drawer side below the bottom panel.



The ones inside the cabinet are still screwed and need doing. Got tied up today so nothing done. Well, its snowing outside and the fire was lit, and it's Sunday, so roasted toes today.



I will get around to doing my runners, when the fire goes out and the snow stops.

8

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 24, 2013, 09:19:54 am »

I'm a lucky boy, The runners under the drawer are removable so , I can remove and replace with new however they are mahogany so I will have to wait until I get some.
I'm afraid I dont have a band saw but its never stopped me before.

9

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 07:20:55 pm »

Sounds good, the drawer rails are worn on a few and might need attention, or should I tailor the runners to take up the difference? It would be much easier if I could.

10

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 06:36:29 pm »

Just to add, on further inspection the top is not veneered, it is around 1/4 inch thick. I can see through parts of broken veneer on the skirt and it is clearly visible on the back. The skirt all around it (front and sides) is veneered. So I am assuming it is mahogany allso? On one of the drawer runners I was able to remove a loose nail, it was a cut nail with a blacksmiths made squarish head, is that an indication to date? or were they fairly common even when pressed nails were being used?

11

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 06:10:51 pm »

Thanks Mart, might have a crack at one tomorrow.

12

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 04:50:40 pm »

Suffolk may be wealthy, but I'm not from suffolk. Irish , so I have both empty pockets and short arms.

The drawers do run freely although my other half wont ever close them properly. My main concern is stopping them from wearing any further and causing more damage.
The runner seems to be all one piece, a groove cut out to accommodate the dust panel and it notches on two corners to fit inside the outer uprights in the cabinet frame, in other words I wont be trying to replace the runners.
Is it plausible to chisel the runner flat where the drawer has worn it then glue in some new wood? It wouldnt take much, probably 1/4 inch x 1/2 inch.

13

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 04:16:06 pm »

They could put their money where my wallet is if they like.

The runners could have moved, but a good 90 percent in places above the dust panel has gone.

Here are some better photos.

This one shows the wear on the runner right down to the dust panel and the wear on the drawer stop as it rubs on the bottom of the drawer, preventing this will mean preventing any further damage to the drawer bottom.



Its difficult to see the wear as the batteries on my camera have had it and it is taking pants photos.



The runner has worn so thin in places it is like paper.



You can see here how the side of the drawer has polished (with the help of some wax I suspect) the side of the runner as it wore down through it, you can see the level the drawer should be at above the polished part.

Just looked again , in the photo it doesnt look polished at all, best get some batteries in that camera.

14

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 03:25:39 pm »

Indeed, although I would still not rule out the use of lime in 1940, however cement does seem more likely. The only problem with 'solid as a rock' is 'easily cracked' when it does move, especially render on an old shrinking timber frame. Why people put cement render around timber framed buildings is beyond me.

15

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Need help datin g a chest of drawers.

« on: March 23, 2013, 02:50:20 pm »

Anyhow, back to my chest.
The drawer runners are pretty screwed, normally I would live with them however the drawer stops are cutting into the drawer bottoms.
Replacing the runners looks like a horrendous job. Are there any tricks to do this without too much disturbance?
I was thinking of cutting them in half in situ where the groove for the dust panel has been cut then replacing the top half with soft pine.
Any thoughts?
Here are some more pics.