Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 04, 2012, 01:58:36 pm »

Well - sister was no help.  Her sister-in-law just remembers getting it from her dad years ago - she thinks he probably got it from either a garage sale or auction, but she has no idea what it is for.

I just stuck a letter opener into between the two pieces on the top.  The back left side of the top is barely held on - was able to lift it about 1/4 inch.  When I lifted it, I could see a long slot running from front to back near the edge - the same direction as to the two slots underneath (which are in the middle).  I was also able to lift the right back side a bit and can see another slot on that edge.  So it definitely has 4 slots.  I think the top will come off pretty easy.

I lifted the back a bit and was able to stick a small piece of wet paper towel in between to clean the dirt off - the top of the bottom piece (sounds confusing) does have stain on it - however, it also has 4 slots drilled through.

I could remove the top piece to refinish it, but the bottom piece would then show the 4 slots.  Oh well!

Mart, I also checked my grandma's hutch - there is no stain underneath it.

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 04, 2012, 05:48:19 am »

KC, I checked the underside again where the slots are and came across something.  The slot isn't cut through to the top.  However, looking more closely at it, the top appears to be two identical pieces, either glued or screwed together (I can see daylight in places between the two layers when I use a flashlight).  Could be they removed the cabinet, cut off the lid, and glued the top lid onto the identical bottom base (which has the slots cut through).  That makes more sense as to why the slots are there - the cabinet would be inserted into the bottom piece - but someone has screwed the top lid onto the bottom piece making it look like the slots aren't cut through.

Cougar - I am from Canada - which explains the Robertson screw head.

Thanks to everyone for their input so far - will let you know what my sister finds out.  Will be disappointed if I find out it is only 20 years old!  Now, if I could only find the matching cabinet!

3

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 03, 2012, 08:28:00 pm »

Nope - the slots don't go all the way through.

4

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 03, 2012, 08:25:00 pm »

Still researching - came across this photo.   Hmmm, seems similar!

5

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 03, 2012, 06:14:08 pm »

Wow - thanks for the responses.  I called my sister and asked her to call her sister-in-law to get detalis on it.  I still think it has to be from the 80's - but still don't know what it is for.

As for the screws and nails, I checked my grandmother's china hutch, thinking that back then they didn't have screws (what do I know) - but sure enough, it has the exact square headed screws (and same nails) as my table. She was born in 1902, got married when she was about 15 or so, and got the dining set a couple of years later, making it from around 1920. 

The screws on the hutch are not buried deep - they are flush - but they look like the holes were pre-made with a tool -they definitely had woodworking tools back then - learn something new everyday.  The stain is only on the main parts of the wood, not underneath.  I know her dining set is solid oak, but still not sure what my table is made from.  Don't think it is plywood, but could be.

Will let you know what I find out - hopefully this weekend.

6

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 01, 2012, 09:24:53 pm »

KC, it is 24" long, 14" wide and 14" high.  I have been searching the internet all night and can't find anything remotely similar.  Beginning to think it might be from the 80's and is a tv stand.  Still can't get past the part that it has 6 legs.

The other thing I noticed was the top seems to be a veneer.  I know from lookng at my grandmother's old dining room set that there is no veneer (her's would be about 80-90 years old).  Just wondering when they started putting veneer on furniture - if that is a relatively new thing.

 I will keep searching. Thanks.

7

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 01, 2012, 07:42:52 pm »

The screw holes and the slots appear to be machine-made.  Here is a picture of the nails used on the two pieces of the cheaper wood from the underside of the table.  Have no idea what type of wood - any help would be appreciated.  All I know is it is pretty heavy for such a small table - still don't understand the 6 legs on it!

I just looked at the 2 slots again - if the table got inserted into something, the brace would be in the way - so that wouldn't work.  The picture may look like the brace is out of the way, but it actually runs through the middle of the table.

As for the "stippling" on the front of it where the design is - thanks for pointing that out - I hadn't noticed.  When I look closely it almost looks like little waffles or checkers.

Thanks.

8

Antique Questions Forum / Re: 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 01, 2012, 07:11:38 pm »

Sorry - meant to say decades, not centuries.  I believe it was his great grandmother's.  Can't get good close ups of the screw holes, except this one.  There are four like this - the other screws are buried deep in the furniture.

I just measured it - it is 16" high only.

9

Antique Questions Forum / 6 legged table - or what ?

« on: February 01, 2012, 06:21:52 pm »

My brother-in-law's sister was going to through this "table" away today - so I took it.  It has been on their farm for centuries.  I am not sure what it is exactly - it is less than 2' high, so can't be an end table.  Underneath there are two slots that would make me think it sat on top of something.  The top is in rough shape so I am planning on practising my restoration techniques on it.  I am also wondering why it would have 6 legs.  It is also quite heavy. Any ideas on what this is?

10

Antique Questions Forum / Vintage Rotary Phone

« on: October 30, 2011, 05:45:29 pm »

Was cleaning out basement and came across this vintage rotary phone.  It is quite heavy and I believe it is brass.  The marking on the bottom says "Made in Singapore".  I think I got it in the 70's.  Was going to throw it away, but was wondering if this type of phone is a collectible and worth keeping  Thanks.

 

11

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Antique Marble Floor Lamp

« on: April 30, 2011, 07:56:37 pm »

After months of waiting, I finally received the Floor Lamp today!  It is beautiful, except for the shade which is stained and has seen better days.  I will probably replace that (and rewire to be safe).

Couple of questions:
1.  The woman who sold it to me thought the stone was marble.  Now that I have it, I am wondering if it is onyx? How do you know the difference?
2.  The birds look more like storks - any significance to that?
3.  The lamp is extremely heavy - not like today's lamps.  Would the base be brass, or some other material?
4.  It could use a good cleaning - if brass can I just use brass cleaner on it?
5.  Can find no maker's mark on it, except for the inside of the top light fixture that says "Electrolier".  Would that be the maker of the electrical part of the fixture, or the maker of the lamp?

After months of research on the internet, I have found a couple of lamps with bases sort-of like mine, but absolutely nothing with birds or anything near the top of the lamp like mine.  Strange!

Thanks.

12

Antique Questions Forum / Re: More Silver!

« on: March 28, 2011, 08:07:18 am »

Found this on Liveauctioneers - cut out silver just like mine.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6449495

13

Antique Questions Forum / Re: old prints or lithographs????

« on: March 28, 2011, 07:36:40 am »

Sapphire, on Liveauctioneers the set of 5 "framed" sold for $100.00.  There were a couple of other framed ones that sold for $300.00 a piece.  A set of three "unframed" sold for $60.00.  Hey, I actually had an answer for somebody on this site - finally!  I joined the Liveauctioneers site a couple of months ago - no charge.

14

Antique Questions Forum / Re: More Silver!

« on: March 27, 2011, 05:23:14 pm »

Wow - I didn't think it was worth saving and threw it in the garbage this morning.  I just ran to the bin and got it out (of course, I emptied the vacuum cleaner on top of it).  But, I have it back - will research a little harder on it now.  Thanks.

15

Antique Questions Forum / More Silver!

« on: March 26, 2011, 09:22:34 pm »

I bought this silver piece at an auction a couple of weeks ago.  Shone it up - but has started to tarnish again.  When cleaning it I ended up snapping off the base of it, so am thinking of throwing it away.  I can't seem to find anything on the internet similar to it, so don't know if it is junk or old silver.  It has a glass dish insert but I didn't include it in the photo.  It is stamped with "CL", "EP on Copper" and "Antimony Lead Mounts" - but no numbers or anything. It is about 6" high and 7" inches acros.  Does anyone know if this is silverplate (seems to be from the tarnish), and what the "CL" stands for.  Would you just throw it away?  Thanks.