My Vintage Writng Box / Slope

[beak]

For those thinking about getting yourself one of those great old writing boxes, how about considering this type as well as the travelling / fold-up variety.

 

This sort appeals to me because it has a larger writing surface than most folders (which I think were generally intended for letters) and which has no crease, fold or gap across the centre. It takes an A4 journal easily. The insides are generous, and because it is not fitted with small compartments, you can find room for nearly anything you need to have to hand.

 

The writing slope was likely made by the local joiner / cabinet maker for use in an office or school. The date is just a guess; similar pieces would have been made over a long period, I should think. Another advantage is that, because the design is less popular than the travelling box, you can pick them up relatively cheaply; this one came all the way across Australia for a total price less than that of six packets of cigarettes - when EBay works, which has been nearly all of the time, for me, it really works!

 

I use it almost daily, and have never found anything to say against it. Would be interested to see other versions and designs which are used daily by FPN members, and their thoughts on how well they work.

Edited October 2, 2011 by beak

[Moagy]

Oh, that's a lovely thing, I can see why you like it. I can't quite run to full blown covetousness on it though, because it would be hard to justify having two writing boxes - unless I learnt to be ambidextrous and be able to think with both sides of the brain independently and simultaneously.

 

Yes, I too have a writing box, one of the folding up kind which I've shown in an much earlier thread, but here it is attached again anyway (any excuse to show it off...!)

 

I love it to bits as a thing of beauty in it's own right (I think, no-one else need agree with me!) and as a practical object to do with writing. However, I don't use it daily because I do most of my writing at the dining room table and the extra height, even though it's only a matter of not quite 2 inches, makes it a bit awkward there.

 

Where I do use it though is if I'm writing in bed: it's great for sitting on my knee, a perfect surface. I don't mind the crease because I almost never write on a single sheet so can't feel it. I also like that it takes up relatively little room when it's folded up.

 

The only thing that stops it being absolute perfection is that I cannot store my A4 pads of paper in it as you can with yours Beak. However, despite that, I wouldn't swap it for the world.

[inkypete]

Looks great beak. Mind me asking what it cost and where you picked it up? Love the shape and the design means there isn't a fold in the writing surface. Very, very nice.

[beak]

Looks great beak. Mind me asking what it cost and where you picked it up? ......

 

EBay item from Perth (the other side of this little island), about 75AUD inc postage.

 

BTW, if anyone can nail down the date more firmly, I'd be grateful.

Edited October 2, 2011 by beak

[HDoug]

Wow beak. That slope looks perfect. I made myself an adjustable slope (no interior partitions or interior of any kind) many years ago and this thread is igniting the impulse to attempt making another.

 

Doug

[inkypete]

Looks great beak. Mind me asking what it cost and where you picked it up? ......

 

EBay item from Perth (the other side of this little island), about 75AUD inc postage.

 

BTW, if anyone can nail down the date more firmly, I'd be grateful.

 

Bargain! Well bought.

[Uncle Red]

Good score, and that Diamine's bottle looks perfectly at home.

[ozwill45]

Looks great beak. Mind me asking what it cost and where you picked it up? ......

 

EBay item from Perth (the other side of this little island), about 75AUD inc postage.

 

BTW, if anyone can nail down the date more firmly, I'd be grateful.

 

Lovely slope.

 

Not sure if it is cedar, though it does have some of the look of cedar grain.

 

If it is from Perth it could be one of the local hardwoods like Jarrah. Does it feel like a hardwood or a softwood?

[pen2paper]

Thanks for sharing Beak.

Like the crossed ribbons to hold correspondence..

Every so often I Google "writing slopes" to find the latest offerings.. this also returns the site where Kiavonne's modern slope was crafted.

 

In the current listings 3rd quarter of the 19thC, 1875, Victorian are suggested as dates..

Guessing the metal furniture, might narrow this for yours?

[ImolaS3]

Lovely writing slope.

 

I really fancy making one and selling it with my pen boxes and might base it on the one you have here . Anyone fancy being the guinea pig for the first one, PM me

[ImolaS3]

Lovely writing slope.

 

I really fancy making one and selling it with my pen boxes and might base it on the one you have here . Anyone fancy being the guinea pig for the first one, PM me

[Reene]

Gosh, that's a nice one! Love the way the little compartment on the top opens up. Nice find!

[beak]

.........

If it is from Perth it could be one of the local hardwoods like Jarrah. Does it feel like a hardwood or a softwood?

 

Definitely h/wood. I still haven't learned much about Australian timbers, but not Jrrah (I think). I've seen this before on antiques and it is often described as 'Aus. Cedar', perhaps it's a trade term for any unidentified wood that looks like this.

[Shangas]

Beautiful writing-slope, Beaky. For seventy-five smackers I think you did well.

[Moagy]

.........

If it is from Perth it could be one of the local hardwoods like Jarrah. Does it feel like a hardwood or a softwood?

 

Definitely h/wood. I still haven't learned much about Australian timbers, but not Jrrah (I think). I've seen this before on antiques and it is often described as 'Aus. Cedar', perhaps it's a trade term for any unidentified wood that looks like this.

 

Does it have a smell?

 

As I'm sure you are well aware, cedar had a distinctive, and very lovely smell - unless you are a moth of course...

[beak]

.......

Does it have a smell?

.....

 

No give-away cedar smell, but hints of old paper, a decided note of prep school, and a good finish of blood,sweat and tears.

 

Funny, I have a pretty good sense of smell / taste, but what is that berry and chocolate nonsense you read in wine reviews! - shoooom: straight over my head.

[kiavonne]

That is a lovely piece, Beak! I think you found the real "sumgai" bargain, there. It is a treasure. Enjoy!

[ozwill45]

.........

If it is from Perth it could be one of the local hardwoods like Jarrah. Does it feel like a hardwood or a softwood?

 

Definitely h/wood. I still haven't learned much about Australian timbers, but not Jrrah (I think). I've seen this before on antiques and it is often described as 'Aus. Cedar', perhaps it's a trade term for any unidentified wood that looks like this.

 

cedar is a softwood. It does look a bit like some Eucalypts, which include Jarrah over in WA. Itv isn't always very red, though nor is cedar.

[beak]

Lovely writing slope.

 

I really fancy making one and selling it with my pen boxes and might base it on the one you have here . Anyone fancy being the guinea pig for the first one, PM me

Great project; I hope you do it.

 

One thing; the flip-up lid revealing the rear box is great, but the box itself is too shallow to hold normal ink bottles. I think it may be an improvement to have, say, the right hand side six inches of this box go all the way down to the base, for that purpose. A full-depth box all the way across would, however, mean sacrificing floor space in the main compartment, so I wouldn't go for that personally; I tuck envelopes and index cards back there.

 

Also, a tiny lip on the very back edge of the filp-up lid would be useful to stop things rolling off the back, IMO, and maybe a couple of discreet grooves for a pen or two in that lid? Some people like a similar lip to the bottom edge of the writing surface, others think it just gets in the way of your arm. So perhaps a removable lip there, which can be stored inside for those who don't like it.

 

Maybe this thread can produce the omega of writing slope designs!

[Moagy]

.......

Does it have a smell?

.....

 

No give-away cedar smell, but hints of old paper, a decided note of prep school, and a good finish of blood,sweat and tears.

 

Funny, I have a pretty good sense of smell / taste, but what is that berry and chocolate nonsense you read in wine reviews! - shoooom: straight over my head.

 

I wonder if it could be walnut then? (Or the Oz equiv) :hmm1:

 

Mine is walnut - as is the table it's resting on, and comparing the pictures the woods don't look so very different to me. Difficult to tell with just pictures though.

 

Ohh, that's a very familiar finish it has!!! I know it well...

 

As for the wines, we had a tv wine buff here in the late 80's/early 90's called Jilly Goolden who went in for florid descriptions, so much so that she was spoofed in a comedy programme and I vaguely recall them having her saying the wine had "just a hint of silk stockings leaping up and down with gay abondon on a bed of thistles.". I have never been able to take wine descriptions seriously since!