Writing Slope Dilema

[my63]

I thought I would try to show the most common problem with these type of locks The shinny bit is the replacement part I have made as the original was broken I will call it the lever.

 

Normally the lever has two positions in the first picture it is in the open position

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/9529222801_2d0fdb5550_z.jpg
IMG_4447_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The second picture shows the locked position

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/9531997140_80d86e0672_z.jpg
IMG_4443_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As the lock wears over many years of use the parts of the lever that pass through the body of the lock wear and become much thinner until the point where the lever can move far enough to the left to allow the right hand edge of the lever to fall inside the body of the lock. This stops the lock working in some cases I have been able to pull the lever upwards and turn the key twice and the lock has returned to normal.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I forgot to update on the box when I last posted last.

Here are the pictures of the completed inside of the NESSR box

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/9529275279_e067fc922c_z.jpg
IMG_4471_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/9532019868_946ea1c57b_z.jpg
IMG_4455 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/9531242041_32376e1250_z.jpg
IMG_4484_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/9534018404_95bcb20895_z.jpg
IMG_4480_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Just needs a little more polish and it is done.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

Is anyone looking for a restoration project I have a chance to buy a job lot of writing slopes at a really good price I only want one or two of them.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

I knew that I should not have slept on it they have been sold I will be kicking myself all day now.

[Marlow]

You have become something of a master at this over the last year, good sir! Congratulations!

[my63]

Welcome bac Marlow my first fpn friend.

[Shangas]

The writing-box continues apace. Gluing down the fabric is a slow, frustrating process, but it is showing promise.

[my63]

I have been looking for one of these for some time now there are plenty about but not many with in my price range.

If you look at the pictures you will be able to see the unusual catch for the upper writing leave it is part of the lock.

The carrying handles appear to be curved rather than square edged.

There is also a lock on the paper compartment

I have added the pictures in case the link does not work

It was described as :-

1800's Rosewood & Brass Campaign Writing Slope

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-circa-1800s-Rosewood-Brass-Campaign-Writing-Slope-/141042424388?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=vbXifS6PASj1wKeGKbW%252B1p0mZEU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/9584689880_91bf71f62f.jpg
box24083 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/9581903397_e7c9aa38cc.jpg
box24082 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/9584689628_e8f026a252.jpg
box2408 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This would make a great Christmas present or it would be ideal for someone with a special birthday this year.

[scrivelry]

oooh - marvelous, did you get this one? I cannot wait to see what you do with it.

[my63]

Yep it is all mine should be here sometime next week all being well.

It is described as rose wood 1850 to 1899.

I have four custom jobs on the go at the moment and will do my best to get them finished this week.

Then one more for September delivery then I can make a start on it.

[scrivelry]

It will be very interesting to see this one come back to a better life!

 

I went and got a new camera - the old one has been giving me fits. Hopefully the software that goes with this one will be better than what I was dealing with. If so, I will be able to post pictures of my projects in a week or two.

 

I have been very good and not bought any more new boxes lately, and the Almighty has rewarded me - when I looked at that box I had in the car, it turns out not to be gouged, just a bit dinged and I think those pens to cover bitty scratches may be sufficient. That leaves me to exert myself on the inside, so it can be a pen box, and possibly (I have not measured depth) an ink box. If not an ink box, then for paper. I have many ideas for the refit of the interior, thanks to this thread...

 

T

[Shangas]

Glued down about 2/3 of the fabric so far. No hiccups yet. At least I hope not!

[scrivelry]

Did you roll it on a stick like Michael did in one of the photos?

 

How are you doing it differently this time. Having recently discovered that (can we have a horror movie chord here?) Hide glue is actually the same as unflavored gelatin, I am probably going to try with that. I am pretty sure it's what was sticking down what was there...

[my63]

You may remember in January the year I bought this box it is due for delivery in September so it is time to get a move on.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/9624659588_43b413ec39_z.jpg
IMG_9578 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Inside

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9624247114_c9370a8c3d_z.jpg
IMG_4680_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/9621009573_44e732ac54_z.jpg
IMG_4679_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After an hours work it looks like this,

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/9624253328_ed356c0cf9_z.jpg
IMG_4685 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/9624254734_b39687b05a_z.jpg
IMG_4686 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This box will have turquoise suede lining outside colour has yet to be decided

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

 

[my63]

This morning I switched my attention to the outside I am planning on veneering the top at the moment it is plywood with mahogany veneer which has been damaged in some places right through to the next layer.

There are also a number of dents and gouges that would show through the veneer.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/9625883731_7ae5d3cd0b_z.jpg
IMG_4690_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/9629118184_c0d863c4b3_z.jpg
IMG_4692 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/9625890417_e735cdeca0_z.jpg
IMG_4698_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

These are the three worst areas that will show through the veneer.

 

I have seen this done on youtube so here goes I plan to sand most of the finish off so I am not worried if it gets damaged .

The first step is to wet the surface with water and give it a few minutes to soak in then apply the hot iron if you do this on bare wood you will damage the finish, I used an old T shirt.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9625886367_5b76d5a9a2_z.jpg
IMG_4693_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The first pass did not bring out all of the gouge I used the point of a craft knife to make a small cut along the grain to allow the water deeper into the wood

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9625886367_5b76d5a9a2_z.jpg
IMG_4693_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After two or three applications the fibres of the wood have expanded and pushed the gouge out

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/9629134246_f5840665a0_z.jpg
IMG_4710 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The black mark is still there but the gouge is almost gone

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/9625902669_848b68c1ee_z.jpg
IMG_4711_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The round edged dent is tackled in the same way

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/9625890417_e735cdeca0_z.jpg
IMG_4698_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/9629124100_556b1dab55_z.jpg
IMG_4699_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There is little chance of this dent showing through the veneer now.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/9625899521_abec184af0_z.jpg
IMG_4708_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Please don't try this on any expensive furniture it does work better on solid wood rather than plywood.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

Following on from the previous post with what I am calling the fuchsia box I am sure its owner will be along at some point.

I have mixed up the dates and have not left myself very long to finish this box but I have made fantastic progress today so fingers crossed it should be ready to leave here on Monday.

 

The insides have all been cleaned out and are ready for fitting out.

 

The most challenging part of this project is the monogram for the inside of the lid.

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/9631481674_766b27e4ee_z.jpg
IMG_4712_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/9631488064_c606304925_z.jpg
IMG_4717_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

At this point I realised that the monogram was actually upside down and there was no option but to rip off the suede and start again.

 

I have made an insert for the bottom of the top section and for the drawer and about half of the edging strips.

 

More to follow tomorrow

Michael

[my63]

Another busy day today I had stuck the veneer last night. I used a plain veneer as the customer wanted this box to be as simple as possible.

When I came to start at lunch time the veneer had split up the middle.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/9637598677_36bef45a0a_z.jpg
IMG_4733_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I am sure it will be ok.

 

Because of the way the original lid had been rounded over I had to stick edge banding in place to rebuild the edge of the lid.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/9640837862_b88b62fd04_z.jpg
IMG_4736_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Having scrubbed out the interior yesterday I was able to do the outside today and start fitting out the top section and the drawer ready for the trays which I have also started making today.

I have a lot more room in this box than I thought there is space for four trays at the moment I have enough wood for three

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9637606233_6fe56ac345_z.jpg
IMG_4739_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I don't know what happened to the camera this afternoon as the colours look odd.

 

Anyway while we are talking of colour the box is made of mahogany and the veneer I have applied to the top is also mahogany which is red the box is a redish brown.

So I have added mahogany wood stain to the top followed by brown wood stain then I mixed brown stain with French polish 50 / 50 and applied that to the top.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/9637611233_64f0f92c0e_z.jpg
IMG_4743 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/9637745943_ac25552a1c_z.jpg
IMG_4761_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/9637750249_dd722ffc40_z.jpg
IMG_4764_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I will allow it to dry overnight and will see what it is like in the morning if I don't like it tomorrow I will check with the customer before I rip it off and start again.

Mahogany veneer is sometimes referred to as flame mahogany as the light and dark reds come through as the finish is applied.

I think it needs 20 or 30 more coats of French polish.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Shangas]

The box is progressing pretty well. The lower writing-leaf is now fully covered in fabric, topside and underside. It closes neatly, and the glued fabric hinge is surprisingly strong! Now we're covering the top leaf. Once that's done, all the major reconstruction will have been attended to.

 

Next, we need to sort out the lock, and do a few cosmetic things, and then find some inkwells for the corner slots. Then it's basically done.

 

Photographs coming soon.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Shangas

[my63]

You might remember last week I acquired another writing slope well it arrived today.

I was going to leave it in its box until I could get around to the restoration but I thought a little peek would be ok.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/9651040911_1568a6287c_z.jpg
IMG_4779_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The lid is in three pieces but on the good side they are all there.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9654278050_54999c75f5_z.jpg
IMG_4781_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Hinges have been added at some point to both writing surfaces.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/9654280764_9777b6478e_z.jpg
IMG_4783 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here the panel that hides the secret compartments can be seen but it was stuck someone has tried to force it in the past. In order to open it I had to push it back into place first.

 

The release mechanism was hidden by this newer piece of wood which had been stuck over the hole the pin that holds the drawer in place is used to press the release mechanism. ( the hole is in the bottom right corner.)

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/9651048043_33da0b8875_z.jpg
IMG_4784 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There are a few odd things about this box there is a pin (missing) to hold the drawer in place but it also has a lock ?

The escutcheon plate and the brass corners are held in place by screws.

 

Never mind back to the secret compartment as soon as I pressed the button it sprung open like something from an Indiana Jones movie.

 

Here are the two drawers intact with their original veneer one has a broken handle.

 

I don't think anyone has been in this compartment for a long time.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/9651052321_d47d84286e_z.jpg
IMG_4787 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As you can see there is something inside the drawer with the broken handle.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/9651053527_8ea0425669_z.jpg
IMG_4788 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I will sort out my scanner to scan Maria Hathesell's bequest document the earliest date I can see is 1818 I am going to do some research on this box and on Maria herself. There are a few things I am unsure of.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

[my63]

Many of my questions have been answered here

 

http://www.hygra.com/writing.html

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9655157478_ac8fbf6c75_z.jpg
IMG_4791 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here is a scan of the bequest document

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/9656874380_cdef0ff6a5_z.jpg
scan0001 by my0771, on Flickr

Edited September 2, 2013 by my63