How Do You Display Your Inks?

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Picked the desk up today. Have the ink up on it. 50 bottles.

 

Dating the desk has places it somewhere from 1850 to 1880. Still working on narrowing that down. It needs some work and has some missing pieces, but the price was unbeatable.

 

[amberleadavis]

LOOKS AMAZING

[bayindirh]

I actually don't. Instead they're all in a vintage cabinet rack with shallow drawers, occupying multiple drawers, sorted by brand and color. All in their original boxes too. I don't know what UV will do them If I leave them in the open.

 

Did I say multiple drawers?

 

BTW, Your desk looks amazing!

Edited May 5, 2020 by bayindirh

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I actually don't. Instead they're all in a vintage cabinet rack with shallow drawers, occupying multiple drawers, sorted by brand and color. All in their original boxes too. I don't know what UV will do them If I leave them in the open.

 

Did I say multiple drawers?

 

BTW, Your desk looks amazing!

Thank you. I like Amber's better. But only because that is the same style my parents still have and it's a family heirloom. My sister has already claimed it.

 

This one is new to me as of 4 May 2020. We have a furniture restorer in a nearby town. I think I'm going to take it to him for professional dating. Though everything I've looked at and researched puts a date of 1850 - 1855. Pre Civil War. If it truly is, I may have to look at having it professionally restored.

 

For some reason, I get great enjoyment out of really old things. My lawnmower is from 1960. It's a Sears self-propelled reel mower with one of the first Briggs & Stratton aluminum engines.

 

Call me weird, because I am. 🤪

[bayindirh]

Thank you. I like Amber's better. But only because that is the same style my parents still have and it's a family heirloom. My sister has already claimed it.

 

This one is new to me as of 4 May 2020. We have a furniture restorer in a nearby town. I think I'm going to take it to him for professional dating. Though everything I've looked at and researched puts a date of 1850 - 1855. Pre Civil War. If it truly is, I may have to look at having it professionally restored.

 

For some reason, I get great enjoyment out of really old things. My lawnmower is from 1960. It's a Sears self-propelled reel mower with one of the first Briggs & Stratton aluminum engines.

 

Call me weird, because I am.

No you're now weird. You're human and, that's OK. Also, you have taste. That's nice!

 

I don't know the age of my file cabinet either. It's from my grandpa. Probably older than a century but, who knows.

 

I'm also fascinated by old things. I live in the 70s or 80s probably. Bauhaus design, fonts like Futura or narrow ones with tall, bold letters, minimalism with statement (not the sterile one) and fusing new technologies with old true and tried things. Also, having things for life. Having instruments instead of disposable items. Carrying things through life. A well-used pen seems like to carry its owners wisdom and experiences while writing. It becomes like an extension and I like that. Possibly that's why I like photography that much too.

 

Being able to use something to its fullest excites me much more than solely owning that thing.

 

Thanks for being the spark for that self-reflection. That was a moment of enlightenment. Honestly.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

No you're now weird. You're human and, that's OK. Also, you have taste. That's nice!

 

I don't know the age of my file cabinet either. It's from my grandpa. Probably older than a century but, who knows.

 

I'm also fascinated by old things. I live in the 70s or 80s probably. Bauhaus design, fonts like Futura or narrow ones with tall, bold letters, minimalism with statement (not the sterile one) and fusing new technologies with old true and tried things. Also, having things for life. Having instruments instead of disposable items. Carrying things through life. A well-used pen seems like to carry its owners wisdom and experiences while writing. It becomes like an extension and I like that. Possibly that's why I like photography that much too.

 

Being able to use something to its fullest excites me much more than solely owning that thing.

 

Thanks for being the spark for that self-reflection. That was a moment of enlightenment. Honestly.

I think it's a moment of enlightenment for me by reading yours. I think it's time for a minimal life. A throw back to ages past in a modern world.

 

I am currently in an extended stay hotel while my next apartment is prepared. I know the owners of the new place and know of the repairs they have to make. And being in the middle of a divorce limits the options. At this point, it's time to buy quality over price.

[bayindirh]

I think it's a moment of enlightenment for me by reading yours. I think it's time for a minimal life. A throw back to ages past in a modern world.

 

I am currently in an extended stay hotel while my next apartment is prepared. I know the owners of the new place and know of the repairs they have to make. And being in the middle of a divorce limits the options. At this point, it's time to buy quality over price.

Thank you! I feel humbled.

 

Hope that everything goes better than you expect. It's extra hard to go through these things amid COVID-19. Minimalism is liberating. I'm trying to downsize myself too. Having less items with higher quality really pays off IMHO.

 

Hope your new place brings peace and light to your life.

 

P.S.: And more inks & pens of course. No amount of ink is too much ink. I'm not sure about pens though.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Thank you! I feel humbled.

 

Hope that everything goes better than you expect. It's extra hard to go through these things amid COVID-19. Minimalism is liberating. I'm trying to downsize myself too. Having less items with higher quality really pays off IMHO.

 

Hope your new place brings peace and light to your life.

 

P.S.: And more inks & pens of course. No amount of ink is too much ink. I'm not sure about pens though.

 

I have to get my cast iron pans and pots. I miss those. I can not use the one I brought here as they tend to set fire alarms off! But food tastes better in them.Old stuff again. And quality stuff.

 

I've actually had 3 inks go smelly on me, so I may have to many inks. Those will become dip pen inks! Don't have to throw them out that way.

 

And some furniture people got back to me. The desk was made 1860's ish. So, a Civil War desk! Woo Hoo! Wish it still had the secretary on top though. I'm just happy for the desk. It will take some time but I will get it back to proper working condition. I will have the local restorer look at it and give me their price. But I will probably have to do it myself. Gives me something to obsess over

 

Any way,

Peace and Understanding

[Astronymus]

Looks really cool. Give us some details on the Nobs.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Knobs are replacements. PO told me that some were missing so he replaced them. ☹

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Double post.

Edited May 9, 2020 by Fuzzy_Bear

[Astronymus]

Ah, too bad.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

It's all good. Believe the small drawers knobs are original. Will hunt for more, but will probably leave the white ones for now. Once im in my apartment, probably take a couple of months to rebuild and restore.

 

It has just become a family heirloom.

[Astronymus]

At least their have a traditional form used in the 19th century, I think.

[GreenMountain]

 

I have to get my cast iron pans and pots. I miss those. I can not use the one I brought here as they tend to set fire alarms off! But food tastes better in them.Old stuff again. And quality stuff.

 

I've actually had 3 inks go smelly on me, so I may have to many inks. Those will become dip pen inks! Don't have to throw them out that way.

 

And some furniture people got back to me. The desk was made 1860's ish. So, a Civil War desk! Woo Hoo! Wish it still had the secretary on top though. I'm just happy for the desk. It will take some time but I will get it back to proper working condition. I will have the local restorer look at it and give me their price. But I will probably have to do it myself. Gives me something to obsess over

 

Any way,

Peace and Understanding

Oh, Bear, I hope you aren't planning to mess with the finish...that would ruin it. Love it exactly as it is. Plus, refinishing it would majorly devalue it, not that you are going to sell it.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I'm evaluating which way to go and will likely have to get a professional involved. It may be half and half. There are area's that the finish is completely shot. And most of the finish is no longer smooth, but orange peeled badly. The worst areas are like thick rust, easy to knock off.

 

Still working on evaluating the piece before repairs are started.

Edited May 17, 2020 by Fuzzy_Bear

[GreenMountain]

Right. That's alligator finish that is desirable. But maybe you like the look of refinished furniture.

You'll find plenty of people who will strip and refinish your desk. That's what sells in the mass market. If you talk to someone who sells really high end antiques, you'll get some other opinions.

I'm not an antiques expert, just someone whose family member ruined all the family heirlooms with refinishing. When we did the walk through of the house the appraiser just looked at me and said "too bad".

Good luck with your desk...show us some pics when you have it to your satisfaction. I'll not say a word no matter what you do.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

So as to not take over this topic.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/353891-new-desk-civil-war-era-primitive/

[tartuffo]

[amberleadavis]

WOW looks great!