Desk Item

[RMN]

Yes -well done - your facility with the search feature outshines mine!

Click on the little wheel behind the search bar. That brings you to extended search.

Then look for slope by author beak....

 

Once you know it, it's easy

 

 

D.ick

[beak]

Thanks!

[Paddler]

Try James Townsend & Son. I think they sell new lap desks like the one pictured in the original post. If space and portability are not considerations, the larger writing slope with the compartments underneath is the way to go.

 

They are in stock at:

 

http://jas-townsend.com/folding-desk-p-798.html

Edited August 6, 2014 by Paddler

[RMN]

Try James Townsend & Son. I think they sell new lap desks like the one pictured in the original post. If space and portability are not considerations, the larger writing slope with the compartments underneath is the way to go.

 

They are in stock at:

 

http://jas-townsend.com/folding-desk-p-798.html

Nice work.

 

Alas getting one over here in Europe will be prohibitively expensive on shipping..... (don't really have room for it anyway...)

 

 

D.ick

[OakIris]

And should you find a writing slope in an antique/thrift/junk store that needs to be restored, here is a wonderful thread showing Michael's (My63's) journey into restoring writing slopes: Writing Slope Dilema [sic] A long thread but great stuff for those that have any interest in what it takes to 'make new' a 100+ year abused writing slope but still keep true to the original design.

 

I have yet to find one of these gems in the wild, but, I too, would love to have one; unfortunately, those that I could afford would be in pretty poor shape and I don't have quite the necessary skills to restore it. Maybe someday....

 

Holly

[beak]

............ ...........unfortunately, those that I could afford would be in pretty poor shape and I don't have quite the necessary skills to restore it. Maybe someday....

 

Holly

Why not check around your area for retired or semi-retired woodworkers. Here, there are several schemes set up where people have access to machinery and benches so that they don't have to buy all that gear for themselves, and many retired folk are happy to take on such work at centres like this for a very reasonable cost, as a hobby for themselves and as teaching projects.

[OakIris]

Why not check around your area for retired or semi-retired woodworkers. Here, there are several schemes set up where people have access to machinery and benches so that they don't have to buy all that gear for themselves, and many retired folk are happy to take on such work at centres like this for a very reasonable cost, as a hobby for themselves and as teaching projects.

 

That is a great idea, beak. Not sure where these woodworkers might be hanging out around here, but perhaps a 'wanted' ad in a local paper or on Craigslist might get some response. Of course, I have to find a writing slope first before I can consider restoring it. Finding one is on my very long and seldom satisfied wish list!

 

Holly

[Tinjapan]

I bought mine online from a seller in the UK. eBay has many.

[my63]

Writing slopes do appear quite often on ebay in the UK I have enough boxes at the moment (so my wife tells me) and now have a one in one out policy.

I still keep an eye on some of those passing through just in case there is something special.

I would be happy to help anyone who is looking for a writing box

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Antique-Writing-Slope-with-secret-drawers-Restoration-Project-/111429816913?pt=UK_Antiques_Woodenware_RL&hash=item19f1bc1251

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/victorian-writing-box-/231302324700?pt=UK_Antiques_Woodenware_RL&hash=item35dab161dc

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/antique-writing-box-/171414221272?pt=UK_Antiques_Woodenware_RL&hash=item27e91571d8

 

Here are three that I think are worth watching it would be fantastic to see more of these boxes being saved.

[PJohnP]

The other thing to look for is an "editor's desk", which has the slope for work without the compartments. These tend to be a bit larger than writing slopes, and offer more scope for the non-portable needs of writers and editors. Levenger had a fairly nice one, since discontinued, but that brand and others can be found regularly on eBay (I purchased mine there) for fair prices.

 

The "try before you buy" very much applies for these items as well.

 

The Levenger's Editor's Desk, for example, has a back shelf with an inclined area for placement of books or items being edited. This works passably well, but if you were using, say, the Compact Oxford English Dictionary as a reference, the height of the back shelf support would be scant compared with the volume at hand. The writing/editing angle isn't to everyone's liking, and some have had trouble with the construction as it can be disassembled, but it can loosen with each disassembly or so it seems. I was able to place mine in my office in a good fixed location, which facilitates when I'm editing documents of many hundreds of pages, but it's not a small item.

 

However, if you're commissioning a new slope, the cost for an editor's desk is less than a full-blown portable writer's slope/desk with the drawers, compartments, and hinges.

 

 

 

John P.

 

 

P.S. Edited to add a link for the Levenger Desk construction with images.

Edited August 9, 2014 by PJohnP

[OakIris]

I rather thought you would chime in sooner or later, Michael, and thank you for offering us your assistance.

 

As you (and Tinjapan) said, writing slopes on UK eBay are pretty easy to find; there are usually some for sale on the US eBAy site as well, some with decent prices and some with astronomical prices, as with everything else. I still hope to wander around in the local antique shops where I will find a likely candidate with a Sumgai price, but I don't have high expectations of finding such a thing. Considering that some of the shops I have been in are asking for $50-70 for beat up, non-working or even obviously broken fountain pens, finding a Sumgai price on a writing slope is not that likely, but you never know! And, as been mentioned by some of the folks in this thread, it would be good to "try before buying" to see if the slope would actually be comfortable to use. Otherwise, it will just be another thing gathering dust...

 

Holly

Edited August 9, 2014 by OakIris