Gliding Through Life

 This is an 1880's era vintage Carpet Glider. Constructed of maple throughout and upholstered in a carpet-type floral fabric, it has well-weathered the challenges of many decades. It's in wonderful condition--albeit it has dried out and gathered some recent dust.

rt and lft swing brackets

It is my esteemed privilege to have it in the shop. One of the brackets that suspend the glider's under-frame had been lost; so the carriage hung limply and couldn't be reattached. It was not difficult to do it, with the appropriate hardware in hand, and its smooth gliding movement was quickly recovered. What a wonderful invention!

The difference between a glider and a platform rocker lies in the under-frame construction and movement. The glider literally swings back and forth through an arc suspended from a frame under the seat. The platform rocker, by contrast, provides a stationery frame upon which the curved treads (rockers) rock back and forth (i.e., to-and-fro). Patents for these designs were first applied for in Europe in the late 1800's. The "patent applied for" designation is clearly observable on this glider's cast iron under-seat brackets (2)--and dated 1878. My customer's grandmother purchased this little jewel in northern Europe around the turn of the 19th century. So, yes, it's the real article!

Fun huh...and that's Wood Talkin for today. Keep listening!