A Music Teacher's Helper

For one of the Fairmount Community's music teachers two red mahogany hutches play a key role in her studio (just one is shown). They are her "go to place" when it comes to easily providing young pupils the readily available sheet music they will need for practice and skill development. The hutches have an abundance of attractive and convenient pull-out drawers to offer a variety of selections depending on the instrument and the skill level of the pupil. But as you can also see, these two pieces of furniture are a handsome compliment to her studio.

Of course there's an emotional connection represented here too. These "twins" are family heirlooms handed down from another family member who apparently used them similarly. They present no serious refinishing challenge in the sense that some much more intricately designed pieces might introduce.

They were designed to be functional and handsome. So, the assignment: refinish them; red mahogany inside and out. The door handles--for which only three are shown since one got lost through the years--will require some special attention. They appear to be custom designed and will require some time and attention to either duplicate or an exchange. We'll try to address that issue parallel to the refinishing process in the shop.

So, what will we discover on this little adventure? We'll see...and we'll be listening... if it's Wood Talkin.

Wonderful Inconsistency

Well into the machine age, and what people labeled as as mass production, one could find unmistakable signatures of the human hand. Here's another one of those fun little surprises that speak to the influence of the human factor in the manufacturing process. These kinds of observations are a lot more difficult to find now with the influence of computer directed machines.

Remember those two oak chairs? The pictures above show one of the chair's supporting rungs as it intersects with the chair leg. You'll note how the one in the top picture is clean and straight compared to the one in the lower picture. Yup, the craftsman, in this case, was distracted, maybe having a "bad" day? Clearly the rung was not discarded; it was nevertheless put in its place to do what it was made to do. However, it was not cut appropriately for the joint as you can clearly see in the lower picture.

Despite it's modest cosmetic departure from what would be an otherwise unremarkable joint it has served its purpose well. The joint remains secure 70 years later!

Hmmm. Is there a fun life lesson in this observation--something about the interesting differences that distinguish us, respectively, as people? Or, maybe it says something about the influence of our lives on our work? God knows what was going on for this craftsman, and it's sure fun to guess what the distraction may have been (...family stuff, a tummy ache, disappointment, or maybe he was cold? [Brrrr, it's just 9 degrees Fahrenheit outside my shop window this morning!]

That's Wood Talkin...till next time.

Red Oak Staight-back Dining Room Chairs

Here's a twin straight-back combination (two chairs--just one shown here). There's nothing really remarkable about these two, but they can hardly be bettered for their service ability. What these "twins" may lack in beauty they provide in practical service. Originally they were a step more expensive than the traditional solid wooden seat. Alternatively they offered a leather insert seat incorporating a thin layer of cotton batting and an early generation of "Masonite"-type material (there's some fun history there!) that served as a foundation.

These 1930's vintage chairs were finished with a traditional lacquer over a brown walnut stain. The oak has dried and become brittle and the lacquer finish has long since "died." As you can see, the seats have dried out and torn too; their foundations have failed. (One shouldn't use a chair like this as a step stool--but hey, life happens.) Nevertheless, there's a lot of promise here; not a thing that a little Wood Talkin won't fix when it's followed by some "goin home" TLC.

We'll hand-strip the chairs and carefully re-stain them. In the stripping process any loose joints will be separated and re-glued. The new leather seats' design will be reconfigured to allow introduction of dense foam rubber centers supported with contemporary Masonite. (They'll be a lot more comfortable to the human posterior than their 1st generation prototype!) And if it happens that there are other members to this obvious duo...they're gonna be really jealous of their handsome brothers.

So, until next time, "Happy New Year!"...and...that's Wood Talkin.

Genetic Anomalies

This old rocking chair really does have some stories to tell. Whether the tale is completely told, and whether it's complete and coherent at this point...well, you be the judge. The pictures probably say it all.

In the creation of a Grande Damme like this, especially when one can move back beyond the era of super duper mass production as we know it today, you find telltale little details. Really, these are about the craftsman or the processes he used to produce the finished product.

This elegant Old Lady displays some fun distinguishing anomalies. In the pictures at the top, for example, you see two decorative spindles. The bottom spindle, found on one side of the rocker frame, shows itself as fully rounded, "plump." The other spindle, found on the opposite side of the rocker frame, shows a a flat spot where the craftsman's turning effort ran out of material before the spindle was fully formed on the lathe. He probably had the stock "chucked" into the lathe in somewhat of an eccentric manner. Certainly, the piece was used anyway! The outcome: a fun and identifying feature in the creation of this Grande Damme. She's "herself" and there's probably not another Lady quite like her.

Another fun example can be seen, too. It's found in the crevasse where the decorative top of the chair fits snugly into the turned (left) "rail" to support the upright back of the chair. It hides there, but once you see it it's obvious forevermore. The craftsman's ban saw took very hungry little "nibble" before he had it perfectly aligned for his cut. Oopsie...a fun identifying characteristic.

"What did you say?" (She's talking to me, quite bashfully.) "Oh, but they're my beauty marks...(she says, and she agrees)...and...does the whole world have to know?!" We love her; she feels it. Distinguishing characteristics that make this Grande Damme herself...special!

So until next time it's...Wood Talkin.

Back to Glory

Here's a solid oak rocking chair with some traditional old world styling. It's simple and at the same time complex; unpretentious, but elegant. How do we NOT fall in love?...I don't know a way.

My customer reports that it's an heirloom kept in the family cabin, a private hideaway up in the mountains above Bailey, CO. Of course it is also an antique. Nothing is broken, it's completely intact, albeit there are loose joints here and there. (But we all get "loose joints" as the years go bye!) Alas, a leather seat deteriorated some time ago--the initial reason it came to the shop.

It appears to have been varnished, at least once, over what was probably a fine oiled and waxed surface...perhaps Linseed? The varnish unevenly cured and darkened, probably applied with an efficient brush that was over-sized for the chair's delicate spindles and lines.

The goal with this beauty: respect it's maturity and show off it off! Return it to that private mountain hideaway? We'll see if that happens. "She" deserves a place "on stage" where passers bye can ogle and say, "Now there's a beautiful rocking chair!"

There will be more to say as we follow this wonderful old rocker through its brief transition back to glory. So stay tuned for some fun updates and of course that conversation we know affectionately as, Wood Talkin!

A Happy Reunion

It's always a surprise to me
how these "inanimate pieces of furniture" become homesick in the same way people do. No kidding, these pieces predictably start whining about their need to go home. Just like people it appears these pieces miss the familiar sounds, smells, surroundings, and of course the comings and goings of special people, all of which make their existence fun and exciting--worth while. After all, I guess, how is a self-respecting heirloom hutch to "think" of itself if there's nobody around who remembers and can tell it's story? (Glance back at the Oct 21st post to see what this top was like before!)

So, it was time to go home. This honey of a Cherry Hutch was really ready to get back to the music studio. Hence, these parting shots--these "hugs and kisses in goodbye fashion"--testify to a handsome face lift (a phrase oh so respectfully submitted) describing the purpose and intent of the hutch's brief vacation at the Wood Talkin "boutique." Bon Vie!