Although I don’t know where in my house I will put it, I am trying to expand my experience with different styles and types of furniture pieces. I would like to tackle a Newport blockfront chest. (I’ve always found the kneehole desks impractical as the kneeholes are too narrow to actually accommodate a person’s knees while sitting at it.) After searching the web for an extended period of time I have come up with nothing, but photos of reproductionsfrom manufacturers. I have a book with detailed plans of a “Massachusetts block front chest” but that’s as close as I’ve come. No luck with Lynch plans either. Would anyone who has built one be kind enough to share the plans? THanks very mcuh.
Jay
Replies
Building Blockfronts by E.F. Shultz from the old black and white days of FW has a complete plan to scale (four full pages) and some history and technique commentary.
Search the online index or buy Fine Woodworking on Making Period Furniture which contains the reprint. You should be able to find this book on Alibris.
This might help...
http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/Building+A+Block+Front+Chest.aspx
Hello Jay,
We unfortunately don't have a copy of that Schultz article online. Sadly, we didn't get Web reprint rights for some of our old articles.
But Will Neptune did write an overview article in 2003, "Anatomy of a Chest of Drawers," that covers the basics of construction and details different period variations: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2846
We also have an article with tips on making working drawings from photos: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2916
Good luck with your project and when you finish with it, you should upload pictures to our new gallery: http://finewoodworking.taunton.com/gallery
Gina
FineWoodworking.com
Edited 10/15/2008 10:30 am ET by GEide
Thanks very much. I have been a long time subscriber to the magazine and read every word of it, but have not subscribed to the on line features. Since I don't have a password I couldn't access the pdf of that article.
I do own a copy of the book "Fine woodworking on Period Furniture" but the article you refer to is not very detailed and the plans are for a kneehole desk rather than a chest of drawers. I had difficulty deciphering them, although I may take them to a copy machine to enlarge them and may be able to re-draw them to the chest of drawers application.
Obviously people build these and there are professional makers that sell them, so full size plans must exist. It's amazing how difficult it is to find these things. I recently finished a set of Philadephia arm chairs and several people from this forum were kind enough to comment and share their suggestions, but I still had to draft the plans myself from photos.
Thanks.
Jay
Jay,
I would question your assumption.
"Obviously people build these and there are professional makers that sell them, so full size plans must exist."
A lot of people use basic dimensions for the case and fit everything to the case as they go. Plans beyond what can be penciled on a napkin (or equivalent) is not required.
Even the "old guys" in the 17 and 1800's just used a quick sketch to build from. At least from the evidence found in their papers. Purchase orders and shop notebooks only show sketches for build design.
Some modern people will make plans, but the plans are a lot of work and they get premium prices for the plans - several hundred dollars is not uncommon.
I would suggest, that if you can build the chest, then you are capable of working from just the basic dimensions and some pictures. There is a Rodale Press book by Bill Hylton that shows basic construction for several hundred types of furniture that can give you some guidance on internal construction.
Go for it! If you have the desire, you can do it! You, as an amateur, have the advantage of time. You can take the time to think things through, and take your time in fitting joints and finishing. The pro needs to make it quickly to make money.
Mike
Made a similar suggestion to someone over on another forum and was flammed handily. By the way, I agree with you completely...Jimmy
I appreciate the note of encouragement. I have no doubt I can do it and I can draw the plans from scratch as I have done for most of my projects. I like full size drawings to help me work through the joinery and hopefully make the mistakes on paper before making them on the wood. Since I'm always trying to expand my repertoire, I'm venturing into slightly different pieces, that I haven't done before, so mistakes are more likely. I also make patterns from 1/8 inch plywood, from the plans which are then great to insure duplicate parts are symmetrical. I just thought I would avoid "re-inventing the wheel", if the plans are out there. Thanks.
Jay
Jay,
"Making Furniture Masterpieces", Franklin H. Gottshall, pg. 135, Block-Front Chest of Drawers. Dover Press
He attributes the design to "a family of Newport, R.I., cabinetmakers". "totally new and different design features"
Beautiful design! Please post pictures!
Pete
As a later poster sugested, Bill Hylton's "Illustrated Cabinetmaking", ppg 252 &3 gives an overview of Block-Front Chest.
A recurring theme throughout these plans is that the dwr fronts are carved from a 3" piece of wood.
Edited 10/16/2008 8:54 pm ET by PCM
I imagine the plans you have are Glen Huey's?
If you can get hold of Franklin H. Gottshall's "Reproducing Antique Furniture" he has plans for a block-front chest-on-chest, based on a Wallace Nutting reproduction. It was published in 1971, but you can still find the odd copy, or borrow it from a library. The bottom chest has 3 drawers with 3 shell carvings on the top one. There are 3 pages of plans that you might be able to adapt.
I'm not sure from your post if you want a desk rather than just a chest. It shouldn't be too hard to adapt the interior of a period desktop to fit.
Jim
Ask at http://www.sapfm.org Numerous members there have built them. They should be able to provide you with all you need.
The one in the Gotshal book is most likely the bottom of a chest on chest. This throws the scale off, but the construction is sound, and you should be able to make plans using those techniques.
You might want to take a look at John Townsend: Newport cabinetmaker (http://www.amazon.com/John-Townsend-Cabinetmaker-Metropolitan-Publications/dp/030010717X) There are lots of pictures that show details of the construction and cases, as the Towsend Goddard blockfronts are the most well known. And this book is obtainable. There is also anothe book on the townsend and goddards (cant remember the name) that is quite expensive and may be on reserve at a local library.
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