Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 22, 2008 08:20pm | #1

   When I owned a vintage furniture store, we sold rolltops pretty steadily until PC's became ubiquitous.  That and the change of decorating tastes away from the 1920's/30's/40's and towards the 1960's pretty much killed our rolltop trade.

   I have an old tambour out of a large RT desk, if anyone is looking. ;-)  Price of shipping an it's yours!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 22, 2008 09:12pm | #2

   do you think they still have appeal .. Count me in!

   I lost my grandfathers.. He made just after he came back from WWI. Lost in a house fire...

   Nothing like a quality Roll-Top desk. Period!

1. 
   brucet9 | Dec 23, 2008 05:13am | #3

   Want an antique oak s-type 54" roll top desk? I haven't used mine in years but it is in good shape.BruceT

1. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 25, 2008 11:41am | #19

   Sorry for the late reply. Thank you on the offer.

   I just want my Grandfathers old roll-top. I think you can understand. Also lost in the fire were storage drawers / cabinets? from a very old hardware store. You know if sort of old.. All the little parts kept in the drawers... Hundreds of drawers!

   Edited 12/25/2008 3:50 am by WillGeorge

1. 
   brucet9 | Dec 25, 2008 11:16pm | #23

   Ahh, I understand. Some things are just irreplaceable.BruceT

3. 
   forestgirl | Dec 23, 2008 05:27am | #4

   I'm just relaying information based on my retail experience from 1993 through 2006.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
4. 
   philip | Dec 23, 2008 10:43am | #5

   I believe they certainly do have appeal and make practical furniture units with character too.
   I see that one can get a router cutter set to link the tambours-marketed by Lonnie Bird-neat way to do it without futszing about with glue and canvas stuff.
   And what is stopping one from using the concept to create a piece to house the danged PC anyway? Philip Marcou

   
   

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   Edited 12/23/2008 2:45 am by philip

5. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 23, 2008 06:55pm | #6

   I haven't made one, lately or otherwise, but the appeal is still there.

   Although the traditional oak design has strong ties to the early 20th century and the associated cubbyhole style of paperwork management, I see nothing that would prevent the use of the tambour top in a more contemporary design that would be compatible with computer use.

6. 
   Metod | Dec 23, 2008 07:25pm | #7

   Winemane,
   I made four (not lately). Two are in our home - used daily. One in walnut, the other in cherry. Designed to my own preferences.
   What are you looking for?
   Best wishes,
   Metod

7. 
   Metod | Dec 23, 2008 10:07pm | #8

   Mine are not fancy. No hidden compartments (one was for my wife...). Tambours: slats glued on canvas. Leather panels for writing surfaces. Pull-out light in place of the two middle drawers in the gallery.
   I can take and post some pictures later this evening. Let me know.
   Best wishes,
   Metod

8. 
   Metod | Dec 24, 2008 12:30am | #9

   Winemane,
   Here it is: W: 54",D: 29", H (desktop): 29", H (overall): 47".
   Best wishes,
   Metod
   Edit: Sorry for dust. Some challenges are unpleasant. <g>

   
   

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   Edited 12/23/2008 4:33 pm ET by Metod

   
1. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 24, 2008 04:24am | #10

   Nicely done. It's a shame to hide the back panels against the wall, though.

1. 
   Metod | Dec 24, 2008 05:45pm | #12

   Ralph,
   Thanks.
   Merry Christmas and the best in the coming year,
   Metod

2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 24, 2008 01:04pm | #11

   First class work. I love that paneled back!

1. 
   Metod | Dec 24, 2008 05:48pm | #13

   Geotge,
   Thanks. Considering that the panels are really a necessity when working with solid wood - I do not hold against them for looking nice. :-)
   Best wishes for Christmas in the coming year,
   Metod

1. 
   TaunTonMacoute | Dec 24, 2008 06:01pm | #14

   Metod, that is seriously nice woodworking.

1. 
   Metod | Dec 24, 2008 08:29pm | #15

   Charles,
   Thank you.
   Much goodness in this season (and times ahead) of Goodness,
   Metod

2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 25, 2008 11:33am | #18

   Metod..

   I do not hold against them for looking nice. :-)

   You typers like I's does..  I understood whatha ysa saids.

3. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 25, 2008 11:47am | #20

   Geotge,  ???

   Sounds like something my Mother spit out calling me when she was really mad at me or got me mixed up with my brothers name..

   I always knew I WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.. If she got my name right!

1. 
   Metod | Dec 25, 2008 06:51pm | #21

   George, George, George,
   My apologies (but no promise of non-sloppy typing in the future...).
   Merry and truly good Christmas,
   Metod

2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 26, 2008 04:46pm | #24

   My apologies ..

   None required!

   My typing fingers (two fingers and the thumb for the space key) never can do what my brain is thinking of.

   I was just funnin' ya a bit... I guess a ;>) should have been put in my post.

   Edited 12/26/2008 9:02 am by WillGeorge

3. 
   Metod | Dec 26, 2008 05:17pm | #25

   George (sp.?)).
   You use your thumb for typing? Thumbs up or thumbs down style?
   "I was just funnin' ya a bit..." I gave you two extra 'Georges' in appreciation. <g>.
   Best wishes,
   Metod

4. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 26, 2008 05:53pm | #26

   Last name of George is a bummer. Except for that it was my fathers name.

   I remember my first pay period in the US Army. We were told to all get in line.. State your.. Last Name First and then your first name. Some Officer was handing out the cash. Yes, we were payed with real printed bills! No checks...

   MY turn.. I stated my last name first. As in George.. The Officer screamed at me.. Go to the back of the line..  LOL.. Not funny to me then..

5. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 26, 2008 05:55pm | #27

   Thumbs up or thumbs down style?

   I had to think about it...  LOL..

   I think a sideways motion on the space key!

6. 
   Metod | Dec 26, 2008 09:27pm | #28

   Will,
   "sideways motion"
   Sounds like a compromise between thumbs up (live) and thumbs down (die). I use the space bar a lot - when I am spaced out <g>.
   Take care,
   Metod

9. 
   philip | Dec 25, 2008 02:03am | #16

   This is the type that I built- I made three at various times. Unfortunately no pictures, but I used the diagram shown here which is from a Charles Hayward book, and the authentic feet castors were easily available at the time.

   Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   philip | Dec 25, 2008 02:13am | #17

   Here is the rest of the plan. Very pleasing thing to make.Philip Marcou

   
10. 
    Metod | Dec 25, 2008 08:14pm | #22

    Winemane,
    Thanks. Go ahead with saving the pictures. There are no 'secrets' <g>. I too borrowed the basic concept from some existing examples. If you find something useful, the better.
    Merry Christmas,
    Metod