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About Eileen Cronk
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer most questions about the repairing and refinishing of all your old furniture items (the things we call antiques). I can also give you advice on what wood items to choose and what wood items to avoid at auctions, flea markets etc. I DO NOT give appraisals on antiques as this is not my field of expertise.

Experience
I have been repairing, refinishing and of course buying old furniture for the past 30 years. On any given weekend I can be found at auction sales or flea markets searching out a good buy. I have taken several courses in this area over the years, but I find "Hands On" learning to be the best teacher. I can help you avoid the pitfalls and problems of this wonderful rewarding craft.

You are here: Experts > Hobbies > Antiques: UK > Collectibles-General (Antiques)

Questions Answered By Expert Eileen Cronk
In Category Collectibles-General (Antiques)

Subject	Date Asked

Antique Iron Bed Rail	10/12/2008
Q: I have read your answers about the rails to the antique iron beds, and I am pretty sure that I have ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes you are understanding OK Kari. Some of these rails are as you describe. I ...
Northern Furnature Co #1276	10/12/2008
Q: Cronk, We have a piece of Northern Furn. #1276. It is a 3 drawer, with a china hutch above. With ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes the top comes off the bottom section. Often times we see the backs of ...
gummy varnish	10/11/2008
Q: We live in a old farm house built in 1948. It has wood kitchen cabinets that have gummy varnish ... A: Nice to hear from you. While these citrus cleaners are good degreasers, in this case I would not use ...
care of antique furniture	10/9/2008
Q: I just cleaned an antique dresser with equal parts of vinegar, linseed oil and mineral spirits. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Interesting question. Actually the wood will be well preserved if the finish ...
Furniture Repair Question	10/3/2008
Q: I have a bedroom set in my son's room that once belonged to his father - so it's around 45 years ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes geography is definately a variable. But from the work you describe this ...
iron bed	9/28/2008
Q: I purchased an old iron bed at Salvation Army-it has two side rails that hook to the headboard and ... A: Nice to hear from you. Any of these old iron beds I have seen were intended for use with a metal ...
To repaint or not to repaint...	9/24/2008
Q: I've just purchased a very unique art-deco bedroom suite at auction (single bed, night stand, ... A: Interesting question. Is there any way this set was actually wood that someone painted over? I ask ...
lincoln rocker	9/23/2008
Q: I inherited a Lincoln rocker that is in pieces. The springs are no longer with it. I want to ... A: Nice to hear from you. I suppose you could sub foam for the coil springs. This type of fix is never ...
possible Duncan Fife	9/19/2008
Q: How does one know if he has a Fife table and chairs? I showed my table/chairs to a furniture guy a ... A: Nice to hear from you. I suspect your table and chairs are "in the style' of Duncan Phyfe. It would ...
Antique Table	9/18/2008
Q: -Scott A: Nice to hear from you. This is a three tier mahogany table with a pie crust edge. If there is no ...
Removing paint Stripper from wood	9/17/2008
Q: We used a soy based stripper to remove layers of paint on our 200 year old twelve over twelve ... A: Nice to hear from you. You are obviously in a real bind there and not even the company that made ...
find glass to repair china cabinet	9/15/2008
Q: I recently broke a pane of glass on a 3 door china cabinet that has been in the family for at least ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sorry this has happened. You should try one of those places that salvage used ...
refinishing furniture	9/15/2008
Q: I am refinishing/ restoring an old oak rocking chair as a gift for a relative. I am trying to ... A: Nice to hear from you. I can tell you from your excellent picture that this seat did not have caning ...
e.r.company old cedar chest	9/10/2008
Q: we are restoring this chest which was in bad shape and not sure what to put on the cedar after we ... A: Nice to hear from you. The outside of this chest is cedar..correct? So if the outside is cedar then ...
restoring antique sleigh	9/10/2008
Q: We purchased a lovely 2 person cutter sleigh circa 1890. The wood (probably pine) is very ... A: Nice to hear from you. Don't even think about painting these lovely sleighs. If they will only be ...
6-drawer vanity table made in 1921	9/9/2008
Q: my father gave me a vanity table that was made in 1921 (found behind the mirror). I cannot find ... A: Yes its possible to get new veneer but it needs a pretty experienced person to apply. It sounds like ...
6-drawer vanity table made in 1921	9/8/2008
Q: my father gave me a vanity table that was made in 1921 (found behind the mirror). I cannot find ... A: Nice to hear from you. If there is no manufacturer name on your vanity there is no way to find out ...
a couch	9/8/2008
Q: I have a gooseneck couch made in 1940's just wondering if you have heard of that kind,and if it ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes I have heard of this term applied to furniture and lamps too. ...
hooiser cabinet	9/7/2008
Q: what do i use to get old paint off my cabinet i think it is oak finish under the old paint? thanks ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is an easy question..I like it. To remove old paint use a methyl ...
Pricing family furniture	9/7/2008
Q: I'm needing to sell my great aunt's bedroom set that I have had since she passed away in the 1970's. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Don't want to depress you Barbara but this type of veneered furniture has ...
farm table	9/4/2008
Q: I am wondering about farm (rustic, antique) tables. I see them varying wildly in price, and I was ... A: Nice to hear from you. You are so right about this rustic type of furniture. Heres what I see at ...
cleaning antique mirror	9/4/2008
Q: The mirror in question has been stored in a poorly ventilated storage room. The odor is so bad that ... A: Nice to hear from you. You will not harm the back of the mirror by washing it. Just use some dish ...
antique armoire lock broke	9/2/2008
Q: I was trying to open the doors on my antique French armoire and the end of the key broke off in the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Well first the broken key must be removed. Then you need a new key. Often we ...
old plaster coated picture frame	9/1/2008
Q: would like to save frame if possible and hope you may know how thanks les A: Nice to hear from you. I have fixed a few of these in my day but not sure if I do it according to ...
SENDING CHAIR	9/1/2008
Q: Eileen Hi, Im trying to find the easiest and least expensive way to mail / send a chair, its a ... A: Nice to hear from you. I have never personally done this but my Father did, and I just know he would ...
repair of antique chippendale dining chair	8/31/2008
Q: How would I go about repairing the arm chair of an English Chippendale Mahogany chair. The arm is ... A: Nice to hear from you. Most chairs like this are attached to the back with screws. The screws are ...
kitchen cabinet	8/30/2008
Q: I recently purchased what they called a "possum bellied cabinet". I am wanting to restore this but ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sure would be nice to get a picture of this as in my neck of the woods any ...
plaster of paris handprint	8/29/2008
Q: Eileen, I have a plaster of paris handprint of my son when he was in first grade. He is now 35 and ... A: Nice to hear from you. Now this is a question I haven't been asked before LOL. Hmmmmmmm...I really ...
refinish old hoosier cabinet	8/29/2008
Q: I have an old Hoosier cabinet that appears to be stains, it has never been painted but it does look ... A: Nice to hear from you. You refinish this old Hoosier the same as any wood furniture. It must be ...
J. Thomas Steamer Trunk	8/27/2008
Q: I have an old steamer trunk that I found and do not know if it is worth doing some repairs on. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here is a site where I hope you will find the info you seek. Its a wonderful ...
antique rocking chair	8/27/2008
Q: I have this oak rocking chair with rocking mechanisms like I have never seen. Do you know what this ... A: Fred Taylor our American furniture expert sent me this interesting bit of info about your chair. ...
Drawer repair	8/26/2008
Q: I have an old oak bureau that I purchased. I just finished carefully stripping the 8 layers of paint ... A: Nice to hear from you. Wish I knew if these drawer stops are those little metal kind or wood. We ...
removing old veneer	8/25/2008
Q: I recently found for free a lovely old buffet with water damage to the top on the veneer. It has ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is going to be a wonderful fix and should extend the life of this lovely ...
all cedar wardrobe	8/25/2008
Q: I have inherited a cedar wardrobe,the outside of which was coated with shellac which was dry and ... A: I always just assume folks know these things and I apologize. First off if you are sure there is no ...
Antique wooden top	8/25/2008
Q: The wooden top of my antique Tibettan cabinet is uneven due to previous attempts (not mine) to even ... A: Nice to hear from you. Paul this finish someone poured on will need to be removed. The only way is ...
all cedar wardrobe	8/24/2008
Q: I have inherited a cedar wardrobe,the outside of which was coated with shellac which was dry and ... A: Nice to hear from you. You have a few options here Jean. First you could replace the shellac (not my ...
Cutler - restoring the finish	8/24/2008
Q: I have a single pedestal Cutler desk that I picked up in a garage sale. At the time it had been ... A: Nice to hear from you. Peter if the methylated spirits removed the finish then it was shellac. It ...
Gateleg Table	8/22/2008
Q: I have a Gate Leg table bought about 20 years ago. I am trying to see if it is worth getting ... A: Nice to hear from you. Jackie this table looks like it has been stripped and its ready for its ...
Foundry Cart for a Coffee Table	8/21/2008
Q: I have an old foundry cart from the late 1890's. It looks to be made of oak planks and cast iron ... A: Nice to hear from you. Great project. If you like what was done in the picture you sent its a fairly ...
China Cabinet	8/19/2008
Q: My husband and I were given a huge china cabinet as a wedding gift. We were told it from WWII era ... A: My goodness this piece is huge. I would sell this at an auction house. If you sell it from your ...
Old chair stuffed with burlap and hay	8/18/2008
Q: I just picked this chair up today. I took it out of someone's trash that was just about to be ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a nice old chair. I would have grabbed it too LOL. You never take away ...
antique cutlery chest - unlockable!	8/18/2008
Q: I inherited a wedding present given to my great-uncle on his wedding of a beautiful antique cutlery ... A: Nice to hear from you. Most definately go to a locksmith. You ask "what kind"..well a locksmith is a ...
Rusty Iron Bed	8/17/2008
Q: I have a rusty iron bed. I like the look of it now but I dont want the rust to spread and I would ... A: Nice to hear from you. If this bed is now indoors out of the damp, the rust will not spread any ...
pro refinish or DIY?	8/17/2008
Q: I have a mahogany Duncan Phyfe dining room table & chairs, about 50 yrs old, from my grandmother. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sheri I see nothing wrong with trying this process. Apparently this stuff ...
old trunk	8/15/2008
Q: I have my grandmothers old old trunk--black, I think it is some kind of heavy paper, but not sure. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Usually with trunks made from this material its best to leave as is. But I ...
1930 Jenny Lind Twin Beds	8/15/2008
Q: I'd like to know if I could refinish the two twin beds I've been given. They are circa 1930 Jenny ... A: Nice to hear from you. If the beds need refinishing, you will not hurt the value by doing so. You ...
Hitchcock chairs	8/14/2008
Q: I have six Hitchcock chairs that I purchased in l962 and am still using. They are finished seats ... A: Nice to hear from you. You can get an authentic job done but I will refer you to our Hitchcock ...
antique glue	8/12/2008
Q: My boss wants to repair an old antique chest, that could be worth ALOT of money and wanted to make ... A: Nice to hear from you. The proper glue is called "hide glue". I have never heard of glue eating at ...
ceder carvings	8/11/2008
Q: i have just received a cedar chest from my friend. although it is in good general condition it is ... A: Nice to hear from you. We clean old furniture with mineral spirits (called varsol in Canada). Use a ...
refinish RR cart for coffee table	8/4/2008
Q: I plan to refinish a railroad cargo cart. It has a deck of dried/faded oak planks fixed to heavy, ... A: Nice to hear from you. Oak will naturally have dark accents after staining because of the grain. As ...
Showers "Hoosier" Cabinet	8/2/2008
Q: Eileen, saw your response to a question in 2007 to a gal who was selling her cabinet. I have a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Jill you are giving me credit here that I don't deserve LOL. But thank you ...
old vanity dressing table	8/2/2008
Q: I have an antique vanity table , It has 3 mirrors ,the two side mirrors can be folded shut over the ... A: So glad you found the date. Now you can pass that info on in future. Kind of neat to find out your ...
computing scale company	7/28/2008
Q: A dear, older friend has a computing scale co. scale from her dad's old general store. Any idea ... A: Yes I have an idea where you can find some info on this. Right here on our expert site LOL..where ...
Refinishing old furniture	7/28/2008
Q: I have just acquired a dinette set from an old relative. It has a buffet, table that has a leaf ... A: Nice to hear from you. You can clean this set with mineral spirits (sold as varsol in Canada). Use a ...
children's table and chairs	7/27/2008
Q: I bought a kid's table and chairs from a garage sale last weekend and the lady (who was in her 50's) ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a wonderful find. Not worth paying for an appraisal though. While these ...
duncan fife style buffet	7/26/2008
Q: In our run from Hurricane Reta, a door pull on my Grandmothers Duncan Fife buffet (late 30's or ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am hoping you can find a replacement here ...
stripping antique wood	7/26/2008
Q: I mistakenly let a friend paint an antique bedroom set of ours. The results were bad. What can I ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a shame the set was painted. The only thing that will remove paint is ...
Chair identification	7/25/2008
Q: I recently purchased this chair at a thrift store. The springs have since gone and I would like to ... A: Nice to hear from you. Its my opinion that the springs cannot be replaced on this chair without ...
Chairs	7/25/2008
Q: I have these chairs that have been reupholstered and I'm trying to find out if they are antiques. ... A: Yes do a good inspection. These chairs do not have huge value as they don't suit the more modern ...
Chairs	7/24/2008
Q: I have these chairs that have been reupholstered and I'm trying to find out if they are antiques. ... A: Nice to hear from you. The picture quality is bad but these are Victorian parlor chairs. I cannot ...
kitchen cabinet	7/24/2008
Q: I recently purchased an antique kitchen cabinet from a consignment store who did not know any info ... A: Nice to hear from you. Apparently Hoosier introduced this type of cabinet in 1898. There were other ...
Mouse smell in furniture	7/23/2008
Q: I am refinishing an old oak dresser. There is mouse smell in a couple of the drawers. How to get ... A: Nice to hear from you. Not sure if its actually mice you smell but I know the smell LOL. A good ...
moth ball scented cedar chest	7/23/2008
Q: Eileen- I also just inherited a 70 year old moth-ball scented cedar chest and was wondering if the ... A: Nice to hear from you. I could never figure out why folks put moth balls in a cedar chest but its ...
american girl dolls	7/22/2008
Q: My daughter has a small collection of 6 American girl dolls and we need to store them. I do not have ... A: Try any stationery store, photo store or actually paper sections in places like Wal Mart. Its pretty ...
repair or not to repair?	7/21/2008
Q: I have an antique buffet or sideboard table that I recently inherited. Someone has cut round holes ... A: Nice to hear from you. Forget about the holes being there. Someone quite likley had something ...
Birdseye Maple	7/20/2008
Q: I recently saw a posting that you responded to regarding a birdseye maple dining room set...well we ... A: Nice to hear from you. I remember that question about Birds eye Maple. I said at that time I rarely ...
Identifying dresser and how to restore	7/20/2008
Q: I have an old dresser that I picked up at Goodwill some years back. During a recent move, my husband ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sorry this has happened. All you can do is try the following and see if it ...
old iron bed	7/19/2008
Q: I have inherited my great grandmothers old iron beds for my daughter. I want to keep the old finish ... A: Nice to hear from you. There would be nothing wrong with sealing the beds with a clear coat of spray ...
tin punch	7/18/2008
Q: I have a pie safe with punched tin panels in the sides. I've removed the paint the previous owner ... A: Nice to hear from you. The only thing I can suggest to try would be fine steel wool. And be advised ...
help! split column on fireplace surround	7/16/2008
Q: I have a beautiful mahogony fireplace surround frome 1918. It was a wedding present to my ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am so sorry this has happened. Its from climate change as you guessed from ...
Refinishing mahogany veneer furniture	7/16/2008
Q: I obtained two dressers, one with a large mirror that were sold by John Wanamaker's Dept' Stores ... A: Fred Taylor our American Furniture expert on the site sent this info along for you. "RE the ...
What is this piece called?	7/15/2008
Q: I'd like to what you would call this piece of furniture and if you could approx. the year it was ... A: Nice to hear from you. Heres what I call this piece..a sideboard. And a lovely one at that. Its made ...
Anthes-Baetz furniture	7/14/2008
Q: not sure if you are able to help but I have been looking at a dining room table made by Anthes-Baetz ... A: Nice to hear from you. These cracks in old oak table legs are very common and do not effect the ...
name of furniture	7/14/2008
Q: This piece of furniture was found in a bedroom; do you know what it was used for? Thanking you ... A: Nice to hear from you. What you have here is a "married" piece. That simply means two seperate ...
Old Dresser w/mirror	7/14/2008
Q: We bought a piece of land and found several pieces of old furniture in a house. I was wondering if ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a lovely old piece. It really looks dirty though and needs a good ...
Martha Washington Sewing cabinet	7/12/2008
Q: I recently required this sewing cabinet. It has been stored in a basement for many years. The ... A: Nice to hear from you. Storing in the basement has not caused this. Its just the finish. You could ...
CHAIR SLATES FOR PORCH ROCKER SEATS	7/12/2008
Q: WHERE CAN I OBTAIN WOODEN SLATS FOR THE SEATS OF MY TWO PORCH ROCKERS? THEY HAVE HAD CANE SEATS FOUR ... A: Nice to hear from you. Can't give you a name John because this is something you do not buy from ...
Sellers porceliron table	7/11/2008
Q: i just found this (for only $79!). it has the original wood workings but not legs. the porceliron is ... A: Nice to hear from you. For the rust, get a can of Naval jelly from the hardware. In most cases if ...
Converting Antique Twin Frames to King	7/11/2008
Q: We have two antique twin mahogany beds that we have pushed together to form a king (split king ... A: Nice to hear from you. This question brings back memories. We had almost the same problem. We did ...
Eastlake chair?	7/10/2008
Q: I recently bought this chair, because I loved the woodwork, I was told it is a Eastlake chair. I ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is indeed an Eastlake style chair. Very nice one too. Here are some ...
pedistal table	7/10/2008
Q: I have an old pedistal table that Ihave redone but I need to find the metal things under the table ... A: Nice to hear from you. First you must try to get the old slides useable. Not sure which type you ...
remove veneer	7/8/2008
Q: What is the best way to remove veneer that has been on furniture for over 90 years. A lot of it pop ... A: Nice to hear from you. Gwen I give you "A" for your efforts in trying to sand this off LOL. But ...
Malfunctioning Vict. extending dining table	7/7/2008
Q: We moved house 18 months ago and took out the two centre leaves. I tried yesterday to wind back the ... A: First I'll say this is a lovely table. This sounds like a problem caused by climate change. Even if ...
Edgeband damage	7/6/2008
Q: I have a 1 3/4 round top w 170 year old walnut crouch veneer in a sunburst pattern, my walnut ... A: Nice to hear from you. Unfortunately this area seems to get the damage. I strongly recommend a pro ...
Antique Hutch	7/6/2008
Q: I have a piece of furniture from my grandmother and I am not sure of the correct name. It is ... A: Nice to hear from you. What you describe is called a "Hossier Cabinet". Hossier was the name of a ...
Old Dresser - Cleaning it up	7/5/2008
Q: You've been so helpful on previous questions, I thought I'd trespass on your good nature again, and ... A: Fred Taylor who is our American Furniture Expert on this site send the following about your lovely ...
Old Settee	7/4/2008
Q: I just acquired this old settee. All I know is that the owner, a 19 yr. old lady, died in 1910, so ... A: For some reason the site just wiped out my answer to your second query. Sorry about that. Hope this ...
Old Settee	7/3/2008
Q: I just acquired this old settee. All I know is that the owner, a 19 yr. old lady, died in 1910, so ... A: Nice to hear from you. While I don't see a question here I think you want to know if it will devalue ...
Old 'sofa bed' - need hardware	7/1/2008
Q: I have an old sofa bed/day bed that is probably around 55 yrs or so old (it was my grandmother's). ... A: Nice to hear from you. Erica this is a really tough question. To my knowledge, these are not made ...
Quarter - sawn oak dresser (continued)	7/1/2008
Q: I'm pleased that it is confirmed oak, as I think it will handle our Canadian weather well. I've ... A: Yes it appears there is damage on the top. It looks like round marks (burns or water?)and also do I ...
Refinishing an old oak dresser	6/30/2008
Q: I've been given an old dresser, that I believe to be oak. I'm sure it needs some TLC and ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is indeed an oak dresser and a very nice one too. The drawers are veneer ...
thomasville chair co.	6/28/2008
Q: I was wondering if there is any way to find out what other pieces might be part of the collection ... A: Nice to hear from you. Most all of these dining room sets consisted of a table, 6 chairs (one with ...
repair of antique bakers cabinet	6/27/2008
Q: We recently purchased a baker's cabinet that looks like the one in the picture attached. My ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is what we call a Hoosier here in Canada but you are right its a bakers ...
Repairing a tung oil finish	6/26/2008
Q: Eileen, I have another question for you...I was in a hurry to recover a footstool for my friend the ... A: Hopefully the marks are only in the finish. Before sanding I would try fine steel wool. Give the top ...
tung oil on a Hoosier cabinet	6/23/2008
Q: I have an antique Hoosier cabinet. It was dusty and I wiped it with a damp rag. I want to finish it ... A: Nice to hear from you. I don't feel a coat of tung oil protection would harm the value of a Hoosier ...
brass bed	6/22/2008
Q: I have an old brass bed that I would like to oxidize to give that old antique look. Do you know of ... A: Nice to hear from you. Very interesting question I have never been asked before. A Google search ...
antique dresser/chest of drawers	6/22/2008
Q: I have acquired a dresser that I believe is an antique. I am not sure as to the wood, style, age or ... A: Fred Taylor our American furniture expert very kindly helped you with the correct info about your ...
old furniture (at least 54 yrs old)	6/20/2008
Q: I have two mahogony bureaus marked Old Craft with Meeting House printed diagonally through an ... A: Nice to hear from you. Personally I like the tarnished look but if you don't then its fine to spray ...
How to identify good quality mid-century pieces	6/17/2008
Q: I am on the hunt for a quality mid-century or Danish modern credenza or sideboard. I have been ... A: Nice to hear from you. Actually veneering is an art in its own right. Some of the loveliest old ...
Old classroom chairs	6/11/2008
Q: I found two old, wooden chairs recently, and I'd like to restore them to their original state. They ... A: Nice to hear from you. You describe these chairs as "old classroom chairs" and I am confused..it ...
Painted, antique table	6/9/2008
Q: I have just bought a beautiful light blue/green dining room table, it is painted of course, and ... A: Nice to hear from you. A good cleaning first as you say. I would use one of those citrus based ...
antique furniture refinishing	6/9/2008
Q: I've run into this problem on a few occasions. After stripping and/or sanding an old piece, when ... A: Nice to hear from you. This happens. Its because of the particular wood the piece is made from. Its ...
Antique library desk	6/8/2008
Q: Elleen, We have an old, what we believe to be, library desk that came from a mansion from the early ... A: Nice to hear from you. It should not be a problem getting a replacement lock and key. Take the ...
vintage? antique?	6/7/2008
Q: What is the difference between 'vintage' and 'antique'? I know it takes 40 years to start a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Good grief what a question to ask a 64 year old Grama LOL. Apparently I am ...
Stripping paint from veneer.	6/3/2008
Q: I have an old treadle sewing machine that belonged to my husband's grandmother. It has a couple of ... A: Nice to hear from you. There is some misinformation out there regarding stripping veneer. Stripping ...
oak chest	6/1/2008
Q: My? I bought an Oak Chest 20 yrs back we paid $75.00, at an auction. The seller ask to by it back at ... A: Nice to hear from you. I can't be sure by your description but are you saying this writing was ...
Is this chair worth repairing?	5/31/2008
Q: I found this straw filled chair with two wheels in the front legs at a garage sale for $5 I think ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a lovely old Victorian chair. Personally I am always drawn to these ...
two tier, round imperial tea table	5/31/2008
Q: I am so excited! My son and I went to a garage sale today and found a two tier, round imperial tea ... A: Nice to hear from you. In my humble opinion, its pretty hard to mess up solid mahogany with a ...
Refinishing wood	5/30/2008
Q: We have an old (1926) stinkwood (an African hardwood) dining table which has water and/or heat marks ... A: Nice to hear from you. The important thing to know with this is has the marks penetrated into the ...
Musty smell - worried about using bleach	5/29/2008
Q: I have two wooden bedframes that were stored in a relative's basement that now have that musty ... A: Nice to hear from you. This smell can be miserable to get rid of. I am going to agree that I would ...
eroos chest. circa 1930.	5/28/2008
Q: Where can I fing a new lock itwas an old inside slide bar with key. All papers are gone but the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Most locksmiths can still provide this type of thing believe it or not. My ...
refinished iron beds	5/26/2008
Q: Will an antique iron head/footboard that has been professionally refurbished and even welded to a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Interesting question I have never seen addressed before. What I am going to ...
antiques door to clean	5/26/2008
Q: We bought a 200year old small antique, wooden door of an ancient synagogue, with brass motives on it ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am so sorry you are in this mess..makes you feel kind of sick I know. I've ...
Purse?	5/20/2008
Q: I have a small wooden basket that looks like a purse on the outside. It has plastic on the sides ... A: Nice to hear from you. Actually you are right. This is a purse. And a very nice one too in my ...
west branch cedar chest	5/19/2008
Q: the finish on the aromatic cedar chest is wrinkled,raised,and appears dirty.How can I restore the ... A: Nice to hear from you. First you have to clean the area with mineral spirits. Use a steel wool pad ...
Renovating dining chairs	5/18/2008
Q: I have 4 beautiful antique dining room chairs that used to have caned seats, but are now badly ... A: I meant this type of chair. But you can certainly add a nice chair cushion on top of the fiber seat. ...
Renovating dining chairs	5/18/2008
Q: I have 4 beautiful antique dining room chairs that used to have caned seats, but are now badly ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes these fiber seats will not be the most comfortable when first installed ...
Refinish Item And Discover Company Name- How do I Save	5/14/2008
Q: I have been refinishing furniture from auctions for many years, but I have a new experience. I have ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am absolutely amazed you got this much paint off without ruining the ...
Cleaning mouse droppings from wood picture frames	5/13/2008
Q: I read your reply to someone regarding cleaning a piece of furniture that might have mouse droppings ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes apparently mouse droppings can make us sick. Think I have since learned ...
Mahogany table finish and colors	5/12/2008
Q: my Mother bought a 1937 Brandt Duncan Phyfe style mahogany dining table with 5 leaves and 8 chairs. ... A: Nice to hear from you. This always happens to table tops and we don't notice it until we drag the ...
antique bed	5/5/2008
Q: I recently bought an old metal bed frame and can't figure out how to get a bed onto it without it ... A: Nice to hear from you. The problem with converting these old beds is that they had a spring that sat ...
Showers Brothers Chest	5/5/2008
Q: I found a chest and am wanting to sand and repaint. The piece is tagged with a Showers Brothers ... A: Nice to hear from you. If you want to sand and paint this chest thats fine as long as you understand ...
Conant Ball Birch Highboy	5/4/2008
Q: I have a Conant Ball Birch Highboy that I purchased on CraigsList for $5. Had no idea as to the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Its always a day to gloat if we need a dresser and find one for five dollars. ...
refinishing small cabinent	5/4/2008
Q: This cabinet was my grandmother's, she was a seamstress and kept her threads, needles etc. in it but ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a shame this piece was painted. Did the person who gave the quote state ...
stripping veneer	5/3/2008
Q: I have a table that someone started taking of the veneer. Some suggestions on how to remove it ... A: Nice to hear from you. When the heat gun fails (it doesn't often), get out an old iron. Set it on ...
Vanity conversion	4/29/2008
Q: Re: old library table…maybe oak...turning into vanity Hi, I am stripping and re-finishing the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Great project. The steps. 1..strip with a stripper such as this. Its powerful ...
Berkley & Gay Furniture Desk	4/24/2008
Q: I just purchased this Berkley & Gay Furniture desk and it has some scratches that I'd like to ... A: Nice to hear from you. If I'm seeing correctly (don't always LOL), it appears these marks (on the ...
RWay Chair	4/23/2008
Q: I have a RWAY Chair # 52-3029. There is another # 337 with a finish 38. This has the orginal tag on ... A: Nice to hear from you. It appears that the "r-ray" in the name did not come about until 1949 so we ...
Old Lane Cedar chest	4/21/2008
Q: Not looking for a value cause we'ed never sell it. Trying to date a chest from my grandmother. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sounds to me like you have a waterfall cedar chest from the 40's. The rounded ...
Grandparent's Dining room Furniture	4/17/2008
Q: I just received my grandparent's 70 year old dining room furniture (table, china closet, credenza). ... A: Nice to hear from you. In this case I would recommend a product like this for a quick fix until you ...
antique couch 1920-1940s?	4/17/2008
Q: we were given this couch and wondering what it was worth,some people told us it was it was 18th ... A: Nice to hear from you. The only way to get an idea of age with old couches is by looking underneath. ...
Ed Roos Cedar Chest	4/16/2008
Q: I have a cedar chest serial # 607529 Ed Roos Company Forset Park Illinois The finish is in bad ... A: Nice to hear from you. In my humble opinion any of these lovely old cedar chests are worth ...
sewing table	4/12/2008
Q: I have an antique Singer sewing table that needs a side panel replaced. Do you know where to find ... A: You can get the decorative carvings here. http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/73/ I have dealt with ...
walnut table	4/12/2008
Q: I would like information on how to refinish a walnut veneer table. I would like to replicate the ... A: Here are the stripping instructions for your table. INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING FURNITURE The first ...
Cavalier Cedar Chest	4/10/2008
Q: I have a Cavalier Cedar chest and would like to know more information about it. It has a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here is a site that has everything that is known about Cavalier chests. ...
wood dresser	4/10/2008
Q: i recently purchase this dresser at a thrift shop. the company name is the mayfair cabinet works ... A: Nice to hear from you. This dresser is very similar to one my Mother had. She always stored her ...
Spilled paint on victrola	4/8/2008
Q: I just bought an old victrola and it has a few paint marks on the front of it like someone had ... A: Nice to hear from you. Very carefully rub the paint with fine steel wool. Try to only rub the area ...
Antique Table Repairable?	4/7/2008
Q: We bought an antique butterfly leaf table and when we moved to a desert area it started cracking ... A: Nice to hear from you. This table is very much repairable. This as you know is caused by climate ...
old wardrobe	4/6/2008
Q: I inherited an old wardrobe. We don't really know how old it is, but our best guess so far is the ... A: Nice to hear from you. First off get it out of the basement. A basement is the worst place to store ...
Oak Draw Leaf Table	4/6/2008
Q: I have my eye on an oak draw leaf table at an antiques store. Like the owner, I am unsure of the ... A: The table is most definitely oak. No question about it. Great picture. OK..I'll tell you what I can. ...
hoosier cabinet	4/4/2008
Q: If you could give me some tips on stripping the paint i would appreciate it.Thank You Bob A: Here are my stripping instructions that have been modified for your heavily painted Hoosier ...
Porceliron Ing-Rich Bayonne	4/2/2008
Q: I just purchased a table and chairs that were in a basement. How do I remove paint droplets without ... A: Nice to hear from you. The table top is porcelain and its very tough. First I would try something ...
history of furniture maker	4/2/2008
Q: IHAVE A DINING SET THAT IS A DINING TABLE,A BUFFET,ALSO A CHINA CABINET MADE BY R-WAY NORTHERN ... A: You did not mention where you live but here is the only list I have with appraisal services. ...
hoosier cabinet	4/2/2008
Q: I inherited a hoosier cabinet with the name w.b. trumbo co on the back.I cant find any info on the ... A: Nice to hear from you. All I could find on the company besides where it was located was that it was ...
restoring parquet flooring	3/30/2008
Q: We are about to buy some reclaimed English oak parquet flooring for our home ( two living rooms and ... A: This question is really out of my line, but I can certainly give you my thoughts. If you are ...
restoration courses	3/30/2008
Q: i enjoy buying old oak furniture for my house from a reliable second hand shop and would like to ... A: Nice to hear from you. I love old oak furniture too, and learning to refinish these things yourself ...
lane cedar chest	3/27/2008
Q: I have inherited a 1927 solid cedar hope chest. The top of the chest has several scratches and it ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes it sounds like this finish should be replaced. That means stripping with ...
Identifying antique furniture	3/22/2008
Q: where would I begin to learn about the different types of wood used to make antique furniture? Also, ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a good question. Not sure if I'm qualified to answer it though LOL. ...
Rope Bed	3/17/2008
Q: I have an old rope bed and need to know how to re-rope. Can you help or refer me to a web site that ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here are the instructions ...
restoration of antique pressed tin	3/17/2008
Q: Eileen, My husband and I are building our retirement home ourselves and hope to incorporate several ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a wonderful question..and not too long LOL. I'll take your questions in ...
Duncan Phyfe Chairs	3/16/2008
Q: We have just found two chairs to fill out our Duncan Phyfe dinning room set. The two additional ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes I have a suggestion. Get this product. ...
CLEANING OLD DINING ROOM SET	3/15/2008
Q: WHAT DO I USE TO CLEAN WOOD DINING CHAIRS. THE SET IS ABOUT 60YRS OLD AND IN FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION, ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am very familiar with this type of dirt on furniture..especially chairs. So ...
Victorian Platform Rockers springs	3/15/2008
Q: and the rocker springs on the right side (beneath the seat) are coming loose. There are three 1" ... A: A picture is worth a thousand words as they say. So the problem is obviously tension. The new ...
Victorian Platform Rockers springs	3/14/2008
Q: and the rocker springs on the right side (beneath the seat) are coming loose. There are three 1" ... A: Nice to hear from you. For sure the chair is not "done" LOL Its obvious that the wrong kind of ...
thickness of plexiglass used to replace broken glass in curio cabinet	3/13/2008
Q: I also have curved broken glass in my curio cabinet and would like to replace with plexiglass. I ... A: Nice to hear from you. It sounds like the plex is too thick. So what I would suggest you do is ask ...
Rway diningroom set	3/11/2008
Q: I am in a quandary about what to do with a bleached mahogany diningroom set from Rway furniture. ... A: Nice to hear from you. This set of course is not an antique and not valuable, but I would certainly ...
Edison Furniture	3/3/2008
Q: We have a crib manufactured by the Edison Furniture Company. The crib is in very good shape given ... A: Nice to hear from you You are correct that this crib would not pass todays standards. And in fact ...
Seat Replacement for Antique Pressed Back Chairs	3/2/2008
Q: I have six pressed back oak dining chairs that are family heirlooms (over 100 years old). They ... A: Nice to hear from you. Its always such a shame when folks put nails in the chair seats like this. ...
wooden chairs	3/1/2008
Q: I have 70 restaurant chairs that have been in use for 15 or so years. I have recovered them ... A: Nice to hear from you. If there is any botox left after you finish I could sure use some. Seriously ...
Is this Table Anything	3/1/2008
Q: I was visiting an acquaintance and we were in his garage where I spotted this unique table. He was ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sandra you will find as you start stripping the paint that the stripper will ...
Dye stain	2/27/2008
Q: This is a follow up to the Mahogany dresser with the dye stain. The computer program would not let ... A: No need for a picture as Fred Taylor from our site has kindly offered the following. "Eileen - The ...
Dye stain	2/26/2008
Q: This is a follow up to the Mahogany dresser with the dye stain. The computer program would not let ... A: ..any chance of a picture.Hi again Bruce Strange the site would not allow another follow up. I was ...
dining room table and china hutch	2/26/2008
Q: I have a old Bassett dining room/6 chairs/2 leafs and a matching china hutch. I think it's about 60 ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here in Canada we have Bassett Furniture and its also in the USA. It is ...
Refinishing Lane Chest	2/25/2008
Q: I have my mothers veneered cedar chest (mfg'd about '45) and the finish has blistered on the front ... A: Nice to hear from you These old chests are lovely when refinished and it sounds like this one is ...
Berkley & Gay Table - Water Damage	2/23/2008
Q: Just purchased a Berkley & Gay table but it has some water damage (cloudy white spots). Not sure how ... A: Nice to hear from you. There are several ways to attempt this repair. Here is a link I want you to ...
Duncan Phyfe sofa	2/22/2008
Q: I am reapholstering my granmother's sofa. She had brass nail heads on her sofa. I beleive the ... A: Nice to hear from you. If the fabric is original, the tacks should be too unless your Mom replaced ...
Antique tin stick match holder	2/22/2008
Q: We have a match holder that seems to have been painted over the original tin. You can somewhat see ... A: Nice to hear from you. These tin match holders were originally painted. They do get painted over the ...
antique spool bed	2/21/2008
Q: I have a family treasure bed which washed up in a hurricane in the 1800s. Like the mantle someone ... A: Nice to hear from you. Yes I remember the question. The lady wanted to leave the wood unprotected ...
hitchcock dining room table	2/21/2008
Q: I recently notices come pit marks on my table,as though some one took a sharp object and poked the ... A: Nice to hear from you The only possible way that I know of to fix these holes is with one of those ...
Bird's eye maple drop front desk	2/20/2008
Q: I recently found an old bird's eye maple drop front lady's writing desk (that also has a matching ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a great find. First get all the stuff that will come off with a ...
Red Oak Dresser	2/19/2008
Q: I am looking for some advice on an old red oak dresser. It stands approx 46 3/4" high, it has 6 ... A: Nice to hear from you. First off, I would deal with the stains on the top. They should be removed. ...
Cleaning old mahogany furniture	2/19/2008
Q: :) I recently acquired a lovely old mahogany bedroom set (man's and lady's dressers, night stand, ... A: Sorry I missed part of your question. If the damage is not too severe, get one of those wax filler ...
Preparing to find someone to do restoration	2/18/2008
Q: I have an antique, solid mahogany slant top secretary that I had inherited from my grandmother. My ... A: Nice to hear from you. I got your question last night Kelly and had started to answer when the power ...
Thomasville Chair Company Bedroom Set	2/17/2008
Q: I have a Thomasville Chair Company bedroom set that is a hand-me-down from my great grandmother. It ... A: Nice to hear from you As long as anything you do to this furniture can be undone in the future, I ...
Repairing veneer door	2/17/2008
Q: I got some great advice from you awhile back about fixing up my dark and damaged woodwork. I am so ... A: Yes I remember you and am glad I was able to help before. I cannot think of any way to fix this ...
imperial furniture table	2/13/2008
Q: I have found a library table from the Imperial Company in MI. I believe it dates around 1905. I'm ... A: Nice to hear from you. When an original handle or knob is removed from a piece of old furniture it ...
Oak Mission Style Rocker	2/10/2008
Q: I have an old oak rocker - it has a black leather cushion (new). It doesn't really fit into our new ... A: Nice to hear from you. I have seen a lot of old furniture painted. This chair could be painted, but ...
Antique Cabinet	2/8/2008
Q: i, I have an antique cabinet that has already been modified to fit a TV inside (i.e., hole cut in ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a tough question without seeing what exactly you have here. While the ...
replace slats on roll top desk	2/7/2008
Q: We are refinishing a very old roll top desk. Some of the slats are worped. Do you have a web site or ... A: Nice to hear from you. I have never known these slats to be available for sale, but they are easily ...
sanding and finish	2/5/2008
Q: stain,and what wold be the best finish and the couple of the joints need filled what would be the ... A: I am across the water in Canada. Nice to hear from you. This wardrobe does look in a sorry state, ...
Duncan Fife Dining Set	2/4/2008
Q: I have a Duncan Fife Dining set from around 1940, but no real way of telling, and we want to know ... A: Nice to hear from you. Getting someone to do this type of work well can be difficult. You will want ...
Antique iron bed	2/1/2008
Q: I was given 2 antique iron beds; a twin size (complete with springs attached) and a full-size ... A: Nice to hear from you. To my knowledge the only place you may buy these old springs is a junk store. ...
Taking an Antique rocking chair a part	1/31/2008
Q: I need to separate the seat portion from the rockers of an antique rocking chair. I have been able ... A: Nice to hear from you. Check to make sure there is not a small nail or screw in the joint. They can ...
trunk restoration	1/29/2008
Q: My mother in law lives in St. Louis and has 4 trunks that belonged to her mother in law. She would ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here is a list of restorers http://antiquerestorers.com/Member/CAT.htm Hope ...
Ed Roos Co. Cedar Chest	1/24/2008
Q: I have an Ed Roos Co. Cedar Chest that was my grandmothers, and one day it was just locked. I never ... A: Nice to hear from you So sorry this has happened. My brother who was a locksmith for many years ...
West Branch Cedar Chest	1/22/2008
Q: I have a West Branch Novelty Company Cedar Chest (#4248) that someone destroyed the punctired lock ... A: Nice to hear from you Try here for the hindges http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/67/ or perhaps ...
secretary desk	1/21/2008
Q: I have a family secretary desk from about 1939. Above the desk is a bookcase with glass doors. On ... A: Nice to hear from you. I call this lattice work or fretwork Michael. Don't know if thats the correct ...
Franklin Piano	1/21/2008
Q: My friend has a Franklin Piano and was wondering what year it was made in. The serial number is ... A: Just recieved this info on your friends piano. Its from Fred Taylor on this site so you can depend ...
Emerson Piano	1/21/2008
Q: I recently bought a Emerson Piano and would like to know more about it. The serial number is 93126 ... A: Fred Taylor from our site sent this info on your piano . "The Emerson piano #93126 was made in 1909 ...
Roll Top Desk	1/20/2008
Q: We need to repair the roll top portion of our hoosier. All the slats are present. Do you have any ... A: Nice to hear from you. I just use a light weight canvas when I need to replace this cloth. This is ...
Bedroom oak bureau with mirror	1/20/2008
Q: I have an old oak bedroom bureau and mirror (glass approx 1/2 inch thick)that belonged to my ... A: Nice to hear from you. First we will talk about the split veneer. And I am so glad you know that all ...
duncan phyfe lamp table	1/19/2008
Q: I have a duncan phyfe table approx 100 yrs old that has been repainted,Can it be restored ? A: Nice to hear from you. Certainly the paint can be removed and a new finish applied. Not sure though ...
Zig/Zag springs and fastners	1/19/2008
Q: Eileen, Can you tell me where I can find Zig/Zag springs and fasteners? I am trying to restore a ... A: Nice to hear from you. These zig zag springs are readily available. No need to go through mail ...
antique buffet	1/16/2008
Q: I inherited an antique buffet.The top is covered with a veneer. Parts of the veneer are splitting ... A: Nice to hear from you. Holly you can't leave this alone if you ever hope to have it in your home. ...
Vintage Cedar Chest	1/16/2008
Q: Eileen: I have an old Cedar chest that I recently bought as a sale and looks to be hand made as ... A: This most definitely looks like hand work. I am not familiar with the name of this joint, but its ...
Vintage Cedar Chest	1/16/2008
Q: Eileen: I have an old Cedar chest that I recently bought as a sale and looks to be hand made as ... A: Well the signature clinches it for me. I would not argue with that at all. Fritz Nelson made this ...
Vintage Cedar Chest	1/14/2008
Q: Eileen: I have an old Cedar chest that I recently bought as a sale and looks to be hand made as ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a lovely cedar chest. Its what I call a "real" cedar chest as its cedar ...
1885 wooden clothes rack	1/10/2008
Q: I've only seen one other one before, it hangs on the wall and you fan out the wooden slats to ... A: Nice to hear from you. Not sure I see an actual question here Karen, but I will comment anyway. I am ...
Old Furniture Cleaning	1/5/2008
Q: I purchased a piece of furniture for my kitchen and I have a questions regarding cleaning it. It is ... A: Nice to hear from you. The entire cupboard looks to be painted..correct? For this cleaning job I ...
Antique English Marble Top Washstand	1/2/2008
Q: I have an early 1900's marbletop washstand that was in excellent condition. In my last move the ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a lovely piece. What a shame the marble was broken. In the right hands, ...
antique rocker -- not sure what style?	1/2/2008
Q: I am looking for a couple more of these chairs in the exact same style but every search I do, I come ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sarah this is a very common type chair. Its called a platform rocker. The ...
Thomasville Chair Company Dining Chair	1/1/2008
Q: I purchased a dining set from my great aunt in the early 1908's. It consists of a table with drop ... A: Nice to hear from you. First off I like your fabric choice for the chairs..it works, and it looks ...
Replacement of Caned Seat in Chair	1/1/2008
Q: I received an office chair from a friend - a yard sale find. The chair had a damaged caned seat. ... A: Nice to hear from you. I would use the pressed fabric you refer to. Darned if I can remember the ...
50s Childrens Folding Table and Chairs	12/30/2007
Q: I have a children's red and white metal "card"table and 4 chairs. I'm considering repainting due to ... A: Nice to hear from you. Mary without a better description of the existing caps, I'll just blindly ...
CAVALIER CHEST	12/27/2007
Q: DO YOU KNOW THE AGE OF A CAVALIER CHEST (HAS SER # 2979 AND PATENT X51 STAMPED ON BOTTOM OF CHEST. ... A: Nice to hear from you Dale in the following site is everything that is known about these old chests. ...
removing a damaged desktop	12/27/2007
Q: My son purchased an antique business type desk that has a badly damaged top. The top is a hard black ... A: Nice to hear from you. This may sound funny Dale, but the only way I know of to remove a slate top ...
antique name	12/24/2007
Q: I recently purchased an antique bedroom set for my daughter and the lady told me it was called a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Well the lady was close I believe. A "waterfall" design describes the edges ...
Gothic Chair?	12/22/2007
Q: I bought this chair recently, it has two casters in the front, and is carved with different types of ... A: The dust will be mostly in the stuffing. A shop can advise on a hypo allergic filling. Leather I ...
Antique china cabinet	12/20/2007
Q: I just inherited a china cabinet that belonged originally to my great-grandmother (1920s-30s). On ... A: Nice to hear from you. The repairs will have to be made. This is a must. And all repairs are made ...
Gothic Chair?	12/20/2007
Q: I bought this chair recently, it has two casters in the front, and is carved with different types of ... A: Fred Taylor was kind enough to contact me after seeing our correspondance about your chair. Fred is ...
1906 thomasville china cabinet	12/15/2007
Q: I have this 101 year old china cabinet that has some wood work over the glass that has chipped in ... A: Nice to hear from you. Less is best here Sandy. From your picture I see nothing significant that ...
burn in a 50" walnut veneer dining table	12/13/2007
Q: I would love to save my dining room table - a great consignment find. A candle tipped over and the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Gosh I'm sorry this has happened. But it could have been worse as they say. ...
RE: Barrister bookcase (again)	12/13/2007
Q: I wasn't able to ask a follow-up to your last response, so I am going to cheat and do it here. Some ... A: Your doing just fine. Yes I consider this porous wood. In this case I do not see it as a worry, but ...
RE: Barrister bookcase	12/12/2007
Q: I collect first editions and bought an old 4 component Macey Barrister bookcase, as I wanted to ... A: This is so interesting. Now funny enough I agree with all the above statements. Now I've got you ...
RE: Barrister bookcase	12/11/2007
Q: I collect first editions and bought an old 4 component Macey Barrister bookcase, as I wanted to ... A: Many thanks for the article. I read about 3/4 of the testimonials. Each and everyone I read says ...
rway dining chairs	12/11/2007
Q: I am refinishing and reupholstering my grandmothers 4 danish modern 1950 rway mahogony chairs. A ... A: Nice to hear from you. There will be dowels that hold the side pieces to the back/leg section. ...
RE: Barrister bookcase	12/10/2007
Q: I collect first editions and bought an old 4 component Macey Barrister bookcase, as I wanted to ... A: Nice to hear from you. I wish you would send me the links where you read about this...I just do not ...
1939/40 Lane Cedar Blanket Chest	11/28/2007
Q: I inherited my Mother's Walnut veneer solid walnut blanket chest she received from my Grandmother as ... A: Nice to hear from you. So sorry this has happened to your cedar chest. You can contact Lane directly ...
cavalier hope chest	11/26/2007
Q: I have a cavalier hope chest and it was my grandmothers. It has the numbers 85 - wal and the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Robert I love these old cedar chests. I think of all the old things I have ...
Diningroom set	11/26/2007
Q: I am selling a diningroom set and was wondering if I should advertise it as an antique or not.It was ... A: Nice to hear from you. Absolutely advertise this as an antique. The set is close to 80 years old. ...
Jamestown Table Company	11/24/2007
Q: I have a dining room set from this company. The set included an oval table with two leafs, six ... A: Nice to hear from you. Well from the picture, it looks like she applied stain as well as varnish, or ...
early childs rocker	11/24/2007
Q: I hope you can help me with this chair. My mother has had it on back porch for the last few years, ... A: Nice to hear from you. Well this certainly looks like a lambing chair. Its obviously a small scale ...
Old Solid Wood Coffee Table	11/22/2007
Q: I have just purchased an old, solid wood coffee table that I would like to know more about. It ... A: Nice to hear from you. What an interesting find. By your description of the wood, it could be red ...
Restore Rocking Chair	11/17/2007
Q: Where do I start?? I want to re-do this chair for my Mom I know I need to clean it 1st, do I use ... A: Can you scrape this off with your fingernail? It does not take a lot of pressure to do this. ...
removing veneer	11/14/2007
Q: I have several old family bureaus that are veneered, and I am hoping that if I remove the veneer, I ... A: Nice to hear from you. This gadget you mention should certainly remove veneer. I use an old iron set ...
Restore Rocking Chair	11/13/2007
Q: Where do I start?? I want to re-do this chair for my Mom I know I need to clean it 1st, do I use ... A: Nice to hear from you. From the photo, the chair does not look heavily soiled. You know that type of ...
Lane chest	11/9/2007
Q: I have older model chest given to me. It has a strong musty odor to it. I've tried just airing it ... A: Nice to hear from you. How well I know this smell. First I would wipe the interior with a mild ...
Identification?	11/9/2007
Q: We would love to know what this is. The smaller vertical arms have slots where a missing horizontal ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a bit out of my line Nancy, but I'll tell you what I ...
Old chairs	11/9/2007
Q: I have 4 old chairs that we bought,stripped,sanded,stained and finished. ( You can see the pic. ) ... A: Nice to hear from you. Ruben you did the right thing if you are happy with these lovely chairs and ...
question	11/9/2007
Q: I have a great old wood door that was stored in a shed for about 75 years-- it has some detail on ... A: The doors sounds lovely. I was just thinking that the Murphys could leave a residue that could ...
Lane furnishings	11/8/2007
Q: Okay it is to my understanding the only collectable lane furniture products where the chests they ... A: Nice to hear from you. Well my understanding is that Lane made only chests until 1951. Then they ...
Antique crib	11/7/2007
Q: I am looking to sell my antique crib and would like to know how to go about it. Who would I contact ... A: Nice to hear from you. Cindy I am up in Canada where its illegal to sell these cribs so I cannot ...
Northern Furniture Company Dresser	11/7/2007
Q: Cronk, I recently acquired a dresser made by the Northern Furniture Company in Sheboygan WI. The ... A: Nice to hear from you I think your guess is a good one, but thats only my guess LOL. That aside, My ...
question	11/7/2007
Q: I have a great old wood door that was stored in a shed for about 75 years-- it has some detail on ... A: Nice to hear from you. You went through the question process just fine Barb. I know it can be a bit ...
Rope Seat Chair Restoration	11/7/2007
Q: Can you give me any advice on how to restore a wooden chair that has a rope or twine seat? The rope ... A: Nice to hear from you. Its usually clear shellac thats applied to these seats Kris. And you can give ...
Cleaning old gilt	11/5/2007
Q: I have an old mirror framed with velvet and gold gilt frame with ornate gewgaws at each corner and ... A: Nice to hear from you. Dip a Q-tip (those ear cleaning things) in rubbing alcohol. This will get in ...
dining table chairs	11/3/2007
Q: i have an older mahogany dining table whose chir backs consist of three identical pieces of veneer ... A: Nice to hear from you. The chair back inserts are made of various layers of wood as you say. I think ...
Removing mouse odors ect.. from wood	10/29/2007
Q: We are going to refurnish a dresser that has been sitting in a barn (not covered). Is there any way ... A: Good question and I appreciate where you are coming from as I have a family member highly allergic ...
seat spring	10/27/2007
Q: My grand father broke a flat spring in the seat of his favorite (old) chair. Where can I get a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Any upholstery shop will supply you with a replacement Greg. Take the broken ...
history of furniture maker	10/25/2007
Q: IHAVE A DINING SET THAT IS A DINING TABLE,A BUFFET,ALSO A CHINA CABINET MADE BY R-WAY NORTHERN ... A: Nice to hear from you. It appears Pam that the "r-ray" in the name did not come about until 1949 so ...
wooden piece	10/23/2007
Q: I found and old piece of furniture and I'm first, not sure what it is called. Second, not sure how ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sounds to me like you have aquired a hall tree although I have never seen one ...
faded Duncan Phyfe dining table top	10/20/2007
Q: I inherited a nice but very sun faded, Duncan Phyfe table. The wood is in good shape and the leaf ... A: First I am sorry your answer is late, but the high winds here knocked out my internet..gosh you sure ...
Spiesz walnut dining suite	10/19/2007
Q: Eileen: This is not a request for an appraisal. I am the manager of The Salvation Army Oshawa (ON) ... A: Just got an email from another expert on our site regarding the Spiesz furniture Co. Here is Fred ...
Refinishing bookcases	10/18/2007
Q: I am refinishing a Globe Wernicke bookcase. It had been previously refinished a dark stain and a ... A: Nice to hear from you. You do not need to do anything before staining. And never sand. You ask the ...
old globe map	10/13/2007
Q: wondering if you could help me. A nabour gave me a globe that was standing outside in rain and wind. ... A: Nice to hear from you. What a wonderful project this will be. I found a huge amount of sites that ...
Lane cedar hope chest	10/12/2007
Q: The chest I have is old (although I'm not sure how old), I just got it and I want to "clean" it up ... A: Nice to hear from you. First give the chest a good cleaning. I like to use super fine steel wool ...
bathroom vanity finish	10/7/2007
Q: I have an antique sideboard that I want to use as a vanity. Whhat should I use to finish/refinish ... A: Just a PS here Don. Look into a product called Durathane by Minwax. This is made for hardwood ...
small 4 draw chest one swing out draw	10/7/2007
Q: i was wondering how to restore,made out of maple,not sure the use of the small chest,but it is very ... A: Nice to hear from you. It will depend on the degree of dirt as to what you use to clean this Nancy, ...
end table	10/5/2007
Q: I just picked this up at a flea market and was curious about anything you could tell me about it. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sure I can tell you something about this table. It appears to have a veneer ...
cedar chest	10/2/2007
Q: I'm refinishing a Caswell-Runyun "Treasure Chest". The cedar inside is in good shape, but I would ... A: Nice to hear from you. This felt is usually glued on and is miserable stuff to get off. Most fabric ...
vintage bookcase	9/29/2007
Q: Would it be feasable that a 1930ish 2 glass door, walnut bookcase, would have a piece of walnut ... A: Congratulations on getting the "bug". As you say fixing old things is indeed very satisfying. And I ...
vintage bookcase	9/28/2007
Q: Would it be feasable that a 1930ish 2 glass door, walnut bookcase, would have a piece of walnut ... A: Nice to hear from you. Penny I think the stuff you are seeing is called masonite. Today we would ...
murphy bed	9/28/2007
Q: ..I have purchased an antique murphy bed or bed in a cabinet. It is a beautiful piece that opens in ... A: Sorry you are having such a time finding this piece. I just done a bit of searching ...
stripping jenny lind baby bed	9/24/2007
Q: I sent you a question before about the 33 year old Jenny Lind baby bed I have been trying to strip. ... A: Sorry about the mixup. Its possibly lacquer on the bed Debbie, and in most cases (not all) Circa ...
cedar chest problem	9/24/2007
Q: i have inherited a cedar chest that really smells like moth balls or something inside. is there any ... A: Nice to hear from you. Oh my gosh, moth ball smell is awful to get out. The idea of a cedar chest is ...
Secretary side-by-side	9/23/2007
Q: I have a side-by-side secretary desk..one half with shelves with a glass side and glass door. The ... A: Nice to hear from you. If I had these pieces in my shop I could figure out how it went together but ...
antique wood angel wings	9/22/2007
Q: One of the wings have allot of gold leafing...the other does not. I would like to remove the gold ... A: Nice to hear from you. In all my years I have never removed real gold leafing, but I suspect it can ...
cigerette smell	9/20/2007
Q: I was wondering if you know of a product or method to get the smell of cigarette smoke out of hard ... A: Nice to hear from you. Perhaps they make a product specifically for this but I do not know. I use a ...
refinishing a Cushman three-legged table	9/20/2007
Q: I recently inherited a small, three-legged Cushman table with a large area of water damage on the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Absolutely this table needs refinishing. Hopefully the water damage has not ...
Refinishing a Lane Cedar Chest	9/20/2007
Q: Eileen! I'm new to the site, but excited to find you! I, like many others, have inherited an old ... A: Nice to hear from you. These old cedar chests are one of my favorite furniture items. I too used to ...
hoosier type cabinet	9/19/2007
Q: We've acquired a hoosier type top separate from a hoosier type bottom and I'm having trouble dating ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a bit out of my line, but a quick search found thousands of sites ...
cleaning a duncan phyfe table	9/3/2007
Q: I just purchased a 1940's Duncan Phyfe table and side board. What do you recommend me clean/ dust ... A: Nice to hear from you. Cleaning and dusting are two entirely different things to me LOL. And the ...
veneer on a Duncan Phyfe table	9/2/2007
Q: I just bought a Duncan Phyfe table and two chairs at an auction. On the table top where the two ... A: Nice to hear from you. This type of repair on a veneer top will require a pro to fix. Yes it can be ...
pressed tin pulls on an antique oak dresser	9/2/2007
Q: i am looking for a replacement for a pressed tin drawer pull on an antique oak dresser. the tin is ... A: Nice to hear from you. Try this site. http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/53/ Perhaps what you are ...
roll top desk repair	9/1/2007
Q: ! I read how to repair the desk top but would like to know where to purchase the canvas for the top ... A: Great question and one no one has asked before. I am in Canada and we have a chain called "Fabric ...
Hexagon Table	8/31/2007
Q: I've inherited a hexagon side table that was my grand moms - her husband inscribed underneath that ... A: This is so much fun. I love mysteries. Heres what I could find on this Flemish Art which is what the ...
Jenny Lind Baby Bed	8/31/2007
Q: I sent a message a few days ago and have not heard back from you. My sister's grandson is here ... A: Nice to hear from you. I apologise for the delay, but I think it must have been a problem with the ...
Hexagon Table	8/30/2007
Q: I've inherited a hexagon side table that was my grand moms - her husband inscribed underneath that ... A: Nice to hear from you. Just saw the pictures. Have absolutely no idea what this table is, its age, ...
Thank You	8/29/2007
Q: I would like to thank you so much for your time and response to my email about my cedar chest. I ... A: It makes this job worthwhile to know I helped. If you are willing to remove the back, or backs of ...
Thye Larkin Company	8/29/2007
Q: I recently received a desk which has a label on the back of it that reads Factory No. 2 - The Larkin ... A: Nice to hear from you. This turned out to be a very interesting question for me and I learned ...
rolled edge 1920-1940s desk - style?	8/27/2007
Q: i've got a rolled edge desk, veneer (walnut??) on the whole thing. looks a little deco-ish. how ... A: Nice to hear from you. This rolled edge is called a waterfall edge. I have seen the edge in solid ...
Repairing an iron bed	8/27/2007
Q: I was putting together my iron bed and while hammering the rails into the slots-it's the reverse ... A: Nice to hear from you. Sorry there are no other choices for a fix, but cast can certainly be welded. ...
A.H. Stiehl Furniture bedroom set	8/25/2007
Q: I have a set of bedroom furniture (nightstand, dresser, desk & bench) that I would like to know more ... A: Nice to hear from you. I believe this was a high end furniture company. I recall a similar question ...
Roll Top Desk	8/25/2007
Q: I am getting around to sprucing up a 1910s C roll desk that I've owned for 30 years now. On the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Leanard what you are describing certainly makes sense. I personally have ...
old dresser	8/25/2007
Q: I have a dresser with the name of united furniture manufacturing etawah, tenn. on the back. it has a ... A: Nice to hear from you. If the veneer is missing, you cannot fix it yourself. If the veneer is still ...
Lane Cedar Chest	8/22/2007
Q: I bought a very old Lane Cedar chest with a date inside of Nov. 12,1929, for my daughter, it is ... A: Nice to hear from you. Gosh I hate it when people plaster paint on these lovely old pieces. Sounds ...
small folding table question	8/22/2007
Q: I found a lovely, two shelf folding table the other day that was labeled "duncan phyfe". It does ... A: Nice to hear from you. Your table will not be a real Duncan Phyfe. Duncan Phyfe was born in 1768 and ...
icebox	8/20/2007
Q: i have an old "coolerator" icebox. Everything on it is wood, including the original wooden handle. ... A: I saw it. Well in all my years this is a first for me. Never imagined that such a thing was ever ...
icebox "coolerator"	8/19/2007
Q: i have an old "coolerator" icebox. Everything on it is wood, including the original wooden handle. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Have you considered selling the icebox on e-bay? You could really hype up the ...
Replacing slats on a roll top desk	8/19/2007
Q: My girlfriend and I decided it would be a great idea to put her computer inside her grandfathers ... A: Nice to hear from you. When I read your letter I laughed Jason...this is so funny. But to get you ...
Lycoming Furn. Ind	8/18/2007
Q: I would a little info on a desk that I have. It has item # 7110-823-6972 on the bottom, also ... A: Nice to hear from you. Not much anyone can tell you about your desk Ty except it was made in ...
antique piano - refinish?	8/15/2007
Q: I purchased an upright piano that is nearly 100 years old. The finish is stained, scratched and ... A: Nice to hear from you. This is a great topic. By all means go ahead and refinish your piano, but ...
repairing a china cupboard	8/15/2007
Q: I have an old china cupboard that has broken latches. Years ago someone put a piece of wood at the ... A: Nice to hear from you. Gloria I like those magnetic door closers. They are available at Home depot ...
roll top desk tambour	8/15/2007
Q: In the process of moving my granddad's roll top desk, something happened and the tambour will only ... A: Nice to hear from you. Just make sure its not the door that has come out of square. If its angled at ...
smelly cedar chest	8/13/2007
Q: I cleaned out an old warehouse and came across this wonderful old cedar chest. The only problem is ... A: Nice to hear from you. Isn't it great to come accross these finds? Its certainly better that avon ...
Taking scratches out of a desk	8/13/2007
Q: I was at a tag sale this past weekend and came across a lovely desk that was reasonably priced, ... A: Nice to hear from you. There are no other options but sanding for these deep scratches. I have in ...
Kling dresser	8/11/2007
Q: I have a 1961 model kling dresser. It has been in storage for years and now I want to use it again. ... A: Nice to hear from you. I hope you can get this product in your area. http://www.drwoodwell.com/ I ...
pressed fiber seat replacement	8/10/2007
Q: I have a rocking chair that needs a fiber seat replaced. The hole measures 10" square and outer edge ... A: It would look better if the pattern was inside the hole. As the chair is sat in the seat does tend ...
pressed fiber seat replacement	8/10/2007
Q: I have a rocking chair that needs a fiber seat replaced. The hole measures 10" square and outer edge ... A: Nice to hear from you. I am a little confused here Gail so help me out LOL Do you mean a leather ...
Bookcase needs glass replacement	8/9/2007
Q: How would I go about having several panes of glass replaced in our Gustave Stickley (it has been ... A: Nice to hear from you. Believe it or not, old glass can be purchased at those places that sell demo ...
Penn table	8/4/2007
Q: I have one of the old Penn small dining tables. I cannot get it to open up so the leaf can be used. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Audrey when you look under the table top and see nothing at all, that should ...
globe-wernicke barrister bookcase	8/2/2007
Q: I have two sets of C-11 grade 198 Globe-Wernicke Co. barrister bookcases. There appears to be a ... A: Nice to hear from you. Its been a while since I worked on a set of these and if memory serves, they ...
flemish art co. of new york	8/1/2007
Q: I have an oval wooden carved picture of roses in a vase, approximately 18 inches by 12 inches. It ... A: Nice to hear from you. Shirley I have had several inquiries about this art and I just cannot find ...
maddux secretaries desk	7/30/2007
Q: I'm a painting contractor of 20 years. I recently started restoring and refinishing quality used ... A: Martin Nice to hear from you. Without seeing this desk Martin, I cannot comment on its age, and the ...
French farm table	7/29/2007
Q: I have a beautiful french farm table which I used for many years with some small Windsor chairs. As ... A: I just measured my table to be certain...its old too. I have 25 1/2 inches from the floor to where ...
Old Barton Table that has beeneither Painted or Antiqed Green	7/27/2007
Q: My Aunt Passed away and I was Lucky enough to get all of her Antiques, She was like a Mother to me. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Here is another question to fellow expert Mr. Fred Taylor who tells us about ...
French farm table	7/27/2007
Q: I have a beautiful french farm table which I used for many years with some small Windsor chairs. As ... A: Nice to hear from you. All eating tables are 29 or 30 inches high from floor to top of table. Chairs ...
Governor Winthrop Slant Front Desk	7/24/2007
Q: We have a Governor Winthrop desk (circa 1930) that is structurally sound but needs refinishing. ... A: Nice to hear from you. Barb while I always try to encourage folks to spread their wings and do their ...
Restoring a Cedar Chest	7/24/2007