Gentleman's Writing Slope (S. Neaverson. 1886)

[Shangas]

Yesterday's flea market find:

Original owner + date of purchase/commemoration.

Unsharpened woodcase pencil. Original to the box. Ivory page-turner (my addition). Sterling silver dip pen. S. Mordan & Co. (my addition).

The key in the pen tray, I cut and filed that myself. Very proud of my efforts! Works perfectly.

Closeup, showing compartments for papers etc. This whole top panel folds into the lid and locks into place when the box is closed. It pops out like this at the press of a spring-loaded catch at the back of the lid. Very nifty.

Top and bottom writing-leaves open and shut smoothly. No damage. The inkwell in the top right corner is original to the box. It was one of the factors that pushed me towards buying the box. Finding original inkwells is damn hard.

Full writing slope. There is some black adhesive tape across the fold in the box to reinforce the hinge (not my doing). other than that, the box is in great condition and fully functional.

The key I cut for the lock. It's a warded one-lever lock, which is reflected in the shape of the key. The notch in the head is to bypass the ward.

[my63]

Shangas that is a stunning box I am jealous I have been searching for one of those for some time now.

[inkypete]

What a find! Beautiful piece of history. Thanks for sharing.

[Maurizio]

Yes, that's a beautiful and interesting artifact.

 

Thank you for sharing it.

[alexander_k]

Lovely - the perfect companion on a long holiday.

[Shangas]

The box has been fully sorted out, now:

The hinge was starting to pull apart, so I reinforced it with black adhesive tape, and then sewed the inside and outside hinges together to give them extra strength.

 

I blacked the leather and cleaned it up with shoe-polish. I also hammered on a new, slightly-aged brass escutcheon, to go with the brass handle at the top of the box.

 

...and Open...

 

 

Not bad for something that's 130 years old, hey?

[pen2paper]

So glad for you! since you deeply appreciate these useful history objects.

Looks Great too!

 

Was musing the tape reenforcement, clearly functional, doesn't look bad at all, from a monitor.. just thinking since you do prefer as close to original as possible, might those here who've also been working on handcrafted restorations, such as Michael's, and TM Lee's, whether the hinge might be restored to the correct material for the period using a collaboration of their early hand techniques? It might have been thin flexible leather, or a combo of pasted paperboard layers with top cover.

 

Just a thought. It's certain a find As Is. Thanks for sharing! (always exciting finds).

[Shangas]

Absolutely impossible.

 

You'd have to take off ALL THE LEATHER and recover the ENTIRE BOX. it's not worth it. The cost would be prohibitively high.

[pen2paper]

never mind.

 

it's gorgeous, as is : )

[Shangas]

It would be absolutely impossible to return the box to its original as-new condition. These things were covered in big, pre-cut, continuous sheets of leather. To do it over again, you'd have to strip back ALL the leather and recover it ALL over again. You'd have to re-sew and re-glue all the hinges - not just that one - but the hinges for the two writing leaves as well - inside and out. Up and down. To say nothing of all the border-trim, the interior lining and the exterior leather.

 

For the time and effort and cost that would take, it would be easier to build an entirely new box. I wouldn't know any restorer who would bother with it.

 

It's the only way you could do it. That's how these boxes were made.

 

Re-lining a wooden box with a new leather writing-surface is possible (I've done it myself), but it's tricky. It requires precise measurements and cuts, and extensive gluing. The ONLY thing holding the leaves onto the box is the fabric hinge. Screw that up, and the entire box is a waste. You have to rip the WHOLE thing apart and start again from scratch.

 

That's why these boxes are so expensive. Because the effort used to make them is something that most people these days just can't comprehend. It was real craftsmanship.

[scrivelry]

Eh, I should only survive to 130 and look that good doing it!

 

I am so happy that this ended up in your hands - you really appreciate these things and it has found a good home.

 

The ones in my basement waiting for my attention are probably crying tiny tears...