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How much is my roll top desk worth?
Factors Affecting Roll Top Desk Value Age – Older desks in will be worth more, generally, than similar newer desks in the same condition. Look at the way the drawers are put together. Large hand cut dovetail joints will indicate the piece is older than if the dovetails are small and uniformly cut by machine.
Is there a market for roll top desks?
Roll top desks commanded premium prices from the 1950s through the end of the 1970s. By the 1980s, roll top desks lost favor. Today, the market is off by 50 to 60 percent from its high. Roll top desks are a challenge in the age of desktop computers.
How much does a desk cost?
The materials, size, functionality, and finish options available on office desks result in a price range that varies from about $78 to as high as $7,200. Most office desks would fall somewhere in the $285 – $1.200 range.
How do I buy a desk?
Before buying a desk, measure the size of your work area. Allow 3.5-to-4-feet of space behind the desk so you have room to move, and between the desk and credenza, if using one. Allow 3 feet for door swings and 3 feet to at least one side of your desk, allowing you to walk to your desk chair comfortably.
How do I know if my roll top desk is an antique?
Check the desk for original locks stamped with a turn-of-the-century manufacturer’s name, such as Derby Desk Company, Schlicht Area Company, Shannon File Company or Cutler Desk Company. You might also find the name of the manufacturer underneath the desk, which could even include the date the piece was manufactured.
How can you tell the age of a roll top desk?
Double-check the knee-hole, both sides of the bottom of the main drawer and the back of both the desk and its top. Finding a label lets you confirm age from a commercial history.
Are roll top desks out of style?
Like many pieces of furniture, the roll top has waxed and waned in popularity. Now we find we are using less paper due to the computer age and the desk is gaining in popularity. Modern versions tend to have all the connections necessary for your computer plus a place to lock it up.
Why are roll top desks so expensive?
Because it was produced in vast numbers and at varying levels of quality, the rolltop desk is popular in the antique market. It is usually expensive especially if the wood used is expensive. It is also popular amongst set decorators who want to recreate the ambience of an office of the late 19th or early 20th century.
Are vintage school desks worth anything?
Most antique iron school desks are worth from about $75 on up. An iron desk with lots of scrollwork might go for $275 depending on the venue. Of course, there are rare and unusual desks that could sell for much more.
What is the average cost of an office desk?
Office Computer Desk Average Costs Most computer office desks cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000. The price depends on the quality of materials, size, and the configuration. A Bestar Hamilton laminate corner computer desk with a slide-out keyboard tray retails for $350 to $500.
What is an expensive desk?
The world’s most expensive desk was constructed from six different types of exotic woods as well as a custom cast piece of glass. The desk took five months to build and was made specifically for Parnian’s North Scottsdale, Arizona showroom.
What is the average of a computer desk?
Computer Desks A standard computer desk size is 50×25 inches. The depth of the computer desk needs to be large enough to fit a keyboard and monitor. These space-saving desks are usually in home offices, libraries, and study rooms.
What should I look for when buying a desk?
List of 6 Useful Points You Need to Know Before Buying the Top Rated Office Furniture Always keep spacing constraints in mind. Office furniture should be suitable for your needs. Always take into account the Comfort Quotient. Budget is of supreme importance. Chairs: The backbone of an Office.
How do I choose a desk size?
Desk Dimensions To find out how tall a desk should be to best suit your height and improve your posture, divide your height by 2.5. If you want to be able to adjust the height of your desk or if you prefer standing while you work, check out our selection of height-adjustable and fixed standing desks.
What should I look for in an office desk?
Qualities to Look for in an Office Desk The right desk can improve your overall feeling about work dramatically. Qualities to look for in an office desk include comfort as well as ergonomics. A desk needs to have enough space to accommodate documents, a computer, and also drawers.
How do I age my desk?
How to Determine the Age of Antique Furniture Look Past the Style of a Piece. Examine Bottoms, Insides, and Backs. Check for Perfectly Matching Elements. Try to Figure Out What Tools Were Used. Look at the Wood and Upholstery Fabric. Investigate the Screws and Other Hardware.
How much does an antique roll top desk weigh?
Weight: 175 lbs.
When were oak roll top desks made?
In 1850 Abner Cutler, owner of Cutler Desk Company, patented the roll top desk.
How do I know if my secretary desk is antique?
Five Ways to Tell If Furniture Is Actually Antique Look for dovetailing. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Beware of furniture that’s made to look old. Do a thorough search for labels or stamps. Shut out symmetry.
What was the roll top desk made of?
The roll top desk gets its name because the desktop surface and the nooks and compartments can be covered thanks to a tambour that rolls in and out of a storage slot. The tambour is a series of wooden slats linked together, an element partially inspired by the cylinder desks of the eighteenth century.
What was the purpose of a roll-top desk?
Rolltop desks first appeared in offices during the nineteenth century, along with rise of the merchant class. They were designed specifically for clerks and businesspeople who needed a way to organize the ledgers, correspondence and other paperwork associated with operating a small business.
What had damaged the roll-top desk?
Fire and water had damaged the desk before the author found it and bought it.
