Do all roll top desks come apart?
A rolltop desk has a wide variety of moving parts including the drawers and the actual roll top cover. Separate your roll top desk into sections (if applicable). If your roll top desk is a model that comes apart in two pieces (a bottom half and a top half), separate the two sections before attempting to move.
How do you break into a roll-top desk?
How to Unlock an Antique Rolltop Desk
- Unbend one metal paperclip, turning it into a long, thin tool for picking your desk lock.
- Slide your paperclip back into the lock, running it across the top of the lock.
- Push a second paperclip or a screwdriver into the lock.
- Insert your paperclip back into the lock.
How do you fix a stuck roll-top desk?
Rub a bar of soap or a candle inside the grove that the slats roll up & down in then open & shut the desk 5 or 10 times. I’ve tried wax and wd40. Wax worked the best, but it still sticks.
When did the Leopold Desk Company start making desks?
As a young man in high school, (1958), my high school wood shop class had a tour of the Leopold production plant. I will always remember the large presses that pressed the desk tops and legs to make very solid surfaces.
How much does a Leopold Desk cost per day?
That would be about 125 desks per day. These numbers are from a reported meeting of Leopold executives at the Lions club meeting honoring local industries. If you use these numbers, a desk cost $ 1,000. These desks would be the executive desk as shown in the photo above.
When did the Leopold Desk Company in Burlington Iowa close?
Due to mounting losses, the Joyce company closed Leopold on March 3rd, 1990, a tragic loss to hand-crafted desks. Today, technology driven, automated manufacturing, laminated based plastic desks are what you can expect. Hold on to your Leopold desks and a piece of Burlington, Iowa history!
What kind of wood was used to make a desk top?
I will always remember the large presses that pressed the desk tops and legs to make very solid surfaces. Desk top stock was pressed from 2 inch sheets down to 1 inch, while legs were pressed from 3 inch sheets to 2 inch stock. The results from this process is called densified wood.
As a young man in high school, (1958), my high school wood shop class had a tour of the Leopold production plant. I will always remember the large presses that pressed the desk tops and legs to make very solid surfaces.
When did the roll top desk come into existence?
Roll-top desks came into existence in the United States during the latter part of the 19th century. Each desk featured a rolling door that slid up and down to reveal or conceal built-in pigeonholes, shelves and a flat writing surface.
Due to mounting losses, the Joyce company closed Leopold on March 3rd, 1990, a tragic loss to hand-crafted desks. Today, technology driven, automated manufacturing, laminated based plastic desks are what you can expect. Hold on to your Leopold desks and a piece of Burlington, Iowa history!
How to determine the age of an antique roll top desk?
Trustworthy resources can help confirm your age calculations. Take a good look at the type of wood the roll-top desk is made of to help you determine its age. The early roll-top desks were typically constructed from cherry, mahogany or black walnut, while oak was often used after 1900.
