What might this wood desk be made of?

[EricU]

We have a very similar desk.  I have never figured out what wood it is, but when the movers broke it and we had it repaired, the repair shop used walnut and it matches really well. Our desk grew up in Ohio

[MarkSingleton]

I have little information about the desk. The lady I bought it from told me I am now the fourth owner.

She bought it locally from a man who had in turn bought it from a man who said that it had been built
by his grandfather. He recalled playing underneath it as a young boy.

There are NO factory marks or other markings that I have found other than a few pencil markings,
probably from assembly.

Took some pics tonight and will be posting them below.

Previous shots are from the original craigslist ad


I hope!

   

   

   

   

[MarkSingleton]

A few more.  A pic of a drawer was requested above. Perhaps this will work.

   

   

[Gary G™]

Given your locale, I would suspect it’s Clark Walnut.

Beautiful desk.

[mound]

Just purchased a wonderful antique desk for my office.  Going to need some fix up, but 
soon it will grace my office and I will be enjoying WoodNet while seated at it.

I am the fourth owner, or so the lady I bought it from said. The story is the man she bought
it from, had in turn bought it from the grandson of the man who built it. He recalled playing
underneath it as a small boy.

I think it  is at least a hundred year old. Maybe more. The top is needing a new leather insert.

My question is, what is this wood?  Seller had no idea.  I don't have a guess at this point.


Pics for the brain trust:

Nice desk! My first thought was Walnut

[Hank Knight]

Looks like elm to me.

[bargrove]

I think it is Rosewood.  Solid and veneer.
johnbarfielddesign.com

[Phil S.]

I wonder what the purpose is for the section with the tall vertical dividers?

[iclark]

I wonder what the purpose is for the section with the tall vertical dividers?

Those look to be about the right size for the old-fashioned ledger books.

[MarkSingleton]

Thanks for all the replies!

I am going to call it walnut at least until proven to be something else.
The other walnut I have in stock looks very similar to it. The link given
above referencing Claro Walnut seems to back that up.

Here in the west, at least in my limited experience, we just don't find
desks like this very often. I am tending to believe that it was made here
in California/Oregon/Washington close to the source of the wood.

Spent a bit of time today wiping it down, etc. Still no identifying marks
of any kind.  Internet searches show similar desks, right down to the
double pulls on the drawers.  Perhaps made from plans, years ago?
Long lost factory decal/label? Will likely never know for sure.

The vertical slots in the bottom right door-compartment seem as if they
are indeed designed to hold old ledgers. This would be in the days before
filing cabinets and file folders were invented, I think.

It is on wheels. I intend to turn it upside down or at least on edge, and
see what kind of shape they are in.  May keep them, replace them, or
perhaps do away with them entirely. Not sure at this point.

It is solidly built but there are some weaker areas. The wheels for instance
don't seem to have much support structure. Gotta look into that.

Purposely did not show you guys the 'field' of the top that will be replaced.
Ugh.  I will be looking into a furniture "pro" here locally who can put the
correct leather insert in place. It deserves it. The lady I bought it from was
using the green "pleather" seen above. I toyed with the idea of cutting it
to fit and gluing it down.  No.  Fine leather work is the way to go.

Whoever built it, he did a fine job. I am tickled to have it and intend to take
very good care of it for the next owners.


"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them."
       
          D.H.   Lawrence