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School Desk Restoration

  • 02-05-2013 9:24am
    #1
    markens2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 265 ✭✭


    Not sure this is the right forum.

    I'm teaching in a primary school and we recently came across an old fashioned school desk. The kids were amazed by it and we have set about sanding it and varnishing it. It is in excellent condition. It must have been made to last.

    From a small bit of research we think it is in or around 100 years old.

    The problem we have is that the brass cover for one of the inkwells is missing.

    Now we are not sure if we could buy another one or if somebody out there could make one.

    As well as that we are wondering if they would have had special ink wells for it or would there have been a one size fits all solution.

    We are planning on running a history in action project where by the kids will be given a chance to write with old style pens and ink. If anybody knows of an old handwriting book that we could copy from that would be great too.

    Thanks for all the help.


Comments

  • #2
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    Try ebay for the inkwells, I think they were all standard little white ceramic things. They were nearly all gone by the time I was in school but I think I may have robbed one of the last ones, think there was a bit chipped off it but I'd probably never find it in a million years now.

    They looked like this, without lettering...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARNOLD-LEEDS-transfered-school-desk-inkwell-/121102884978?pt=UK_Collectables_Bottle_Pots_ET&hash=item1c324b6072
    Might want to check diameter to make sure they fit in your desk.

    The sliding covers were mostly gone as well, though someone in a small engineering workshop or a hobbyist could make one from a piece of flat brass I'd imagine.


  • #3
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,702 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    gobnaitolunacy wrote: »
    Try ebay for the inkwells, I think they were all standard little white ceramic things. They were nearly all gone by the time I was in school but I think I may have robbed one of the last ones, think there was a bit chipped off it but I'd probably never find it in a million years now.

    There was also a black bakelite inkwell with a narrow circular opening for the nib, made it easier to avoid spills when you took it out though it was easier to spill the ink when you were filling it!

    inkwellschooldesk2.jpg

    The picture above is from this website where they are selling them...

    http://www.paperandplastics.co.uk/plastics/iteminkwellschooldesk.php


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