Old Rolltop Desk

[jyl]

Bought this for $300 and just brought it home. 65" wide, 34" deep, "Crocker San Francisco", oak, worn but eveything intact and working. Drawers lock shut when top is closed.

Any sense of age and value?

[fanaudical]

No, but very nice piece of furniture.

[JackDidley]

That is cooool. For no reason, I have always wanted a nice roll top. Last winter I was visiting some old friends. The guys wife likes to go to resale shops so I asked her to keep an eye out for a desk. She says, "like this ?" and shows a pic on her phone. I said, exactly. She said, its yours. She had bought it 20+ years ago, passed it to a sister who passed it to her mom who was done with it. It was about to go to the consignment shop. They refused payment and delivered it. Great. Not a true antique like yours but very nice. Something about the roll top is just neat. An invention that stands the test of time.

[jyl]

Photos of dovetails, desktop, upper shelf. Dovetails aren't perfectly regular but not obviously hand cut either. Some drawer bottoms are solid, others are plywood or a veneer. desktop looks solid, upper looks veneered. slot in desktop for the tambour is handcut. tambour is not linen backed. I'm going to guess early 1900s, about 90-100 years old, and not particularly valuable. I found a very similar desk, also marked "H.S. Crocker", with the same legs (I like that its not a pedestal), that sold in 2013 for $170. Bummer. But that was when the economy sucked.

[jyl]

poor thing is drinking oil, hasn't been oiled for many decades I expect. Estate sale. I know the daughter so maybe I'll learn more about the desk or her dad.

desk is going to live in the foyer where you see it, as a writing desk, a place to use a laptop, a place to set your phone, etc. son wants to do his homework there. can't be a home office desk because can't fit monitors.

[Heel n Toe]

Beautiful. Love everything about it, especially the fact that with a piece like that, one doesn't have to obsess over minor bumps, scratches, spills, etc. They almost improve it. Really cool that it's on casters.

Great find... enjoy using it. Figuring out the value would be the last thing I'd be curious about, because I'd never even think of selling it.

[jyl]

H S Crocker was apparently founded in San Francisco about 1880 (edit: not 1980!), sold furniture and stationary, especially to the legal community. Company was sold in the 1970s. This desk was owned by a railroad man who died this year aged about 90. It may have been his work desk.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by jyl

H S Crocker was apparently founded in San Francisco about 1980, sold furniture and stationary, especially to the legal community. Company was sold in the 1970s. This desk was owned by a railroad man who died this year aged about 90. It may have been his work desk.

I'm sure you meant to say "founded in 1880."

Once you get it all set up and functioning (maybe with a railroad-related theme on the top?), please revive the thread and post another pic.

[Helix8]

Yes - early 1900's would be my best guess as well (1910-20). Value $300 as you just set the market. Antique "Brown"(mahogany, walnuts, fruits, oaks) furniture is cheap today as it is so out of fashion and a lot is on the market. Today someone would rather pay 3x/4x/5x what you paid (for a beautiful solid oak "piece") to buy cheap pressed board furniture from RestoHardware, Pottery Barn - makes no sense but that is the way it is. I've been collecting and enjoying early Georgian furniture for over 30 years and it has never been more affordable for good quality pieces. Buyers market - really really bad if you want to sell (which I don't) sometimes 10-20 cents on the dollar of what was paid 15 years ago.

[Tobra]

Groovy

Let's see a pic after you get a pint or two of oil into it

[fintstone]

Yes, I have seen the same interesting price reductions. Young folks don't seem to care for the look (antique) or size. Strange. Also, a lot is caused by folks living longer. When my mom goes, she will leave a huge house full of furniture from the late 1700's to the early 30s that she has inherited from family members. All of her kids are almost 60 and have full houses of fine furniture already (and are almost ready to downsize)...and the grandkids are not really into that type stuff.

[ossiblue]

As others have mentioned, the price/market for these (and other quality, vintage furniture) has tanked. That particular desk with the single curve roll top and large size will likely not be in too much demand. Prices, from a quick check on the net, range from under $150 to a bit over $500 for similar desks.

When my wife and I got married in 1975, we began furnishing with American oak antiques, including a roll top desk. We were of the mind that we wanted to spend money on quality built furniture instead of the particle board/soft wood stuff that was new. Also, we liked the look--plus, it was the 70s. We still have much of what we bought, but the value is pennies on the dollar to what we paid. Our kids don't want it either.

[scottmandue]

Very nice, color me jealous.

[craigster59]

And no one wanted Mid Century Modern pieces 15 years ago and then Madmen hit the small screen. Now you can't watch a commercial that doesn't feature an Eichler style home with some Laura Petrie knockoff housewife running around with a Swiffer.

What goes around comes around. You're just ahead of the curve.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

When my wife and I got married in 1975, we began furnishing with American oak antiques, including a roll top desk. We were of the mind that we wanted to spend money on quality built furniture instead of the particle board/soft wood stuff that was new. Also, we liked the look--plus, it was the 70s. We still have much of what we bought, but the value is pennies on the dollar to what we paid. Our kids don't want it either.

Today people seem to have a Ikea particle board mentality. 10 or 20 years from now they will be looking at hardwood like its a new discovery and wishing they had bought it in the first place.

[Hugh R]

Nice, oil it only. do not "restore it". I picked up a similar one in 1979 or so for $10 and tried to "restore it" big mistake, too many little parts. I had no idea as a college student what I was getting into.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by craigster59

And no one wanted Mid Century Modern pieces 15 years ago and then Madmen hit the small screen. Now you can't watch a commercial that doesn't feature an Eichler style home with some Laura Petrie knockoff housewife running around with a Swiffer.

What goes around comes around. You're just ahead of the curve.

Exactly.

Buy quality made items that appeal to you. Quality will always have value, it is a question of when.

[jyl]

good thing is my kids are fighting over who gets the desk when mommy and daddy are dead. they love old stuff. son listens to Edith Piaf and daughter to Charlie Parker, go figure.

mid century modern is cool too, that was before the crappy pressboard stuff.

[varmint]

would love something that nice.


i have a cheap roll top desk. $80 at a yard sale and about worth it. but i actually use. the thing.. i sit at it each with with my laptop and accounting books to do the banking. the kid does her homework on it.

they're not just decoration.

[Charles Freeborn]

Probably late 40's to 50's. SF grew like mad after WW2 (when all my siblings and I were born there).
Value is subjective, but falling as that style of furniture doesn't fit the "modern" lifestyle.
I'm not a big fan of "oil" per se but rather a tung oil type finish like Profin or the like. I assume you're familiar with Woodcrafters down on 6th and Couch?