This time its a 979 1st generation

[woodbutcher]

Interesting bit of kit - but the door panels it's leaning against - wowsers! There is a segment somewhere on this site re photos of bikes up against a gate?

Hi wonderdog , you're the first person to say anything about the doors. They are solid French walnut, l think they date from the early 19th C. I found them in a junkyard here in France and amazingly they fitted in the doorway l wanted them for. They even had the original cast iron cranked hinges on them and lovely cast brass keyhole escutcheons. And l would be embarrassed to tell you what l paid for them

 

[wonderdog]

Hi wonderdog , you're the first person to say anything about the doors. They are solid French walnut, l think they date from the early 19th C. I found them in a junkyard here in France and amazingly they fitted in the doorway l wanted them for. They even had the original cast iron cranked hinges on them and lovely cast brass keyhole escutcheons. And l would be embarrassed to tell you what l paid for them

Yes, thought they were walnut. I just scored a lovely trio of brass inset handles which are just crying out for a dovetailed box to be built round them

 

[woodbutcher]

Yes, thought they were walnut. I just scored a lovely trio of brass inset handles which are just crying out for a dovetailed box to be built round them

You must be able to source some interesting native Australian hardwood to do the job ! Nice to meet another wood freak !

 

[wonderdog]

You must be able to source some interesting native Australian hardwood to do the job ! Nice to meet another wood freak !

Black bean and rose mahogany are two of my favourite timbers - http://www.woodworld.com.au/timber-types/black-bean/ ... http://woodgroupsa.org.au/wSAknowledge/RoseMahoganyOzRosewood.pdf . Both are monster trees ... 40 metres not uncommon. A joy to work with, both for turning and furniture construction. The timber however does require caution ... both very irritating for nose and eyes. Black bean fruit deadly if not prepared carefully. Then of course, there are the timbers endemic to Tasmania - King Billy, Celery Top and Huon pines. All sublime for use from boatbuilding to heirloom furniture. Expensive!

 

[woodbutcher]

Black bean and rose mahogany are two of my favourite timbers - http://www.woodworld.com.au/timber-types/black-bean/ ... http://woodgroupsa.org.au/wSAknowledge/RoseMahoganyOzRosewood.pdf . Both are monster trees ... 40 metres not uncommon. A joy to work with, both for turning and furniture construction. The timber however does require caution ... both very irritating for nose and eyes. Black bean fruit deadly if not prepared carefully. Then of course, there are the timbers endemic to Tasmania - King Billy, Celery Top and Huon pines. All sublime for use from boatbuilding to heirloom furniture. Expensive!

Fascinating articles many thanks. My interest lies in the fact that for more years than l care to remember l was a furniture designer, restorer and maker.
My business was based in the UK but l spent a lot of time in China, Vietnam and the Philippines helping to set up small and some not so small factories producing classical looking furniture for the USA markets.
Great days and some marvellous people and craftsmen.