A joiner builds a chest of drawers

correction on Chestnut

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The native range for American Chestnut was Maine to Alabama. I am involved in developing a resistant strain(s) and restoration. Restoration is complicated by the wide genetic diversity over its former range.

Colonial Tories

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Either I misunderstood your post or your history is mistaken. I am not a history expert but I thought Tories were British loyalists wherever they lived.

https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/tories

Chest and chestnut

Barry Irby

I despite or because of the construction the chest seems t have held up well. One reason we think antique was so well built and well designed is that the junk/poorly built stuff wore out and was thrown away long ago. And the ugly stuff also went away, mostly.

That Chest may have been built by one of Norm's ancestors. He loved to nail things together, at least in the early days.

I am very pleased you and others are working hard to bring back the chestnuts. I woudl dearly love t get a few and plant them out.

Re: A joiner builds a chest of drawers

Warren in Lancaster, PA

In America the term Tory refers to a person loyal to the king after 1776. This chest was made about 40 years earlier, probably by a Quaker craftsman in Chester County. These Quakers had fled government persecution in England and Wales.

I don't see bridle joints.

Here is a similar chest. Note:

1. "#2 common lumber" on drawer fronts.

2. Clear stuff for stiles and rails, panels, mouldings, feet.

3. Bold raised panels.

This is a more sophisticated chest, with dentil moulding and reeded (or maybe fluted) quarter columns, yet it retains the frame and panel construction for the carcase.

reply

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I don't see how you could have missed the bridle joint in PIC 1, or do you prefer I should call it a slip joint? It is located where a bridle joint would be in a door.

The Torie reference is something of an inside joke for Richard. Early English furniture was known for drawer bottom grain running orthogonal to the drawer front and the resulting split drawer bottoms. Something only an English sympathizer could embrace, no matter the year.

A joke looses its luster when it has to be explained.

Re: A joiner builds a chest of drawers

Brian Holcombe

Whomever built it certainly did tidy work, those joints are nice and tight. I’m not sure where it was made but it’s neatly done even if the joints are not something I personally want to see.

Early 18th century Pennsylvania craftsmen put out a beautiful product, occssionally I have the opportunity to inspect their work up closely, it’s usually very tight and neatly constructed.

joinery

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The piece is not only a testimony to the execution of the joints but also of the durability of these kinds of joints . But I guess anyone that made doors would have known these kind of joints withstand rigors. That said, I too prefer traditional case joinery for a chest of drawers.

The drawer divider joints are often covered by a strip of applied facing, w/wo profile, in Chester County furniture, so who knows what lies beneath. One piece in storage was assembled with half dovetails of unusual depth that were not covered. It remained as tight as the day it was made.

Re: reply

Warren in Lancaster, PA

The reason I "missed the bridle joint" is because I am familiar with this type of furniture. The mortise and tenon joint at the top corner is partially covered over with the moulding. You can't see the top inch and a half of the stile. It would be foolish to make the joint the way you are suggesting.

Re: reply

Sgian Dubh

"The Torie reference is something of an inside joke for Richard."

Do you mean me Bill? If so, I'm afraid it went over my head a bit because I wasn't sure what Tory meant in an American context, but I'm certainly aware of what we here in the UK know as a Tory.

On the cabinet in your photograph I'm with Warren in thinking what you're calling bridle joints (at top and bottom of the framing?) are more likely to be through and pinned (dowelled) mortise and tenon joints, with the mortice in the vertical member (stile) stopped about one third of the rail's width from the end. This area is, I guess, covered by the applied horizontal mouldings, thus perhaps visually hinting at the possibility of those joints being bridles rather than M&Ts. Slainte.

Tories

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Just back from a week in Philadelphia old town. I am infused with the spirit of 1776 when the US population split between those loyal to the crown(known here as Tories) and the rebels that had declared independence from the Crown. Philadelphia was the center of independence activities at this time- Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, writing of Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Constitution, home of Ben Franklin, etc. Thus began an experiment with the first Republic government that derived power from the people governed and all branches of government answered to the people.

Re: Tories

Sgian Dubh

Thanks for the explanation of a Tory, from an American perspective. That, I think, is the first time I've come across that definition. Slainte.

The reason

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

"That, I think, is the first time I've come across that definition"

That's because you lived in Texas and not a state that was a northern British colony. In Texas you would know about the Alamo, anywhere south the Civil War. But if you lived where the Revolution was fought the battles and politics remain topics that are taught and celebrated, especially in New England where the early campaigns were waged.

The Tories and British regulars were driven out of Boston and much of New England in some early Colonial military success that remain widely celebrated. Hauling the canons from NY state to the Boston highlands to lay siege to Boston and Boston Harbor must rival any campaign in British history.

Re: The reason

Joe shelton

Cannons. The canons originated in Boston.

Knox drags cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Fort_Ticonderoga

as well as numerous other references.

I am unsure of what you mean by "originated". But in the context of my post the cannons that drove the British out of Boston came from Ft.Ticonderoga in an epic transport across the countryside.

An brief account of has been described as the greatest logistical feat of the war can be found...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Knox#Military_career

Re: Tories

Larry Barrett

Oliver Wiswell, written by Kenneth Roberts, is a book about the American Revolution from the perspective of a Tory in Boston. It is fiction, but a good read.

Re: Knox drags cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga

Joe shelton

Bill, as Field Artiieryman, I'm well aware of the splendid feat of Knox and his cannoneers.

But you spelled it "canons", which are laws and principles for a divine pursuit.

make a choice.....

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

After sixty years of having people criticize my spelling I have come to the conclusion that I have three choices- live with this handicap and keep writing, quit, or find an editor. Choose one for WoodCentral............

When it's important for a published work I find an editor.

He was just poking fun...

John in NM

I got it, but then I read a lot.

Kenneth Roberts wrote a lot of historical fiction about the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Some excellent, some just OK. What I liked about Roberts is that he wrote books from both perspectives in the revolution, which is pretty rare.

Re: make a choice.....

Joe shelton

OK. A multitude of choices attend the man with a broad and vivid imagination. My compliments.

My post intended to kid you, a little and gently. Next time I'll add a smiley face so you know it isn't serious.

And, by all means, keep writing.