They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
John Foster
I have been clearing out my recently deceased mother's apartment these last few days. One thing that amazed me was her bedroom set, which was purchased new in 1960. I had never really studied it before, it had a classic 60's look with lots of glossy Arborite surfaces and particle board drawer fronts with fake plastic wood grain texture added. I had assumed that I would send it to the garbage. As I took the dresser and chest of drawers apart for loading I noticed dovetailed drawers, glued up hardwood drawer sides, the inside structure that the drawers slide on is all hardwood and notched into the side panels. A lot of the drawers are fairly wide and deep, so there are some nice 7/16" thick backs and sides that are worth saving. I was also in the very early stages of a project for a community group that needs two drawers, I think I will put new fronts on a couple of drawers and build to fit the drawers.
The revelation for me was that in 2019 much furniture is almost all composite products made to look like real wood, 60 years ago they were disguising real wood to look man made!