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12 - Antique Shoppe - www.antiqueshoppefl.com
Q Questions & A. easily remedied with the right fix. It does not
Peggy - This is a common problem and is

& Common Sense Answers include super glue, wire, screws, nails, brackets or
any other type of hardware - just good woodworking
A with Fred Taylor sense and experience. I ran across just such a case
recently in an advice column on furniture care and
repair. The “expert” suggested four possible solutions,
three of which included the addition of metal of some
Dear Fred- I have an antique pressed back rocker that is continually sort to the wooden chair joints including turnbuckles
Q. coming unglued where the braces under the chair seat connect the four and wires as you suggested, the use of roughed
legs. I have had wood workers reglue it. But, in short order, if someone sits in it metal strips to secure the wood in the holes and/
and rocks eventually the spindles connecting and bracing the four legs come out or the application of small brass screws through the
of the holes in the legs (not all of them of course). What to do? This is a really joints. The only non-metal solution involved the use
comfortable rocker but I am afraid to let anyone sit in it! I want to sell it but of epoxy glue rather than wood glue. Unfortunately
↑The use of a strip of
really can’t in it’s present condition. HELP! Can you wire the legs with criss-cross wood veneer to take up that wouldn’t hold a loose joint any better than white
diagonal wires with those tightening things. I think I have seen old rockers with the space in a worn out school glue would hold it. It would just guarantee that
those wires. What to do????? Peggy joint works very well. the next time the chair needed repair (because there
will be a next time) the structural components of the
chair, the legs and stretchers will shatter instead of the joints opening up cleanly.
If a wood joint is chronically loose it’s because the wooden components of
Dade City & San Antonio the joint don’t fit right. The fix is to make them fit. If the hole, the mortise, is
worn bigger or the stretcher, the tenon, has been reduced by wear or abrasion,
or both, the answer is to fill the void in the joint with some sort of wood that
will have the same reaction to glue, stress, temperature and humidity that the
Celebrating Antiques
23 original wood will have. No metal application will match that. After cleaning
YEARS! on the out old glue wrap a thin piece of veneer around the tenon or insert it into the

MAin street 1 mortise to create a tight wood joint when the parts are assembled. Make the
wood work with you – don’t work against it by adding foreign material like metal.
Fred - I have a dining room table which was in the White House when
Specializing
in Q. President Buchanan was in office (1857-1861). His niece fell heir to the
Primitives table and gave it to Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio in 1896. In 1921 the
2 College sold the table to a Mr. Perry-Jones, who sold it to my aunt. When she
3 died the table came into my possession.
The cherry table is 19” wide in one piece and 43¼in long. The two leaves are
also 19in X 43¼in , one piece. Two of the four legs are stationary while the other
Peggy Capps, Proprietor two swing out to support the leaves. I have a letter from Mount Union College
(352) 523-0999 tracing the history of the table to 1921. I plan to donate the table to Wheatland,
14122 7th STREET DADE CITY President Buchanan’s museum in Lancaster. PA and would like to have an
DADE CITY, FL 33525 3 estimate of its value. Sincerely, CWA
Since this table apparently has some historical significance and since you
A. plan to donate the table to President Buchanan’s museum, I strongly
AMERICAN EAGLE suggest that you have the table professionally appraised by a certified personal
ANTIQUES property appraiser in your area who is familiar with late 18th and early 19th
century American furniture.
14232 7th Street A professional appraiser would be able to verify and certify the provenance
Dade City, FL 33523 of the table which would greatly enhance its value. The appraisal would also
352-521-3361 establish the value of the table for tax purposes.
OpEN 7 DAyS 11-5:30 You are very fortunate to have had the pleasure of owning a part of American
history and you are to be commended for your generosity in the donation. Thank
AMERICAN EAGLE Late Century Modern Furniture you for asking my opinion on the subject but in this case I believe you would
ANTIQUES, TOO Decorative Arts & Accessories be better served by a certified professional from one of the major appraisal
organizations such ISA, ASA or AAA.
Featuring Fine Antiques 11853 Curley St, San Antonio I am thinking of purchasing an Emerson Square Grand piano, serial
14119 7th Street 6 mi. from Dade City / 11 mi. from Zephyrhills Q. #10763. The date I was given was 1866. What can you tell me? Does the
Dade City, FL 33523 352-588-2001 serial tell what kind of wood veneer it is or whether the keys are ivory? Gage D.
352-521-0390 www.sanantonioantiquesflorida.com Gage – I am no expert on pianos but that serial number would fit with the
98
OpEN 10-5 MON-SAT Proprietor, John C. Herrmann 4
A. 1866 date according to the Pierce Piano Atlas. However, the Atlas gives
no information on the wood or the keys. However, most square grands of that
Meridian Ave period were either mahogany or rosewood and virtually all of the keys were ivory
since there was no other substitute. I would suggest you hire a piano technician
DADE CITY to do a formal survey, just like buying a boat or a house. The old square grands
can be trouble.

52 Clinton Ave Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or
4 email them to me at info@furnituredetective.com
Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com and check out the downloadable
577 579 “Common Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE
DETECTIVE” is now available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money order for
579A Ft. King Hwy. 301 98 $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00
75 + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more information call (800) 387-6377
39 (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.com. All
items are also available directly from the website, www.furnituredetective.com

ZEPHYRHILLS

To Tampa 54 5th Ave.

Gall Blvd.

41 39

301
To Tampa To Plant City