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August, 2017 The Antique Shoppe Page 31
Q. I have a couch which has just recently come into my possession to do to prepare the surface, especially removing just the gummy &
and I would like to know a little bit more about it. I have had some dull varnish without harming the stain? Thank you for any advice
people tell me it is worth $1200 and others say more. I am unsure of you have!
the exact age or manufacturer and was hoping you could give me an —Kathy in Nebraska
idea of the value (if any), age, or manufacturer. Any of these would
be helpful. —Thanks, Daniel S. A. Kathy - The "gummy" places are where body oil and acids have
deteriorated the finish from repeated contact with human skin. The
A. Daniel- Your couch is a mass produced unit from the Depression finish there is actually dead and there is nothing you can do to revive
Era, probably the mid 1930s. The carving was done mechanically by it in those areas without first removing it down to intact finish or
spindle carvers and touched up by hand. It is impossible to identify a bare wood - usually bare wood.
manufacturer without some tagging. There may be an ID imprinted The finish on your set is nitrocellulose lacquer, a solvent based
on the frame somewhere. One major maker of the period, Kroehler, finish that only be recoated with another solvent based finish such as
always marked frames this way and many others did too. lacquer or shellac. If you apply any oil based or water based finishes
As for value - it basically has none. Restoration costs will exceed such as varnish or urethane over lacquer they will peel off in sheets
the $1200 quote you mentioned. The webbing underneath has been over time. There is nothing for the varnish to grab to. The best you
applied over the old rotten broken webbing inside. That means the can do is to deal with areas where the finish may be dull but intact.
frame has to be completely stripped. The springs need to be retied, Those areas can be cleaned with mineral spirits and a good coat
new stuffing inserted and the frame repaired. I can see daylight in of paste wax applied to a clean dry surface - no oil -no polish - no
the joints. The seat cushions have spring units in them known as This Depression era couch nothing but paste wax. In an area where the finish is deteriorated, if
Marshall units. These usually need to be replaced every 20 or 30 needs some major work and you try to clean it you will essentially strip it, removing the old dead
years. The couch will take around 15 yards of fabric and labor will has little market value in finish along with the gummy stuff and probably removing the stain
exceed the cost of the fabric by several times. I would venture to say its current condition. color. Either leave it alone or reconcile yourself to stripping and
the couch would not bring more than $150 - 200 at auction. Thanks refinishing a set of chairs to match the original table. Once you strip
for the excellent photos. the chairs it doesn't matter what finish you reapply. The trick will be matching the
color and sheen.
Q. I recently received my mother's pine dining room set (hutch, table & chairs).
Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or email
It would have been bought mid to late 1950's. Probably not terribly valuable but them to me at info@furnituredetective.com.
I consider it a family heirloom. My mother took very good care of it....always Visit Fred’s newly redesigned website at www.furnituredetective.com and check out the new
covered the table with a pad when we used it. The grandchildren have added a few downloadable “Common Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A
scratches...nothing I can't live with. BUT the finish is getting 'gummy' in places FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money
that are handled a lot (tops of chairs, etc.) and the finish is looking dull. The stain order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor's DVD, "IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE",
itself looks good. I cannot afford to have anything 'professionally' done and have ($17.00 + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more information call (800) 387-
done some furniture staining & varnishing in the past so I'd like to try and put 6377 (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.com.
some protective coats of ??? on it. What's the best thing to use and what do I need All items are also available directly from the website, www.furnituredetective.com

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