Table of Contents
How does a rolltop desk work?
The rolling part of a roll-top desk is actually a tambour: a flexible sliding shutter. The tambour, French for “drum,” was favored by the Sheraton and Hepplewhite schools of the late 1700’s. It is made of a series of closely set wooden ribs. They are glued to a backing of strong cloth, and move in guiding grooves.
What was the roll top desk made of?
Answer: The roll top desk gets its name because the desktop surface and the nooks and compartments can be covered thanks to a tambour that rolls in and out of a storage slot. The tambour is a series of wooden slats linked together, an element partially inspired by the cylinder desks of the eighteenth century.
How do you connect two pieces of paneling?
TO ATTACH THE PANELING TO THE WALL Place the panel on the wall and press it into the adhesive. Pull the panel away from the wall and let the adhesive become tacky. Push the panel back on the wall and roll the panel with a rolling pin. This will make sure that the panel and the adhesive make good contact.
Why is it called a tambour?
The word ‘tambour’ originates from French, meaning a small drum (hence ‘tambourine’ – a small drum with jingling metal discs around the sides).
What is the history of the roll-top desk?
Synopsis: The roots of the roll-top desk go back more than 200 years. Over time, desk variations merged to include tambour doors and pigeonhole compartments. Kenneth Baumert, a woodworker and mechanical engineer, came up with a design that eliminates the cloth backing on tambour doors by using an elongated ball-and-socket joint.
How do you eliminate the backing on tambour doors?
Kenneth Baumert, a woodworker and mechanical engineer, came up with a design that eliminates the cloth backing on tambour doors by using an elongated ball-and-socket joint. He discusses the basic construction of the desk (the frames, panels, drawers and locks), and then details how he shapes the tambours.
What is the basic construction of a desk?
He discusses the basic construction of the desk (the frames, panels, drawers and locks), and then details how he shapes the tambours. He closes with information on making the pigeonholes.