Description
All I could find about this desk was online. I found a 1914 Chicago paper ad that sold desks like this one, but smaller, from the Revell Co. I read the story of how the company founder died from a fall from his 7th floor apartment in the Drake Hotel.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
Desks like this generally date from the first quarter of the 20th Century, what you paid for it at auction is about what they normally sell for in that market. A good one refurbished would retail for about $1100.00.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
Hi, Dale, I just got a similar desk that had been in my grandpa's basement, although I believe mine is a different wood and it does have an open back rather than the panel that yours has. I'm wondering - what does the top of yours look like? Mine is currently covered with vinyl, and while I started to peek under I haven't pulled it all off yet. The wood around the edge is the same as the rest of the desk, but most of the top is slightly inlaid and looks vaguely like particle board, but there's no evidence of that from below.
Also, does yours have rollers under it? I'm curious if mine were original or were added later.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
Post some images of your desk and I'd be happy to have a look at it. If there is any particle board in it though, it's quite modern and not an antique like the one pictured above.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
The desk itself is clearly old (and nearly identical to the one above); it's merely the top that was replaced later. Here are photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lukpac/AlexanderHRevellCoDesk?noredirect=1
I'm curious what the top would have originally looked like.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
It looks like it might have had a tooled leather inset on the top originally. Desks like either had tops all in one wood type, or a trimmed border around a leather top.
Re: Alexander H. Revell & Co Antique Oak Desk
Thanks, we were thinking something similar.
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