I have a bedroom set that, while not expensive at the time, is quite
well made, especially by today's standards. Dovetails and solid wood.
And, even after 40+ years of use, the drawers still slide, etc.
First question is what wood do you suppose this stuff is made of?
Looks like that luan stuff, under the finish, which may be paint. Did
they typically use this "mahagony" back then?
Secondly, the finish is a real detractor in my eyes and kinda dated.
Ideally, I'd paint it and put new hardware prior to selling, but I
ain't got the time. Do you think it'd be worth trying to sell as-is
and hope someone would see the potential? Wouldn't be asking too
much, I don't think. In fact, for a dresser, tall dresser, and
headboard/ & footboard, do you think $200 would be outrageous?
Sorry, no pics as I put my camera in a "safe place" and haven't
unearthed it yet.
Thanx
Renata
Renata asks:
>I have a bedroom set that, while not expensive at the time, is quite
>well made, especially by today's standards. Dovetails and solid wood.
>And, even after 40+ years of use, the drawers still slide, etc.
>
>First question is what wood do you suppose this stuff is made of?
>Looks like that luan stuff, under the finish, which may be paint. Did
>they typically use this "mahagony" back then?
>
>Secondly, the finish is a real detractor in my eyes and kinda dated.
>Ideally, I'd paint it and put new hardware prior to selling, but I
>ain't got the time. Do you think it'd be worth trying to sell as-is
>and hope someone would see the potential? Wouldn't be asking too
>much, I don't think. In fact, for a dresser, tall dresser, and
>headboard/ & footboard, do you think $200 would be outrageous?
Difficult to say, really. We bought an older set for the spare bedroom when we
moved here. It is painted French Provincial (supposedly FP) in style. Oddly
enough, the base material seems to be...gasp!...cherry. Construction is
excellent by today's standards, far better than I could afford in my new set.
Mahogany in any of its guises, including meranti and luan, was around in the
'60s and a lot cheaper than it is today. Of course, neither is mahogany, but...
We paid something like $200 2-1/2 years ago for our set, which includes only
the dresser and nightstand. The headboard that came with it was a little weird
(ugly and off-sized), so got stored in the basement, where it served as some of
the fuel for our fire last June.
Charlie Self
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." Ambrose Bierce, The
Devil's Dictionary
Renata wrote:
> I have a bedroom set that, while not expensive at the time, is quite
> well made, especially by today's standards. Dovetails and solid wood.
> And, even after 40+ years of use, the drawers still slide, etc.
>
> First question is what wood do you suppose this stuff is made of?
> Looks like that luan stuff, under the finish, which may be paint. Did
> they typically use this "mahagony" back then?
I'm not sure about "typically"; but it was used in some stuff
I've seen.
> Secondly, the finish is a real detractor in my eyes and kinda dated.
> Ideally, I'd paint it and put new hardware prior to selling, but I
> ain't got the time. Do you think it'd be worth trying to sell as-is
> and hope someone would see the potential? Wouldn't be asking too
> much, I don't think. In fact, for a dresser, tall dresser, and
> headboard/ & footboard, do you think $200 would be outrageous?
Depends on condition. Wouldn't be outrageous in this area if all
pieces were cosmetically "nice" (for some buyer's notion of nice).
If you have serious difficulty finding that buyer, you might
consider contacting a local shelter to arrange a pass-thru
donation to someone restarting their life without the resources
to buy furniture. Ask the shelter to provide a donation receipt
for the $200 and take the deduction.
> Sorry, no pics as I put my camera in a "safe place" and haven't
> unearthed it yet.
(-: (I don't dare put things in safe places any more.)
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto, Iowa USA
Renata wrote:
> I have a bedroom set that, while not expensive at the time, is quite
> well made, especially by today's standards. Dovetails and solid wood.
> And, even after 40+ years of use, the drawers still slide, etc.
>
> First question is what wood do you suppose this stuff is made of?
> Looks like that luan stuff, under the finish, which may be paint. Did
> they typically use this "mahagony" back then?
Could be anything, depending on the quality. To give an example, the Eames
lounge chair was available in cherry, walnut, or rosewood. A lot of
Scandinavian furniture ("Danish Modern") was teak, either solid or veneer.
Could be lauan, real mahogany, or something more exotic.
> Secondly, the finish is a real detractor in my eyes and kinda dated.
> Ideally, I'd paint it and put new hardware prior to selling, but I
> ain't got the time. Do you think it'd be worth trying to sell as-is
> and hope someone would see the potential? Wouldn't be asking too
> much, I don't think. In fact, for a dresser, tall dresser, and
> headboard/ & footboard, do you think $200 would be outrageous?
Generally speaking, old furniture is worth more with the original finish
intact. But you have to find the right buyer.
> Sorry, no pics as I put my camera in a "safe place" and haven't
> unearthed it yet.
>
> Thanx
> Renata
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Do you think it'd be worth trying to sell as-is
> and hope someone would see the potential? Wouldn't be asking too
> much, I don't think. In fact, for a dresser, tall dresser, and
> headboard/ & footboard, do you think $200 would be outrageous?
I'm not an expert, but I see this stuff for sale all the time in some of the
antique stores in town. It is probably worth more in original condition
that if you updated it.
Price? Could be anything from $20 to $2000. I'm sometimes shocked at the
asking price for stuff my grandparents got rid of.
Ed