Thomas Jefferson Revolving Bookstand

Not a plan, but here’s an episode of Roy building one

http://flash.unctv.org/woodwrightss/2800/wws_2804.html

-- Steve, Webster Groves, MO

Steve has it covered

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Thanks for the responce, I have watched Roy’s vidio and its great on technique but short on details. The whole program is devoted to the 4 side stands and does not cover the base. I would like to duplicate this piece as close to original as possible. I have tryed to contact Monticelllo but have not gotten a responce. I have tryed to contact Roy directly with no responce at this time. Any asistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

I made one you might take a look at. It’s in my projects.

-- Billp

Bill, that’s a nice revolving bookcase but I’m thinking that Spanky is after the one shown here.

I’m interested in this piece, too.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

Hi, Spanky—looks like we’re interested in the same project! Glad to find like-minded people on the site. I also posted a inquiry on this topic; and got some pretty good feedback. Here is the thread (do you know how to thread together forum topics?!) http://lumberjocks.com/topics/10314

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

Dave R your right I remember seeing that on a pbs show.

-- Billp

Do you live anywhere near Williamsburg, VA? Below is an excerpt from their website that may be helpful.

Colonial Williamsburg and Fine Woodworking are pleased to be joined by Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to present the twelfth annual Working Wood in the 18th Century conference at Williamsburg during the week of January 13-20, 2010. The topic is one we are especially excited about: Thomas Jefferson’s Furniture and Woodwork.

The program will begin with an overview of Jefferson’s Monticello and its furniture by Monticello senior curator and vice president Susan Stein. Bob Self, Monticello’s conservator of architecture and furniture, will introduce us to the Monticello joinery, its woods, tools, and workers. Then, Bob will join Mack Headley and the staff of the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades Cabinetmaking Shop to present the design and construction of three pieces of Jefferson furniture: a stand-up writing and drawing desk; a tripod-base, revolving-top table with drawer; and one of the iconic Campeachy chairs that were Jefferson favorites. Colonial Williamsburg joiners Garland Wood and Ted Boscana will reproduce the mantel in Jefferson’s personal bed chamber—Jefferson’s original drawing of it survives—and look at other aspects of Monticello’s joinery. Roy Underhill will present the construction of Jefferson’s revolving bookstand and ideas about furniture that Jefferson likely encountered in France. As always, these demonstrations will concentrate on period methods of workmanship, and close-up video monitoring will show the processes in detail.

OH MY GOD! I wish i lived near there now! Who is going and taking detailed notes and then posting them? ;-)

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

I wonder if the comment that Roy Underhill with present ideas about furniture Jefferson may have encountered in France is a clue of some sort that the contruction of the bookstand also could be based on French designs of the time. It’s only a guess, but it’s a place for your son to start on a different research track.