Mystery Metal Table

Hello!

I posted 5 media photos.

We got this at an antiques shop in Ohio about a decade ago.

It wasn't terribly expensive and I remember the guy saying that he thought it would have had a cork top and was built in the 50s

It's steel and quite heavy. There must have been quite the manufacturing process to build these, so I doubt it's rare, but for years I can't find any information on it.

The mechanical slides are unique, which is what drew me to it. If I were to guess, I would have pegged it as a prep table for some small manufacturer or a bar-room table (in other words, I have no idea).

Anyone know anything about the history of theses?

36w x 42l (with leaves out) by 30h

 

Mystery Metal Table 5 by Ryan M posted Sep 22, 2019 at 10:43 AM

Mystery Metal Table 4 by Ryan M posted Sep 22, 2019 at 10:43 AM

Mystery Metal Table 3 by Ryan M posted Sep 22, 2019 at 10:44 AM

Mystery Metal Table 2 by Ryan M posted Sep 22, 2019 at 10:44 AM

Mystery Metal Table 1 by Ryan M posted Sep 22, 2019 at 10:44 AM

 

There are better furniture people than I around, and THEY WILL be along!!! But with that clam rake in the background, you have to be somewhere near the shore!! @verybrad, @Jeff Drum, @springfld.arsenal .....just throwing some alerts out to draw attention......

 

Haha. Quite observant...and generator in the garage from Dorian.

Charleston, SC

 

Well, hopefully there's not toooo much left of hurricane season left......

 

Welcome, Ryan.

Journey is not a furniture or metal person.

 

Thanks AJ.....my memory is NOT like yours!!!! BUT I WILL TRY to remember that tidbit!!!!! And fixed it.........!

 

Hi,
There was so much metal left over from the war manufacturing so many things were made. My garden gliders and chairs were all made with left over steel. Later the resin and plastic stuff became the norm. I have a three seater two two seaters. Four springers a larger table and two smaller tables. The dang things weigh a ton but they are 70 years old and will outlive me.
greg

 

Now thats interesting ! Its a 1940s interpretation of a drop leaf table,but Ive never seen anything like this in steel!

 

Is the whole thing metal? If so, this is a new one for me. Would have to think institutional furniture.

 

Right. But the leafs don't drop, they tuck under with a surprisingly somewhat complex track, spring and latch mechanism/process.

The photo with the leafs angled a bit is as far down as they go. For a while I thought it was some sort of card table, but I don't think the leafs are meant to be dropped for use. That's just how they sit when between tucking the leafs and having them locked in the up position. Very odd.

 

Yes, legs/base and feet are all metal -- painted to look like wood (paint looks original, but not sure). Has built in metal leveling feet.

Have never been able to find a mark or stamp anywhere on it.

 

That porcelain tile top would add considerably to the weight.

 

Is that tile or sheet linoleum? The pattern of "grout" reminds me of several kitchen floors.

 

Ya, those radius corners would be a beeotch to cut in porcelain!

 

The best bit of metal reuse I know of are railings around some London buildings. They're stretchers.

 

The guy I bought it from said that the original top was cork.

It now has a (poorly) retrofitted vinyl top.

 

Cork was used for manufacturing pattern making, pre-Borco.

But, adjustable leaves (leafs?) seem more to do with some household/occupancy function.

 

It is a draw-leaf table. Not unusual per se. It is unusual with that base. Since the base is wood grain look, would think the top was originally the same. Think the tile is an add-on to disguise damage to the finish.

 

It's supercool, whatever it may be.