Iron school desk

I just picked up two childrens iron school desks. I don't know much about them and was hoping for some information. The only name I can find is underneath. It says "Berkley" with an R5 and a 34. Thanks all. It's frame is black cast iron, but not the scroll type.

 

look up ....
Old School Desks

in the "SELL" forum ....... for a discussion...and pics..

 

I checked out that post. They are similar. The pictured one has the scrolled metal frame, mind don't. Trying to get any information I can on the ones I have. Thanks for the reply.

 

Welcome to the forums! I found a little possible info on your desk. It would tracking down the desk if there were more pics, especially from the side inorder to compare it to other desks.

I did find an old auction for 4 Berkley desks with the same numbers as yours, 5-R. They didn't sell. The auction page is still online, but not the pics. Now I did find 1 of the pics of the 4 desks on another site.

Pic of the desks:
https://www.popscreen.com/prod/MTU5...ANTIQUEBERKLEYGRADESCHOOLDESKSONORIGINALRAILS

The ebay auction page with no pics. You can at least read the description.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FOUR-MATCHING-ANTIQUE-BERKLEY-GRADE-SCHOOL-DESKS-ON-ORIGINAL-RAILS-/170853799771?ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-53200-19255-0%2F1%3Ftype%3D4%26campid%3D5336721748%26pub%3D5574760552%26toolid%3D10001%26afsrc%3D1%26customid%3Dskim30534X881380Xdfb95187db3670773d45444ce69f930c%26mpre%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fitm%252FFOUR-MATCHING-ANTIQUE-BERKLEY-GRADE-SCHOOL-DESKS-ON-ORIGINAL-RAILS-%252F170853799771%26srcrot%3D711-53200-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D870249988880&rmvSB=true&afsrc=1&nma=true&si=w0khVg2cnSpDVbZpEpMNx5uXXsQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I did find a few other grade school desks that were made by a Berkley E.H. Stafford Mfg. Co. I don't know if the desks are the same as yours.
This one has 6 pics:
https://www.ebth.com/items/1767015-vintage-school-desk-with-cast-iron-base

I could find no info on a Berkley Mfg. company or a Berkley E.H. Stafford Mfg. I did find info on an E.H. Stafford school desk company. It seems that company was founded in 1890 as the E.H. Stafford Co. In 1904 it was reincorporated as the E.H. Stafford Mfg. Co. It was still in business in the 1920s. Possibly it merged with Stafford after the 1920s.
http://www.kovels.com/collectors-questions/stafford-desk.html

This style grade school desks were stlll in use in the 1940s and '50s when I was in school. I do not know if they were still being made then. I suspect they probably dated from the 1930s when the school was built?

--- Susan

 

Thanks for the help. The pictured ones are the same as mine except for the hole for the inkwell. If I'm not mistaken I believe that company closed on 1922. I thought the 34 on the side metal referred to the year of manufacture 1934, but maybe not.

 

My mother has a desk similar to this in her house... has had it for many years. Unfortunately I have never looked at the marks on it and also she lives several hours away so I can't take pics. I like this desk!

 

If I did have a old shool desk can sell it and I'm for a price.

 

Can you re-word this, I can’t understand, or maybe one of the other members can explain it.

 

show us a picture..