Goodwins of Brisbane Sideboard - Garage Sale find - need advice

[Paulnoonan]

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Hi everyone

Yesterday morning I bought this sideboard at a garage sale.

The owner (not present at the sale) is apparently a carpenter who has just gone travelling to Peru. The sideboard was originally a dark colour but it has been very carefully stripped off with a paint stripper, and possibly also metho, shellite and wet and dry sandpaper.

The timber is really smooth; the minor blemishes of age have been carefully sanded, and all areas of the unit that would be seen in everyday use, have been given very fine attention. He's done a really careful job.

I was told the timber is silky oak.

The two inserts for the doors have been covered in "Feast Watson Glossproof gloss timber varnish" but nothing else has been painted. A lot of abrasive paper, a paint scraper, the tin of gloss varnish, paint brush even a pair of pliers came with it, but

......it is missing its 4 hinges, 2 door handle/escutcheons, 4 draw knobs/handles and both locks.

Q1) I don't really know what the original hardware would have looked like, therefore what to replace or really where is the best source of these fittings? (preferably supplied from australia)

Q2) I could just use the polyurethane varnish that came with it but it if its practical to coat it in something more traditional then I would be interested to consider that....?

Q3) the seller said it is possible to buy kits or sets of hardware for sideboards like this, but I haven't found that to be the case in my googling so far. is it true?

Q4) Does anyone know how old it would be?

I don't know if this piece has any real $ value but it is an attractive piece of furniture in great shape and I wouldn't want to 'harm it' by incorrectly completing the job. Your help much appreciated in advance.

Thanks,
Paul

[dabbler]

Nice pickup. I own a very similiar silky sideboard. The scroll pattern beneath the centre doors are slightly different on mine. Everyone I have seen with this cupboard door/drawer arangement, features a mirrored piece fixed to the top.

Mine has drop handle drawer pulls something of a cross between these two.
http://www.goodsandchattels.com/Hand...op-Handle.html
http://www.goodsandchattels.com/Hand...-Teardrop.html

The cupboard doors are lockable, with a combined escutcheon/drop handle arrangement. The locks are rebated so the door back and lock mechanism are flush.

I favour preservation with as little restoration as possible, so mine is still the darker shellac finish typically found in pieces from the era.

I’ll leave finishing options and advice to the experts.

[dabbler]

Paul, I grabbed a few quick images with my tablet to show you the actual handles fitted to my sideboard. I am fairly confident they are the originals. The piece has been in my family since 71 or 72, but I have know idea how many hands it passed through nor how old it is.

I’m also 99% sure mine was originally sold through Trittons in George St, Brisbane.

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[rhancock]

Hi Paul,

I found this on Google: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/21312103. It is certainly feasible that your sideboard dates from this period.

Goodwins furniture ad 1928.JPG

[Paulnoonan]

Hi dabbler and rhancock

That is excellent - dabblers actual fittings would fit my cabinet - I'd say they were what was originally fitted to mine. That is with the exception of the rebated door locks. There is no rebate on my doors for the locks - perhaps mine is from after the 1929 stockmarket crash and they were trying to cut costs!

There is a row of holes along the back edge which makes sense if this cabinet would have originally been fitted with a rear panel and mirror.

The shellac finish looks nice in dabblers pics as the silky oak grain is still visible. Given I am a handy and diligent person, is a decent shellac result possible for a first timer or would I be better off just using the polyurethane it came with. The cabinet cost me $60 and it had tools and varnish with a replacement value of about $80 in it. So while it doesn't owe me anything, I'd like to do it justice, bearing in mind I'm also a dad of two young boys and I need to know what I'd be getting myself into.

Do you guys have a favoured supplier of restoration hardware?

Thanks again for your expert help on those fittings.

PS as men of taste you might be interested in another project of mine. See it at www.paulnoonancoaching.com

[dabbler]

$60 ! What a bargain ! I paid my mum and dad a nominal amount for my sideboard, to avoid arguments within my siblings. I can’t wait to tell her I overpaid.

Mine has become a repository for every homeless object that enters the house so it’s not photogenic at the moment. If I ever relocate the dross I’ll take some photo that show the mirror.

Google restoration hardware brisbane (or sunshine coast) for possible suppliers. Antique stores and second hand places sometimes have caches of hardware. There are numerous possibilities throughout Red Hill and Paddington but they are all over the place really.

I am far from an expert but I would go with shellac. I find it can be forgiving and mistakes easier to undo. Cleanup is metho. Poly is a more permanent finish. Both need practice.

Take the time to improve your technique. Maybe start on a door or drawer.

This part of the forum moves a little slower than others but I’m sure the finishing experts will have sound ideas and advice shortly.

Your history project looks very interesting. My late father-in-law George served in the RAAF as ground crew in WWII. George (Black) saw service in similar places to Clem but mainly Borneo including some time on Morotai. I’ll have to revisit your website later.

Browse the forums for ideas too. Someone, somewhere will have the same questions as you. We like photos so remember to keep us upbto date.

Welcome to the forums by the way.

[Paulnoonan]

Thanks dabbler

Good ideas - I will check out the antique stores for hardware - sounds like fun.

My wife has never had any interest in antiquities, but my interests tend to all look to the past. If she hadn't liked this sideboard I would have bought it and used it as something to take up valuable space in the garage... until she eventually saw the light

I have included a few pics of the scrollwork and one of the non-rebated door as these differ from your unit.

First photo = right end
Second photo = middle front
Third = non rebated LHS door
Fourth = RHS of middle area
Fifth = RHS front with door panel previously polyurethaned sitting in it
Sixth = top showing screw holes for vertical piece and mirror I don't have.

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But she received it in the house straight away, much to my delight.

I have a large collection of antique marelli electric fans that start a bit before and a bit after 1928, one of which will later look perfect sitting on this unit. So for me it may be better there isn't a back board and mirror.

Looking forward to the finishing advice. I agree with the 'start in an inconspicuous spot' approach and would prefer to shellac if possible.

On the subject of my website, it is still a work in progress but as rhancock quoted earlier, "I'm working to a standard, not a deadline". I inherited lots of Clem's abilities so exploring his RAAF career is also an inner exploration for me. His wartime experiences certainly contributed to his relatively early death and I'm glad I haven't had to do what he did. My other grandfather was also on Morotai and Borneo. I have started telling more and more people about my project and it is amazing how many people also have a diary or pictures from a relative from WW2. Families are also starting to take more interest in it at present which is awesome.

best regards

Paul