About Antique Roll Top Desks

History

• There are conflicting reports as to who is credited with inventing the first roll top desk. According to a report by the New York Times, dated June 23, 2000, London Cabinetmakers Mayhem and Ince, "probably" invented the roll top desk.

  According to the Kentucky Historical Society, Jacob Alles invented the first roll top desk in 1869, by whittling some wood and gluing it to canvas to make the rolling slats. Other reports attributes the roll top desk to the credit of Abner Cutler, who designed and patented it in 1850.

Function

• No matter who receives credit for the roll top desk, they all were designed to serve the function of a writing desk. They were used in both offices and grand homes to house writing material, bills and ledgers within their many small compartments. These compartments were hidden from view by the rolling top.

  The many compartments inside the rolling top were of varying sizes to accommodate letters and ledger books. Grand ladies stocked their compartments with fancy letter writing paper and quill pens.

Identification

• Roll top desks are still mass produced. Their elegance, style and appearance makes them as popular now as they were years ago. A vintage roll top desk can be identified by it's massive, intricate design. The craftsmanship of the hidden compartments its nothing short of a work of art. It will be made of natural woods, and will possibly have the cabinet maker's stamp on it.

Features

• The roll top desk is still popular today because of its rolling top feature. Letter writing has given way to computer use and the roll top desk has conformed to this change. Where once they housed letters and pens, they now house slots for CD's and computer screens. The old roll tops were used to hide away the owner papers and writing instruments. The new ones hide the computer screen, and eliminate the glare in the room when the screen is not in use.

Benefits

• The benefits of choosing a roll top desk are many. The stylish, antique design can compliment a room's decor, or be the main focal point of the room. The desk can be used to house your computer components, or anything else you may wish to use the interior for. The best benefit is that when you are not working at the desk, the roll top can be closed, thus keeping your computer or paperwork out of sight.

  An antique roll top desk can even be considered an investment, or a prized family heirloom that can be passed from generation to generation. Younger family members will benefit from hearing the family history that surrounds the antique roll top.