Progress has been slow on my book on Campaign furniture. The research materials are scarce, the projects are expensive and complex, and Lost Art Press has plenty of books from other authors for me to work on.
But I do have some good news to report.
1. I’m going to England this fall to visit a private collection of campaign furniture and spend some time with a restorer who has spent his career examining these pieces and repairing them.
2. Londonderry Brasses is developing a section of its catalog that will feature campaign brasses. I’ve seen the selection Londonderry plans to stock and it is impressive. So impressive that I purchased a new suite of brasses for this campaign chest, including the skeletonized pulls shown here.
I’m about to dovetail the five drawers for my second campaign chest. I’ve got also got four feet to turn and 32 pieces of brass that need to be inlaid into the teak. And then I have four more campaign-era projects to build to even come close to having a book to call my own.
I also have a book’s index to edit and lay out, a cover to design and a 180-page color proof to review today.
So I better stop writing this, make some coffee and do some real work.
— Christopher Schwarz
Is the book about the type of furniture you refuse to call “vernacular” even further back in line behind the campaign furniture book?
Chris, it might be time to suggest improvements to the design of the brass hardware. Having all the screw holes in a line tends to cause splits in the wood over time. Maybe hinges should be created with staggered holes? It loses the symmetrical look, but it adds functionality.
Are you planning on showing other pieces of Campaign furniture in your book? I love the secretary from the Aug 2012 issue of PWM. However, I have neither the shop size needed to build it, nor a spot for it in the house. While in England be sure to take some pictures of smaller pieces for those of us with small shops:-) See you in Port Townsend in September.
Dick,
One of the reasons this book is taking so long are the projects. Here’s the line-up (as of today):
• Two campaign chests (secretary and standard)
• Roorkhee chair
• Roubo’s folding camp stool
• Two campaign bookcases (simple and fancy)
• Officer’s footlocker
• Coaching table
• Napoleon’s traveling desk
Plus, I’ll be showing a lot of other forms. There are tons.
Anything of Wellington’s? He did win, after all!
Your trip sounds excellent (and may well change the book’s contents).
Cheers.
Campaign snuff box? The tiny little inlaid brass fixtures would be a tad tedious, but look really cute.
Hi Chris,
Slightly off-topic, but what size lathe is required for general furniture construction? I.e. chair legs, the feet you are talking about for the campaign chest, etc. Looking forward to this book coming out.
Thomas,
I’m not a turner. I’m a furnituremaker who turns. So I mostly turn between centers with very little faceplate turning. I look for a lathe that has 30″ (or more) between centers so I can handle table legs. It also needs to be compact. I have a Jet midi lathe with a bed extension and am happy.
Love the campaign furniture – amazing how much is around when you start to notice it – don’t suppose there’s a chance for any classes or a “meet the Schwarz” event or perhaps a beer tasting gathering when you visit England?
Definitely. I’m going to be at the European woodworking show at Cressing Temple Barns:
http://www.europeanwoodworkingshow.eu/
I always try to mix business with… more business.
Any chance of some classes?
Great!! – I already have that date in the diary – see you there. I’ll bring some beers down for you that a friend of mine makes too.
There was once a small campaign table in PWM, I think back in 2009, is that table based on some real model? Then it could make for another chapter in the book.
I am looking forward to the book even if it will take some time before it is finished.
That table was from Mario Rodriguez. It is an interesting and well-made little desk — the coaching table I’m building will offer the options of being used as a secretary (desk) or as a bar or as a side table.
I can tell the campaign furniture book is going to be extremely impressive when it finally gets published. I continue to wait impatiently for it.
Interesting planes on your bench. Is that a LN no3 with a 55deg frog? That other plane looks like a WoodRiver plane.
Nope. It’s a No. 4 and a No. 8. Both Lie-Nielsen.
Next spring I plan on making some campaign furniture. I eagerly await your book to help me in my endeavor. I hope to construct a campaingn chest, a campaign bed. a coaching table, a secretary with bookcase and some odd tables with a drawers. Please finish your book before then.