Lap roll top desk plans.....please help!?

[cathdew]

hello everyone!

I have been trying with no success for hours to try and get hold of some plans/patterns for a woodworking project that I have planned.

I'm looking for something quite (painfully) specific...
I want to replicate a roll top lap desk, which belonged to my great grandfather.


After a quick search on the internet I found a few pretty much identical version for sale...it seems to be a relatively common. Generally produced circa 1840 - 1890, I have found some under names such as:

Traveling ship captain’s tambour top desk
China Trade Roll Top Lap Desk
Roll Top Lap Desk
Captains Desk


The following website has plenty of images of pretty much the exact design I am looking for. I've heard mention on other websites that these desks were at one time mass produced in china over a hundred years ago to sell to western sailors. On that basis I don't think its unfeasible for some plans or patterns to be in existence out there?
http://maritime.oneofakindantiques....me_lap_roll_top_desk_circa_1820_to_1840_6.htm


I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can give in tracking down some quality plans that are as close to this as possible. To be honest Im hoping someone has a better idea where to look other than google! My search isn't proving to be very fruitful!


Thank you.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Norm Abrams made one a bit bigger than a lap, the plans are HERE

 

[9fingers]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I would be surprised if you find a detailed plan for this sort of specialist item but why do you need one with so many pictures.

A pencil and paper is all you need followed by a mock up of the design made out of mdf or something similarly cheap to weed out any issues.

When your are happy with it take it apart and then you have your patterns.

One tip: with the tight radii on a small piece, the tambour slats will need to be quite narrow.

Bob

 

[DaveL]

Hi cathdew,

Welcome to the forum.

Your link has been caught by our spam trap this will stop once you have a few more posts to your name, here it is:

http://maritime.oneofakindantiques....me_lap_roll_top_desk_circa_1820_to_1840_6.htm