Looking at building in a built in table at my parents house, something similar to the Palmer house or Kentuck Knob or the Goetsch-Winckler house.
http://4sure.co.nz/gw/goetsch-winkler-EL16.jpg
This looks modular, does anyone have any information on how its constructed? To me it seems like each table stands on its own and then they just push together? I am not sure though, is there information on how this was built?
Goetsch-Winckler built in table. Modular design?
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Roderick Grant
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That's what I thought too, just wanted to see if it had been drawn up ever for the particulars.Roderick Grant wrote:It seems to me that these sorts of tables that push together to form a single table should have under-the-table clasps of some sort to make the tops align properly. That wouldn't be too hard, would it?
When I examined the dinning table at the Hagan house they were using small c-clamps to keep the sections in alignment.
As I recall the table looked new. It was not the case, for it had been in storage for many years, since Mr. and Mrs. Hagan loved and lived with their George Nakashima furniture, with their piece de resistance the dinning table.
As I recall the table looked new. It was not the case, for it had been in storage for many years, since Mr. and Mrs. Hagan loved and lived with their George Nakashima furniture, with their piece de resistance the dinning table.
The G/W millwork drawing published in "Affordable Dreams" shows a 2 x 3-foot "sectional table" with the note "six required." The tops and support are identical to those of the fixed table; the top is 7/8" plywood and the mitered edge is 1 3/4" high. I find no note about the connection hardware, if any.
The photo linked above illustrates the issue encountered with tables to be pushed together and used as one: the irregularities found in many a floor mean that the tables don't align well with each other. Hardware to overcome this problem could be devised. The standard locking hardware for tables with leaves is similar to a sash lock, but with the advantage that it clamps the leaves together; pegs drilled into one side of each leaf mate with matching holes in the opposite edge. This visible device may not be considered acceptable in the case of these sectional tables with their finished edges.
SDR
The photo linked above illustrates the issue encountered with tables to be pushed together and used as one: the irregularities found in many a floor mean that the tables don't align well with each other. Hardware to overcome this problem could be devised. The standard locking hardware for tables with leaves is similar to a sash lock, but with the advantage that it clamps the leaves together; pegs drilled into one side of each leaf mate with matching holes in the opposite edge. This visible device may not be considered acceptable in the case of these sectional tables with their finished edges.
SDR
If I intended to replicate the Goetsch/Winckler modular sectional tables as shown in the drawing, I would start by increasing the width of the leg unit (making the central fin wider than shown). This would provide three advantages: the three points of contact with the floor would be spread further from each other, increasing stability and reducing any planar discrepancy from one table top to the next; it would also increase the knee room available for the sitter -- assuming that each module seats two, one on each side of the table.
Note that the fixed table as built is somewhat different from the drawing, in length and in placement relative to the chimney. But this is common in Wright, where re-thinking was the norm as a design progressed toward construction -- and it invites us to free ourselves from slavish devotion to any one solution as presented by this or that Taliesin drawing. We're perhaps safe from criticism if we respect Mr Wright's aesthetic choices while recognizing that he was his own severest critic, constantly revising and improving his many many original concepts and their details.
SDR
Note that the fixed table as built is somewhat different from the drawing, in length and in placement relative to the chimney. But this is common in Wright, where re-thinking was the norm as a design progressed toward construction -- and it invites us to free ourselves from slavish devotion to any one solution as presented by this or that Taliesin drawing. We're perhaps safe from criticism if we respect Mr Wright's aesthetic choices while recognizing that he was his own severest critic, constantly revising and improving his many many original concepts and their details.
SDR
My father and I were looking at it more for ideas than replication. We are going to do a 3 foot deep table so to speak--from person to person across--as we have different chairs. We also may not go fully sectional, rather build a table that would seat 5 and build an add on end for another 2 people. We primarily wanted to see his ideas and plans so we could help inform ours, to see if we were missing any great ideas we'd want to implement. I'm leaning towards building a 5 seater with a kitchen wrap nook and the ability to add on to it modularly if we entertain more, which we rarely do.SDR wrote:If I intended to replicate the Goetsch/Winckler modular sectional tables as shown in the drawing, I would start by increasing the width of the leg unit (making the central fin wider than shown). This would provide three advantages: the three points of contact with the floor would be spread further from each other, increasing stability and reducing any planar discrepancy from one table top to the next; it would also increase the knee room available for the sitter -- assuming that each module seats two, one on each side of the table.
Note that the fixed table as built is somewhat different from the drawing, in length and in placement relative to the chimney. But this is common in Wright, where re-thinking was the norm as a design progressed toward construction -- and it invites us to free ourselves from slavish devotion to any one solution as presented by this or that Taliesin drawing. We're perhaps safe from criticism if we respect Mr Wright's aesthetic choices while recognizing that he was his own severest critic, constantly revising and improving his many many original concepts and their details.
SDR
The G/W table is also three feet across. I like a relatively narrow table; it brings diners together a bit. And if the ends of the table are narrower than the middle, diners at each end of the table might be able to see each other a bit better.
It seems that, if Mr Wright specified six of these little tables -- added to a full-length table -- he must have intended them to be used elsewhere in the house, perhaps as a second dining table at holiday time ?
I like the idea of a table where the ends pull out and leaf panels drop in as needed. This way, the table doesn't have to be dragged or lifted to extend its length. There are many examples of this design out there; here's a large and intentionally "brutal" one from my sketchbooks, with glass panels.
It seems that, if Mr Wright specified six of these little tables -- added to a full-length table -- he must have intended them to be used elsewhere in the house, perhaps as a second dining table at holiday time ?
I like the idea of a table where the ends pull out and leaf panels drop in as needed. This way, the table doesn't have to be dragged or lifted to extend its length. There are many examples of this design out there; here's a large and intentionally "brutal" one from my sketchbooks, with glass panels.
Last edited by SDR on Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
very interesting, this is of your design? And if you have any other designs ala Wright written up I'd enjoy seeing those!SDR wrote:The G/W table is also three feet across. I like a relatively narrow table; it brings diners together a bit. And if the ends of the table are narrower than the middle, diners at each end of the table might be able to see each other a bit better.
It seems that, if Mr Wright specified six of these little tables -- added to a full-length table -- he must have intended them to be used elsewhere in the house, perhaps as a second dining table at holiday time ?
I like the idea of a table where the ends pull out and leaf panels drop in as needed. This way, the table doesn't have to be dragged or lifted to extend its length. There are many examples of this design out there; here's one from my sketchbooks.
http://savewright.org/wright_chat/viewtopic.php?t=3290
The fifth one won't fit on my "signature" !
SDR
The fifth one won't fit on my "signature" !
SDR
Very nice! You have an eye for design. Do you have links filtered to your tables?SDR wrote:http://savewright.org/wright_chat/viewtopic.php?t=3290
The fifth one won't fit on my "signature" !
SDR
edit: nevermind saw your 3rd gallery
Wright didn't design any sort of system to hold the tables together. The tables simply butt up to each other. Believe me, they are so heavy that they don't slide around much.
The idea is that they can be used as separate units or placed together, and look good either way. Uneven floor slabs in Usonians do become issues, and often there are slight variations from a built in section and the height of the free standing unit.
Stafford Norris told me that at the Willey house (Usonian prototype), Nancy Willey specifically requested separate tables which could be combined later, after looking at Wright's original drawing showing a completely built in table. Maybe Mrs. Willey deserves some credit for influencing future Usonian modularfurniture designs? So much for the myth of the autocratic Wright who never listened to his clients!
The idea is that they can be used as separate units or placed together, and look good either way. Uneven floor slabs in Usonians do become issues, and often there are slight variations from a built in section and the height of the free standing unit.
Stafford Norris told me that at the Willey house (Usonian prototype), Nancy Willey specifically requested separate tables which could be combined later, after looking at Wright's original drawing showing a completely built in table. Maybe Mrs. Willey deserves some credit for influencing future Usonian modularfurniture designs? So much for the myth of the autocratic Wright who never listened to his clients!