Check out my Patreon page for exclusive behind the scenes videos and updates. Thanks You! - / dashnerdesign In this video I restore an antique barrister bookcase made by the Macey company. / dashner_design www.dashnerdes...
We are from Grand Rapids and wanted to share this with you. Your Barrister is 1908! Gorgeous piece. MARKS AND LABELS Pieces produced before 1908 may carry the name “Fred Macey Furniture Co.” or simply “Macey” in an italic script, with the tail of the let “Y” underlining much of the word. Pieces produced after 1908 will bear a modified version of the earlier mark, with “Macey” in simpler script, surrounded by a black or solid colored oval.
I think it's fantastic to restore a piece without stripping it back entirely. It definitely retains its beauty and antique feel as part of its story. Just gorgeous.
This is beautiful! Glad you didn’t overdo the restoration. The age of the piece really adds the charm and character that you just can’t find these days. Great job! 👍
great restoration. great taste as always. I like how you don't replace stuff when it would be easier to do so, because you have the skill to actually repair it.
I agree with your philosophy on working on old items like this. Clean it up, fix the damage, but let its years and character stay. If I wanted it to look brand-new, I’d build a copy.
I love how you kept the antique look of your beautiful piece. I agree with the idea of leaving the "history" of a piece remaining which adds to the charm. I did a light refinish to a top on an old family hutch I now have. The top was marred by me as a 7 year old child with a screwdriver. I recall it was fascinating watching the indentations appear that I was making at the time, not realizing that one day 70 year old me would be restoring it. I did hand sand all the areas of damage to the top, reducing some of the damage, including my artwork, but had to smile at the memories that I left as I applied the topcoats. The piece was intended to be distressed and I made a memorable contribution to that end.
It really turned out great! I haven’t done a book shelf yet. Right now I refinish a mid-century bar cabinet. A fun project! Stay tuned for a video of the project. And keep up with the awsome content 🎉
That is GORGEOUS ! Those units cost a fortune over here in England. I totally agree with you about not making something look brand new - most of my furniture is from Auctions, which I have cleaned and renovated, but left the 'old' look. Also, satin finish is much more pleasing to me, then a buff with beeswax - perfect. Thanks for sharing your skills and tips with us. Take care 🙂
I'm in England and I have one with 3 shelves a drawer and top....it was made by Globe Werbenik withe the saying always finished but never complete on the label
Lovely piece. Just the visual of the wood inspires memories of being in some of the dark, old libraries at the UofM many, many decades ago. All kinds of wooden cabinetry for all those books. Always enjoy your calming narration as you walk us through your thought process, make the occasional misstep (don't we all).
Another fabulous restoration. I love watching you work your magic giving these items another chance to be enjoyed. Thank you, and keep up the good work
You did a really great restoration with this piece. The natural variation of colours in the wood makes it really unique and beautiful. I’m glad that you didn’t sand the wood as it would have removed the history. Your narrative is so easy to follow and I love how you admit your mistakes and how you get around these. It’s why I follow your channel.
It looks great - the woodgrain came up so much nicer! We just got a 3 tier one from the auction the other day which also needs some TLC, so you've given us some inspiration!
Beautifully done. You fix things as you come across them well. These stacking bookcases were all the rage for a while, but oak fell out of style with most buyers. I'm sure it will come back strong at some point. The grain and color is beautiful. Thank you for posting your amazing work skill. I've learn some good tips from your channel.
Absolutely beautiful - I love the way that wood grain ages, and you did a great job preserving the look. And a masterful job restoring the "plywood" - I'm going to remember those techniques!
I love those bookcases! I've never seen one with the spring before. It looks like a garage door opener. Old shellac like that usually has old polish, nicotine tars and crud on top of it, but it does clean off eventually. I use fine steel wool to encourage it to come loose.
Just love those bookcases have collected 5 so far. With various display items in them it saves all that dusting. Havent seen that mechanism before, the ones I have have got a scissor action in them with doors. Nice restore them sympatheticaly keeping an aged look. Great video!
Hah! I have NINE! (2 pairs and the other 5 are singletons) The various construction methods and door mechanisms are amazing. I have them with pegs and routed grooves, metal rails, or the scissor mechanism. One has Canadian coins in slots acting as locking pegs. And one knocks down into a "flat pack" with the backs, sides and shelves all separated. It's held together by routed grooves and an interesting iron bracket on the shelves.
Great work! I just came into a Grand Rapid Michigan Barrister Bookcase made by Gunn Furniture Company. It is a 4 stack with each stack being a different height. The top has a triangle label on the back with GRM; inside back panels have a stencil of "Gunn Furniture Company, Sectional Bookcase..." I have seen other brands like Globe & Wernicke, also Macey, but little info on Dunn. Anyone here know anything like age, documentation on assembly / disassembly, etc...? Thanks
@@mikemcternan8249 I agree about the "flimsier" as there is not the heavy top "bracing" that G&W's have. On the other hand the iron hardware on the bottom on the side panels lock the sections together very rigidly without much bulk Question: my back panels have 2 flathead slotted screws on each side angled in from the inside to the side panels. How does yours look?
I did a secretary's desk recently that was my grandmother's and made in 1905.The wood was so similar to this but the damage I had was minimal. I really liked how it turned out. A labor of love actually!
I find your videos so calming. Im never gonna be able to afford to do anything like this in terms of material costs but i like watching and the knowledge you give. Your voice is also so calming.
Love the finish. I know you mention the difference innwood color. Just seems lately I have been seeing this wood since researching a 1900s high chair I am restoring for my grandson. The wood is called "tiger oak" very popular from my research about 1880 to 1920s. If you wanted to even the tones I have seen, but haven't used yet. Toned lacquers. Love your channel, thanks for all you show.
Wow, super excited for this one, I hope you do more pre-1950 stuff in the future. I saved the middle section (missing doors) of a solid walnut one of these from a scraper for $3. Unknown mfg. but very old. Not sure when I'll get around to collecting the other pieces, but for now it's out of the landfill and used to store my stockpile of delicate trim and hardware
Nice work. I've always wanted to build a Barrister Bookcase but never seemed to fine the right time. This is a classic piece. Great job getting all the finish off with alcohol. Well done.
I have a similar bookcase I’ve had since early 1990’s after my grandmother passed. I never looked into the type of bookcase it is but knew it was antique. The label in mine says Mfg The Globe-Wernicke Co. Cincinnati O. Mine doesn’t have the glass doors like yours and it hasn’t been refinished but I use furniture polish on it and it still has a nice finish. I’m glad I saw your video.
I hadn't thought of that - laying an industrial paper towel over the whole surface and soaking it with alcohol so that you can remove the finish in one long even sweep. I really like that.
Whoopee ding, almost my bookcase. Mine has three big cases, and a desk, with cubbyholes and little shelves, but no detailing or fussy bits,the label is earlier. It is in rough shape, much rougher than yours, and needs a lot of t.l.c., as well as a new glass on the larger sections door. I have been waiting for someone to re do one so I could follow. Mine was purchased in the very early 1900’s, when my grand parents had a farm on the prairies, and was the office till I inherited it, and still is. Thank you for the example to follow, I am going to need it. 🙏👍
Beautiful job. I ŕèallylike how you do your restoration, but more than that, I appreciate that you explain what your doing and why. You should give lessons to most of your contemporary. Most do not speak at all!
This is exactly what my grandfather had! He was 3rd generation lawyer, it had belonged to the 1st lawyer in my family who was pretty famous in my country of Argentina.
Those bookcases, although produced in mass quantities, are still pretty special. I was given a four-piece pair of them, but with with leaded glass in the top sections and made from mahogany/mahogany veneer rather than oak. Love 'em.
So weird was just thinking about your show and hoping for a new one and bam, here you are! Love that your not afraid to do different projects! Nice job!
Love how you left aspects of the age of the piece and stayed true to original glues and finishes. I own a very similar piece and came looking for advice on how to get a door off to replace broken glass. I think removing the back to get the door out is what I need to try. But I enjoyed watching the whole restoration, very interesting and also relaxing. Thanks for not adding any annoying music, or using a lot of fast forward.
I have one of these I found on the side of the road. It’s in great condition just need one pane of glass. I will follow your lead on cleaning it up. Thank you 🐝
My mother's family had a similar one, but it was not as deep and had 5 sections. They called it a secretariat. I was so in love with that piece of furniture. Yours is just lovely!
I remember those old bookcases. If my mind is correct, a lot of doctors had those in their offices with medical books. I know they were very expensive.
I have a 3 door Antique Barrister to work on! This video could not have come at a better time🥳 Can hardly Wait to see if alcohol will work on the finish⚠️ THANK YOU‼️
What a great job you did. I enjoy watching you work on these things, and liked that you didn't strip the whole thing and try to make it look like new - it's old, and it should look old (just not old and decrepit, which it did before you started!). Nice piece, with a lovely grain. And useful too, I'd think.
My goodness, but that is so stunning! She shows age and beauty. I love how you kept the original label. The wood patch is almost invisible. I learn a lot from your technique. Thanks for sharing
Nice! It looks like it's supposed to sit on top of a table or desk. On a side note: denatured alcohol is no longer available for purchase in California (where I live), because of air quality regulations. I don't need that now, but I can't get oxalic acid in stores! I'll have to order it online. I'm doing my first project, based on what I've learned on your channel. 🤩
Great video as always. I really like these book cases. I would love to get my hands on one someday. I find them so Beautiful. Glad you fixed this one up so nicely. 😊
Nice job. Some time stop at a farm store and get some pine tar from the horse section and try it like stain. Paint it on and wipe it off quickly. Makes grain dark and stand out. One thing it is a really strong pine smell even after shellac, so keep it in mind. I haven't tried varnish yet to see if it seals in the smell. Some have used regular pure asphalt the same way.
