c.1966 Everett Baby Grand Piano Display Case

Recently completed a commissioned customer piece who wanted to repurpose their inoperative family Everett baby grand piano into a useful and beautiful furniture shelving display unit. The piano had been in their family for decades and they hated to see it destroyed, as many fond memories were associated with the piano. I was able to completely disassemble the piano and restore the original mahogany piano casing, then built new hardwood maple shelves that were stained and finished in a lighter contrasting color from the original dark brown mahogany casing. We returned the original ivory keys and modified the original piano legs to allow the shelving unit to stand in a vertical position. Remote-controlled LED lighting was installed on the unit that gave the shelving unit a beautiful glow against a blue/gray wall with dark-colored wooden flooring. The family was very pleased with the results of this project and I predict it will be around for many generations to come.

c. 1855, John Broadwood & Son Rosewood “Piano Desk”

This awesome John Broadwood & Sons piano was purchased in Springfield, MO.  It is made from South American rosewood and was manufactured in London, England circa 1855. This piano was not built with a cast iron harp soundboard so keeping it tuned with a wooden only headboard was a futile effort as a musical instrument. The overall condition of the wood exterior casing was in fair shape. I removed the upper and lower covers exposing the original piano strings. I then built a small shelf using parts from these front covers above the original keyboard area that can be used for decoration or holding small computer monitors. I retained the keyboard beautiful curved cover and made it removable (without tools), if so desired. I then built a slide out desktop from an antique solid walnut table top and installed remote control LED lighting in the top and bottom sides of the piece. I then refinished/restored the original rosewood finish with multiple layers of a tung oil finish. It turned out amazing for a piece that dates over 165 years of age. By making this a fully functioning piano desk and restoring it to its original condition, I believe it will extend this piece for another 100+ years of use.

EP Needham ‘Silver Tongue’ Walnut “Organ Desk”

This solid walnut wood pump organ was purchased in Avon, OH.  It was manufactured by the E.P. Needham & Son Company in New York between 1869 and the late 1800’s.  The “Silver Tongue” line of organs was named by Needham to distinguish their brand of instruments.  Their factory in New York was called “The Silver Tongue” factory. I repurposed & restored this piece into an awesome fully functional “organ desk”.  This American treasure is made of solid walnut wood casing. I retained the original keyboard, pull stops, and foot pedal controls which I removed and transferred to the rear of the organ desk in order to allow plenty of leg-room.  The desktop was constructed from a similar age antique solid walnut wooden table. Hidden electrical pass-through access ports are built into the back panel to allow the use of electrical components such as computers, monitors, radios, etc. Multiple coats of durable tung oil varnish finish have been hand buffed into the entire piece of this desk, which should provide decades of use with very little maintenance. Additionally, I installed a concealed remote controlled LED light strip into the upper shelving unit that illuminates the keys and desktop which adds a welcoming warm light glow to the desk in low light. Lastly, I included a secret hidden compartment under the desktop for storing small office materials such as paper, pens, etc. This is a one-of-a-kind ‘organ desk’ that not only is beautiful and functional but will also be conversation piece of furniture in homes and businesses.

c. 1890s, Sterling Organ Co. Walnut “organ desk”

This pump organ was purchased in Richland, Missouri.  It was manufactured by Sterling Organ Company around the 1890s.  I repurposed this non-working pump organ into this beautiful fully functional compact “Organ Desk”.  Stunning craftsmanship work on this American made piece of solid walnut furniture manufactured in this Derby, CT approximately 130 years ago.  The desktop was created from a similar age wooden drop leaf table and refinished with multiple coats of durable tung oil finish. Everything on this desk is original with the exception of the desktop, and backside scroll piece which I added to the piece, as it was missing its back cover.  Additionally, I added remote controlled LED light strip into the upper piece of the ‘organ desk’ to provide lighting to the desktop and it also creates a wonderful light pattern in dim lighting as the light passes through the scroll pieces. The internal bellows and other reed organ parts have been removed and the foot control panel has been relocated to the back of the desk to allow spacious room for feet movement. Hidden electrical pass-through ports are built in the back of the desk so that computer and other corded electronic equipment can be used.  The desk is equipped with original roller casters so that it can be easily moved by one or two people.  This is an original design and likely a one-of-a-kind piece that would look great in a home or business location.

c. 1880s, New Haven Walnut “Organ Desk”

This walnut pump organ was purchased in Richland, MO.  It was manufactured by the New Haven Melodeon Company in New Haven, Connecticut in 1877. I repurposed & restored into an awesome fully functional “organ desk”.  This American treasure is made of solid walnut wood casing. I retained the original keyboard, pull stops, and foot pedal controls which I removed and transferred to the rear of the organ desk in order to allow plenty of leg-room.  The desktop was constructed from a similar age antique solid walnut wooden table. Hidden electrical pass-through access ports are built into the back panel to allow the use of electrical components such as computers, monitors, radios, etc. Multiple coats of durable tung oil varnish finish have been hand buffed into the entire piece of this desk, which should provide decades of use with very little maintenance. Additionally, I installed a concealed remote controlled LED light strip into the upper shelving unit that illuminates the keys and desktop which adds a welcoming warm light glow to the desk in low light. Lastly, I included a secret hidden compartment under the desktop for storing small office materials such as paper, pens, etc. This is a one-of-a-kind ‘organ desk’ that not only is beautiful and functional but will also be conversation piece of furniture in homes and businesses.

c.1940 Hallet & Davis ‘Piano Sideboard/Buffet’

I repurposed this awesome 1940 Hallet & Davis console spinet piano with its book matched burl walnut veneer console piano into a functioning sideboard/buffet display piece of furniture for a customer of mine who wanted to keep this family heirloom piece but had no more use for it as a piano. The piano was completely stripped of its musical mechanisms, but we were able to retain much of the original keyboard keys and foot pedals. Due to the customer’s space restraints for the new piece, we had to reduce the depth of the piano by cutting away some of the original keyboard support shelving. I added concealed remote control LED lighting strips under each shelf which resulted in awesome warm glowing light on each of the display shelves. It turned out awesome and will likely be in this family for decades to come.

 

B. Shoninger Rosewood ‘Organ Desk’, c.1872

 

 

Circa 1872. B. Shoninger rosewood melodeon that I repurposed & restored into an awesome fully functional “organ desk”.  This American treasure is made Brasilian rosewood and has gorgeous cabriole wooden legs with hand-carved angelic faces carved into the front legs. I was able to retain the original ivory & ebony keyboard keys and carved wooden foot pedals. I was able to repurpose the original hinged top cover into an awesome desktop complete with pass-through electrical ports that enable modern laptops, monitors and other electrical devices to be used for office/desk purposes. To preserve this treasured piece for decades to come, I hand buffed multiple coats of tung-oil varnish finish onto the piece that brings the original beauty back to its original state of over 140+ years ago when it was originally manufactured. Lastly, I included a secret hidden compartment under the desktop for storing small office materials such as paper, pens, etc. This is a one-of-a-kind ‘organ desk’ that not only is beautiful and functional but will also be a conversation piece of furniture in homes and businesses

c.1858 S.D. & W. Smith Rosewood Melodeon Desk

 

 A spectacular authentic pre-civil war (c.1858) antique S.D. & W. Smith Co. (Boston, MA) rosewood inoperative melodeon pump organ that I was able to ‘re-purpose’ and restore into a fully functioning writing desk. I was able to use practically all the original pieces of the organ (desk top, ivory keys, music scroll, foot pedals, etc) back into the desk for aesthetic purposes that clearly reflects its earlier life, while creating ‘new life’ that will enable this great American treasure to be functional for generations to come. I restored all the finish with multiple coats of tung oil, hand buffing between each coat. I also included hidden ‘pass through’ ports into the backside of the desktop that allows electrical equipment (e.g. laptop, etc) to be used with this desk. The legs are removable for easy transport in almost any vehicle and the whole desk weighs less than 50 pounds. The backside of the desk is fully finished and therefore can be viewed from the front or backside (e.g. large open room). This is truly an amazing fine piece of furniture that can’t really be compared to any newer desk that you might find made today. I continue to be amazed at the craftsmanship that our early American manufactures could build into these great American treasures with the primitive tools that they had available to them in mid-1800s. Enjoy! 

c. 1860s Xavier Spang Co. Rosewood Desk

c.1860’s Xavier Spang Co (Syracuse, NY) melodeon pump organ that I custom re-purposed into an awesome writing desk. The desk base is made from rosewood veneer and unique beautifully crafted decorative cast iron covering over solid wooden curved legs. The desktop was made from the original cover with a wonderful 150+ year old patina that I preserved by hand buffing multiple coats of tung oil. Additionally, I was able to incorporate some of the original ivory & ebony keys into the desk unit. These rosewood melodeon desks are a pleasure to create and make one of the most beautiful desks that I’ve seen anywhere.

c.1873 New Era Pump Organ Re-purposed Into A Functioning Writing Desk

Above pics show my latest ‘re-purposed’ c.1873 New Era Pump Organ that I transformed into a beautiful solid walnut writing desk. I was able to keep the original ivory organ keyboard keys, pull stop and to relocate the foot pedal backstop board and foot pedals onto the back of the desk which provides unencumbered leg room under the desk, while giving a nice resting spot for your feet. This particular desk has a 10 inch clearance from the desktop to the upper desk shelf which makes it suitable for using laptop and other low profile items. I also installed hidden LED lights under the top shelf that adds a nice glow to the desk at night highlighting the background keyboard keys. I have completely restored the structure and finish on this piece with numerous hand rubbed coats of low gloss tung oil finish which should protect this treasure for decades in the future. This is truly a unique, solid construction American treasure that I’m confident will likely be around for another century.