This and That

This and That
I don't really have a purpose for this particular blog I thought I would just share some tidbits of information whenever they may be, just free writing exercise. What triggered this was the other day my wife accidentally discovered that if you had control shift F Microsoft give you the option to permanently set the default font size and style. That was one of the happiest days of a long time to be able to alleviate the annoying Colibri style number 11 font that no one uses. Now each and every time we open the computer and opens the way it should who could ask for more. I've got approximately 6 blogs left and what three days. I know it's time to get on the stick. I'd really rather write a story or about something technical and perhaps it will.
My favorite piece of furniture is an antique secretary made in New England by two woodworkers Goddard and Townsend. It is every bit of what can only be described as high style. And speaking of high style it's over 6 feet tall. It's got finials at each of the four corners and one in the top center. I'm not sure if anyone reading this blog would know what a finial is so I guess I should say it's a small spire that accentuates the corners. It's usually build with crotch Mahogany front panels on the upper section in a style called tombstone doors. There are three doors to hinge to one side and one hinged to the other very unique design. I suppose I should mention that a secretary is built into pieces and upper and lower case. The uppercase can change shelves inside primarily for books. The lower case contains drawers and a fold flat desk with a gallery. A gallery is still seen today in roll top desks, it's often called the pigeonholes. On a Goddard Townsend the gallery is very meticulously shaped from delicate pieces of wood, a real treasure. And the secretary wouldn't be a secretary if it didn't have it in compartments tucked away within the gallery. These hidden compartments vary from maker to maker and region to region. They were designed to protect the owners valuables in the days before safes. The lowercase is decorated with shell top carvings across the front of the fall front panel, these carvings are carried through the design across the front of the drawers to the base. The base is supported by Ball and Claw feet. Like so many other features of this particular piece the ball and claw feet are unique to Goddard Townsend. Each of the makers had their own style and a piece of furniture can easily be traced by the carvings. I would imagine it would surprise you to know that if you could find a Goddard Townsend for sale it would easily fetch into the six digits. Because of this extreme price many replicas are made but none are equal to the most eye-catching secretary ever made. I have planned for years to build one all in need is time.