On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 02:23:21 GMT, Larry Jaques
wrote:

1) Because Stickley did.

I've read conflicting stories there and am willing
to believe the con side: that they didn't take the
time or -expense- to do so.

Gustav was clearly the sort of guy who'd do finishes the way he
wanted, rather than the way that made money. I think Leopold would
probably have value-engineered that step out.

OTOH, there's a lot of colour variation in GS product. It would be
interesting to know accurately if they did change their processes.

I also don't feel that
they were nearly as dark when original as the old
pieces are now. They darkened over time.

These pieces are only 100 years old, which is pretty young for oak.
There's 400 year oak furniture in town that's dark brown, and 800 year
old in some of the old English houses that's black. Compare this to
timber framing, where the 400 year stuff is already jet black. If you
saw these beams, they're darkened for 1/2" surface depth.

Compared to that, Barnsley work that is contemporaneous with Stickley
was finished to a lighter colour and is still light today.