It was somewhere outside Barstow when "B Man"
wrote:

#2 - Nothing is "Shaker" about this version of the item. The term "Shaker"
is used today in ways that would make Mother Ann Lee roll over in her grave.

Our local Borg is selling "Shaker Entertainment Centres"


#3 - While Shakers would have used lap desks (when on the road selling
seeds, rockers, etc.),

I'm not so sure. I've not seen such a lap desk, and I've seen no
records of one (if it ain't in Handberg...). Shaker writing desks are
themselves pretty rare - the millenial laws are quite specific that
they're unneccessary (and thus inappropriate) for most Shakers, other
than those with specific tasks to deal with the world outside. It
wouldn't be impossible for a "travelling seed salesman" to need one,
but then I'm not sure they really did too much travelling as part of
business either.

They certainly didn't _invent_ lap desks either - some well known
examples are much older.