I have a beautiful Windsor chair with broken "under-carriage".
It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs
is rather a specialist area.

Could some kind soul suggest a UK expert in this?
Or a site dealing with windsor chairs?

I was told that there was an expert in Northern Ireland -
which would be most convenient for me -
but after long research have been unable to locate him (or her).

Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

HI Timothy


On Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:07:29 +0100, Timothy Murphy
wrote:


I have a beautiful Windsor chair with broken "under-carriage".
It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs
is rather a specialist area.

Could some kind soul suggest a UK expert in this?
Or a site dealing with windsor chairs?

I was told that there was an expert in Northern Ireland -
which would be most convenient for me -
but after long research have been unable to locate him (or her).

Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.

He's in the UK - but this guy

http://www.antique-english-windsor-chairs.com/

Is something of an expert in Windsor chairs -
nice guy - tell him Adrian says hello !

Regards
Adrian

"Timothy Murphy" wrote in message
...

I have a beautiful Windsor chair with broken "under-carriage".
It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs
is rather a specialist area.

Could some kind soul suggest a UK expert in this?
Or a site dealing with windsor chairs?

I was told that there was an expert in Northern Ireland -
which would be most convenient for me -
but after long research have been unable to locate him (or her).

Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.

I used to work in the same building as Nigel Coope and often used to pop
into his worksop, and he always made a good job. I've never seen him working
on an old chair, as his business is making new ones, but I suspect he'd be
able to have a look at it or give you some advice over the phone.

On 4 Jan, 13:07, Timothy Murphy wrote:

It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs
is rather a specialist area.

Plenty of people competent to do it though - green woodworking has
seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly chairmakers.

If you went to something like the Westonbirt Arboretum annual festival
of wood you'd see a lot of such makers there, along with their wares.
Take your pick of them. Maybe there are similar events near Dublin?

It's also debatable as to whether the gothic-styled chair prominently
displayed on
http://www.antique-english-windsor-chairs.com/
is even a "Windsor", owing to the pre-seasoned timber, cabriole legs,
bench joinery and the sawn back splat. Certainly the appropriate
techniques to repair that chair (akin to casework techniques) would be
a long way from those for a more traditional Windsor, made in the
green by a bodger.

It's also debatable as to whether the gothic-styled chair prominently
displayed on
http://www.antique-english-windsor-chairs.com/
is even a "Windsor", owing to the pre-seasoned timber, cabriole legs,
bench joinery and the sawn back splat. Certainly the appropriate
techniques to repair that chair (akin to casework techniques) would be
a long way from those for a more traditional Windsor, made in the
green by a bodger.


I thought 'windsor' was a generic term for a chair which has the back fixed
to the seat and the legs fixed to the seat. As distinct from other chairs
which have the back as a continuation of the back legs.


mark

Mark wrote:
It's also debatable as to whether the gothic-styled chair prominently
displayed on
http://www.antique-english-windsor-chairs.com/
is even a "Windsor", owing to the pre-seasoned timber, cabriole legs,
bench joinery and the sawn back splat. Certainly the appropriate
techniques to repair that chair (akin to casework techniques) would
be a long way from those for a more traditional Windsor, made in the
green by a bodger.


I thought 'windsor' was a generic term for a chair which has the back
fixed to the seat and the legs fixed to the seat. As distinct from
other chairs which have the back as a continuation of the back legs.

Thats what I thought as well. This agrees & has some interesting info,
worth a read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_chair


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On 4 Jan, 19:26, "Mark" wrote:

I thought 'windsor' was a generic term for a chair which [...]

It's frequently used to mean almost anything; although a slab-seat (as
you describe) is the core of it, because there's little other way to
make a chair out of green timber. A joined frame is going to require
you to dry it first.

In terms of how to repair it, our primary consideration is in the
_techniques_ used to make it, and in choosing techniques and restorers
who are specialist in those techniques.

Adrian wrote:

I have a beautiful Windsor chair with broken "under-carriage".
It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs
is rather a specialist area.

Could some kind soul suggest a UK expert in this?
Or a site dealing with windsor chairs?

He's in the UK - but this guy

http://www.antique-english-windsor-chairs.com/

Is something of an expert in Windsor chairs -
nice guy - tell him Adrian says hello !

Thanks very much for all the advice from everyone.
I'm sure I'll be able to make progress now -
I'll let you know how things go!

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

Rather late off thec starting blocks but might I suggest contacting
just a few makers of chairs to gather possible costs etc.

http://www.windsorchair.co.uk/

http://www.sittingfirm.co.uk/ranges/products.asp?PT=PT6

http://www.elliottschairs.org.uk/

http://www.peakdistrictproducts.co.uk/tolley/

http://www.bespokewoodworkers.co.uk/

http://www.stuartking.co.uk/

http://www.living-wood.co.uk/greenwood_chairmaking.html

http://www.nigelcoope.co.uk/

If they cannot help may I suggest another forum belonging to the
"Association Of Woodturners of Great Britain" (AWGB), I am a member
of that august body but specialise in bowls, dishes and platters!

http://www.pens-pens.com/phpbb/index.php

Regards, Peter Fagg.