Posted 8 years ago
GoBuckeyes
(1 item)
I have a J. F. Dietz 20-1/2 Roll Top Desk. In pretty good condition.
Does anyone happen to know approx. when this desk was manufactured?
Also the approx. value?
Or any additional information you may provide is most welcome!
The earliest ones worked the mortises in the slats only & hard to find. Later ones (most) used canvass stapled to the inside of the slats.
Hi GoBuckeyes--Not sure if you still monitor this account. I am the great-great-grandson of J. F. Dietz, a (mostly office) furniture manufacturer in Cincinnati, Ohio in late 19th, early 20th century. Glad to share more of what little I know about the company and their products.
@jfroehli, Hi I’m not sure if they still monitor this account, so I can only hope you see my comment. I own what i would believe is either an office desk, or teachers desk, as it has a massive top, is a huge piece, with very long deep draws, slats, in them, that can be moved for your choice in size, one reminds me of the perfect size for say envelopes, nope pads, that kind of thing, as well as a very deep bottom draw, slide out smaller side table or “desk” space for maybe taking notes or such. Mine is also stamped with the metal stamp and marked 89. OH! And it has the most amazing loving mechanism underneath. I actually found your comment on here, while sadly trying to research more info and a value for an insurance claim. While I have owned this desk for 15-20 years, and have loved it dearly, it was greatly damaged, and likely beyond repair when our home was destroyed in hurricane Florence. As you can tell, almost 2 years later we are still dealing with the damage, insurance and so on. While i have been devastated over the loss of our home and so many of our beloved items, objects and memories from raising our family in this home, this desk is one of the items that has hit me the hardest. Ive never seen another anywhere like it, minus the desk stored away at may fathers house, as long as I’ve been around (that’s at least 45 years lol) that is greatly similar in size and design, and one he “claims” came out of the White House and once belonged to Kennedys Secretary. While i know he believes this story, I’m not so sure i do lol. Tho, it does have names, and numbers scribbled all in the draw, and some are to offices once on capital hill and so one, so who knows. But he has so much other junk around it, I’ve never been able to open the side draws and locate a makers mark i cold compare to my own. Back when i bought mine we didn’t have such easy sites to google, and so many resources at our fingertips. So i didn’t find much information online at all, and have just continued to love it over the years, thinking if it wasn’t special out in the world, it was to me all the same. I’m still holding on to hope, of being able to save it, in some way, and rebuild/rehab what i can, and if not a functional desk. Babe still a lovely table or something. Anyways, now that i have rambled on, if you do see this, and would be willing to share any information you may know, even a little is much more than i have, it would be greatly appreciated. And what a great family name and history o be a part of! Thank you for your time.
Hello jfroehli and RestlessGypzy,
I came across this site while looking for additional information about J.F. Dietz & Co... RestlessGypzy, it sounds like you're describing a desk that I have had for a few years (bought it from a furniture resale business in Sun City, AZ) for $900.00. I believe it's made from a very dense Mediterranean wood based on some past online research. What a beautiful piece of furniture! And it's intact. Only thing missing seems to be a key for the center drawer lock (a locksmith is coming over today to see if he can make a key for me). The back plate of the lock as viewed from inside the desk drawer (after carefully removing the tray) is stamped "D322". I'm hoping this will help the locksmith.
Inside the right top drawer is a metal stamped round plate with "NO C66F". Mr. Froehlich (jfroehli), can you help to identify when the desk was manufactured and possibly in what catalog it was listed? Would love to have a copy/picture of the listing with the front cover of the catalog if possible. I obtained two original communications on company letterhead, one from 1908 and the other from 1911 and signed with a stamp by Louis Froehlich, that I obtained through eBay a couple of years ago. I keep them in one of the drawers for the history they lend to the desk; should probably keep them in my fireproof document box.
Thank you both for reading and hopefully responding. It's such a shame, RestlessGypzy that your desk was damaged... :-(
I'll attempt post a couple of pics of the desk in my profile in a bit so you can see what I have (first time using this site - I just created an account so I could post messages).
Best Regards,
-Gregg
Good news about my locksmith; he was successful in making a key for the desk! Had to do some work on the latching mechanism for the left-side drawers, but that's all fixed now. Someone in the past broke off two of the metal catches on the back of two of the left drawers, so I'll get them remade by someone I know - but all other drawers latch in when the center drawer is locked. :-)
A friend older than I thinks the desk is walnut, but it better matches sample images of mahogany online and jives with J.F. Dietz advertisements about woods they used.
RestlessGypzy, extending my sympathies for your other losses suffered by the hurricane as well...