1930s Vintage Deitzgen Drafting Table

Description

Pristine vintage Deitzgen drafting table.
From the 1930s.
Carefully and recently refurbished during a 100+ hour restoration project, that began … more Pristine vintage Deitzgen drafting table.
From the 1930s.
Carefully and recently refurbished during a 100+ hour restoration project, that began in the fall of 2022.
Would make a wonderful purchase for a graduating or established architect … or designer. (Maybe for a Ball State Cardinal alum!)

In real estate it’s -
location;
location;
location!

In antiques it’s -
condition;
condition;
condition!

And this highly collectible piece is wonderfully preserved.

It would make -
*a distinctive bar;
*a one of a kind kitchen table with your own stools;
*an art table;
*and/or
*even a unique corporate boardroom presentation easel with an industrial flair.

The top is a glowing warm and deep yellow-gold … of old growth pine boards, that was just … professionally, meticulously, and lovingly … refinished.
The top was finely sanded between coats and coated with 4 separate applications of durable Varathane polyurethane.

The finish on the remainder of this wonderful piece of primarily oak hardwood, is essentially the original finish … with a recent application of well known Kramer’s Restoration Finish, to bring back its original luster.

The rest of the surface restoration step was coupled with a “thimble-full” of stain … to
“spot-stain” some very minor nicks and hairline scratches on the legs and frame box.

Its 72” x 36” top overhangs some 7.5” on each side and overhangs approximately 3” in the front and back.

The clearance … from the floor to the lower table box bottom edge is 26.5”. And it is a 30” clearance with the 3.5” leg extenders that easily and instantly attach.

A satiny silver patina on 2 metal rustic side edges (to support drafting arm attachments if so desired) provides a visible contrast to the yellow pine top.
That metal edging is a practical feature and adds to that aesthetic industrial flair.

A cool, distinctive deep contoured length-long front pencil tray, attaches with 4 heavy original brass flathead screws … and highlights its front top edge.
That pencil tray is easily removed as well. (The tray does have an inconspicuous
minor “blemish” … consisting of a small missing corner sliver on the the front right end of said tray … that seems to blend in well.)

The top lays flat for eating or dining. It can easily be angled up … with 2 sturdy support arms, hinging by the top’s 2 heavy iron original hinges … and easily adjusts to an angle of your choosing … to utilize the top for actual drafting or designing or for impressively displaying visual aids at your office conferences and/or presentations … or to display art at home.

(The pencil tray adds 1.25” to the 36” top depth.)

This piece is remarkably designed by old world German designers and solidly constructed.

Deitzgen was historically a cutting edge drafting supply manufacturer from the turn of the 19th century of significance, originating in Germany, with factories and offices worldwide, including Chicago.

All original heavy hardware still exists.

Its 2 drawers slide incredibly smoothly.
And the smaller drawer retains an original sliding cubby pencil box for drafting supplies.

We even picked up a few Deitzgen nostalgic pieces … a tiny vintage orange and black Deitzgen drafting thumbtack tin … that is visible in the front of the small drawer AND a 1912 “Ninth Edition … Catalogue of Eugene Deitzgen Co Drawing Materials Surveying Instruments”
A “ninth edition” … published in 1912.
(Just a a few pieces of Deitzgen memorabilia that go too, with this beauty. There’s a lot of really neat Deitzgen memorabilia out there, to fill the drawers.)

Its large drawer measures 2” deep top to bottom; 37” wide”; and 27” front to back deep.
Its smaller drawer measures 4” deep top to bottom; 10.5” wide; and 27” front to back deep.

Surprisingly, this piece still retains 3 original Deitzgen distinctive gold painted surface labels … still intact.
And also remaining, amazingly, is an original paper product description diagram/label affixed inside the back of the table frame that we’ve carefully protected with clear plexiglass.

An unusually impressive “office inventory” metal brass tag also is remains affixed … that survives from an old furniture company … namely, Durham Mfg., of Muncie, Indiana. That company was lost in a devastating fire in the early 1950’s … that previously housed this “gem” (pun intended) … as part of its factory inventory.

The original metal Deitzgen tag also still adorns this piece. It has a deep brassy patina, as well.

It is reasonably believed that another previous owner of this piece… a local Cambridge City, Indiana resident … that we purchased said item “from” in August of 2022 (via auction) … was that of a local longtime “barn builder” and designer, born elsewhere in 1925, that apparently utilized this drafting table in his “building business” that he incorporated back in 1974!

(His actual initials were G.E.M. and his business was called Gem Buildings.)

It is suspected that this gentleman obtained this table in the wake of the Muncie fire … he having worked in Muncie in the 50s.

The 2 drawers are handsomely fitted with heavy original pulls with a warm bronze tint.

This table incredibly… conveniently disassembles quite easily; and simply, breaks down with a hand socket wrench and hand screwdriver. Thanks again to German engineering.
The top quickly detaches … by popping a pin in each of the 2 table’s top hinges.

Each of the four legs are bolted into the box frame’s heavy, sturdy iron angle brackets … that tie into a lag bolt that runs down the center of each leg that in turn tightly ties the table box’s 4 sides together.
And those 4 legs also are easily separated from the sturdy table frame box for moving and/or storage.
Resulting in … after
a 5-10 minute disassembly … in the following components:
* 1 Separate Table Top;
* 4 Separate Legs;
* 1 Separate Table Frame
Box of 57” x 30.5” x 8”
(that Box can be yet
further broken down
into 4 separate pieces by
unscrewing them from
the iron corner
brackets);
* 2 Separate Drawers;
* 4 Separate Detachable
Optional Leg Risers of
3.5” (via an attached
dowel) to quickly
increase the table top
height to 38”;
* 1 Lower Horizontal Leg
Stretcher; and
* 1 Length-Long Pencil Tray.

A picture of the pieces separated … is forthcoming!

Makes moving this impressive gem, quite manageable.

It is … rock solid tight …when quickly re-assembled in but minutes….

The purchaser hereof might also consider fitting the legs with caster wheels. That could be done in
the preexisting hole in each leg … that accommodates the aforementioned table leg doweled leg extenders.

Lastly…

On a personal note … the above noted prior owner (our seller that we purchased it from at auction) we are told … affectionately referred to this special piece as his “baby” … per his auctioneer.
It is obvious that he cared for it … based on its pristine condition.

This table deserves a special “home”… and our small mid-century modern home won’t accommodate it. Damnit. less