If you haven't noticed, Mid-Century Modern styling is de rigueur over at Apartment Therapy. But here at Unplggd, we don't always get the opportunity to showcase MCM; it's not like we could refurb an authentic 1950's laptop table or anything. But one DIY designer wanted to imagine what computer furniture would look like if it had existed in the 1950s—and he wants your help getting the authenticity just right.
Jeffrey Stephenson, who is no stranger to re-creating vintage designs, wanted to imagine what computer furniture might have looked like "if IBM had invented the PC twenty years earlier."
So this apparent Mad Men fan set out to create a PC tower that looked like it could have been "a computer used in the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce."
Using a 1964 Danish-made desk (an eBay find, shown below) as his inspiration, Stephenson created this current-work-in-progress. And he wants you to help him decide if he's going in the right direction.
Head over to Core 77 and leave a comment with the answers to Stephenson's questions:
- Do you find the length of the legs, or the use of woven cane in the front, an issue?
- Danish modern should be teak, but does this red oak work
- I want the design to be light and airy, but are the proportions too thin in the legs and tabletop?
- How much will people complain about there not being a CD drive? (I don't use them anymore.)
- The emblem on the front is a big decision yet to be made. I have a case badge from an original IBM I'm considering using, but something classy from the period might be more appropriate.Any suggestions?
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i want the desk
wow, looove
I think the basic form is great, and the color is good - it just needs finessing:
Use a router to round off the edges of the legs, case and the top.
Fabricate gold-tone anodized-aluminum plates for the CD slot, power & eject switch, and perforated back cover-panel for ventillation, cable connections, etc. I also wonder if fabric-covered cords and anodized-aluminum keyboard mounts could be created - and a reproduction Philco Predicta "Holiday" or "Princess" TV could be used as a Monitor?
In addition, have a brass plate made with the old "Big Blue" IBM logo used from 1956-1972 to mount in the lower/center of the mesh front: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_IBM_Logo.png
Do you find the length of the legs, or the use of woven cane in the front, an issue?
- Nope. (Though I dislike cane, it's true to the period)
Danish modern should be teak, but does this red oak work?
- Yes, but it needs finishing, either waxing or polyeurothane)
I want the design to be light and airy, but are the proportions too thin in the legs and tabletop?
- I like the legs, but I think the top could stand to be a bit thicker... maybe about 1/2" more. Also go over the corners and edges with a router (like bepsf said).
How much will people complain about there not being a CD drive? (I don't use them anymore.)
- Some people still do. Maybe put the caning on hinges so one can open it up and put a CD in.
The emblem on the front is a big decision yet to be made. I have a case badge from an original IBM I'm considering using, but something classy from the period might be more appropriate. Any suggestions?
I'm with bepsf on this, again.
My only concern is overheating in the computer. I have my co-processor sitting in such a compartment in a desk and even with the front and sides off, it still overheats in the summer months. You're gonna need a really powerful on that baby, otherwise.
I love the idea. I am actually in the process of building a desk for my wife and was wondering where you got the cane material from? Ive only seen natural online for sale. I'd love to hear from you. Again, great idea and great design.
I love the idea. I am actually in the process of building a desk for my wife and was wondering where you got the cane material from? Ive only seen natural online for sale. I'd love to hear from you. Again, great idea and great design.