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It's a telephone table. Sorry I don't have info about a maker.

Yes, it's a telephone table. I can't guess at the age or maker either, but these tables were very popular in the 60s and 70s. My mother and all her friends had them.

We had one growing up (not in wood) which was called a "gossip bench".

i'm always on the lookout for one of these telephone tables. i've seen some gorgeous mid century pieces... i want one so dang bad :)

the top shelf is for the telephone, and the bottom shelf is for the telephone book. at least that's what we did at our house.

It is indeed a telephone table, and it is from the time when there was only one telephone in each house. This kind of table was usually in the front of the house. In all the old sitcoms you see it against the stairs.

Interesting piece... it has to date from when Danish Modern was starting to become mainstream, as you have the somewhat Colonial Revival chair back merged with a more modern table. So I'd say 1960s, and I'd bet there was a much more Duncan Phyfe/Sheration version from the same manufacturer for quite a few years before.

The most likely maker is a big manufacturer in Highpoint, NC, or Grand Rapids, MI. I'd start looking at Web sites of Highpoint companies first -- some put their histories online, and it's also not impossible to find that they're still making the same designs that they produced in the 1960s.

SheraTON.

sheesh

The version we had had a rickety folding stool underneath it, but they were very popular, and for some reason, I'm picturing it has having probably appeared in at least one of the various series that Lucille Ball was in.

kdkaboom, I actually have one of these that I was planning on listing on Craigslist soon. I used it in a child's room as a little desk. It looks like the one above, except the desk part is enclosed (open only to the chair side) and it has a gooseneck light (which has been professionally rewired). Oh, and it is painted, but probably easily stripped as it is chipping in spots. I can take a few pics if you are interested.

I believe this is a phonebench, originally designed for the hallway phone,then the only phone in the house.
There is a cute name for it, that I don't recall.

robyn, thanks! i'd like to see pictures, yes. do you want to show them here or email em?

Heh! someone beat me to asking this question. I got one a few months back and recently reupholstered it. I got the fabric from IKEA, since it was a remnant... Whenever I can, though, I'll re-reupholstered it with a really nice fabric...

i love all of awesome little details in this chair. I think it's like pre-60's... My Phone Chair

Thanks everyone for helping me. I knew it was a unique piece of furniture! Now I have to figure out where to put it.

I put mine right by the front door, its very useful there.

- shoes can be put on or taken off
- you can leave your keys, cell phone, wallet, purse on the desk.
- i leave money for food deliveries there.
- my cat greets me on it when i come home.

so many uses!

kdkaboom - I will post a link here later when I get home from work.

Thanks Jamie, I love that idea! I am thinking about reupholstering it with a funky 60's style print. don't know whether to paint it black or leave it as is?

For me I had the same problem... I was considering the same ideas, but I kept it the same, i might go and re-stain it for a darker color, but i like the piece best with a natural wood being seen.

An exquisite item. You should wash, sand, buff, refinish, paint, reupholster, and polish it. Then throw it in the trash.

Jaimie--I love that piece. The IKEA fabric is a great choice: brings it right into the oughts.

i saw some like this on craigslist... wow, i'm impressed you found this in such good condition on the street!

kdkaboom, Here are the pics of the telephone table I have. It needs some TLC, as you will see the paint is a little chippy and the fabric on the seat was intended for a todder (but is super easy to reupholster). If you are at interested, email me at schaffer@kean.edu

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZOWTVy4aNXPg¬ag=1

And the rest of you...no mean comments about my crappy basement, please!

I don't usually go for a telephone table but in those colors and that particular design, it really is a great looking piece of furniture. I wish I'd found it!

Er.. Robyn.. about your basement... ;-) I'm envious you have one! Of course, I'm envious of people with attics, garages, attached storage areas......

Lovely little piece of furniture. I remember having one when I was young, with the requisite black dial desk telephone with the ring that would wake the dead. I'd love to find a corded desk phone with the muted British brrr-brrr ring.

Simple-G gets the prize. It's a "gossip bench", not a "telephone table". Everyone else was wrong, unless MrGreen missed some.

A telephone table is simply a small table, usually higher than an endtable, that has a shelf underneath for the phone book. No seat attached.

And it would behoove anyone who wishes to dispute this to google it first.