San Francisco Antiques

Note:  This San Francisco Antiques post is dedicated to our featured 1902 antique roll top desk.

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San Francisco Antiques:  A True Antique Roll Top Desk

San Francisco Antiques is proud to feature this beautiful, oak 1902 roll top desk.  It is a true antique that was built by the George H. Fuller Desk Company in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Antiques believes that this desk is an elegant heirloom that your family will treasure for generations to come.  The current owners have enjoyed it for about 37 years and have taken excellent care of it.  San Francisco Antiques found that they also have used it because it is a very practical desk with convenient cubbyholes, shelves and drawers for just about everything.  In addition to being very practical, the desk is a gorgeous addition to any room.  San Francisco Antiques thinks it is as beautiful as it is durable and versatile.

San Francisco Antiques:  Excellent Craftsmanship 

Tambour Easily Glides

San Francisco Antiques observed that you can simply roll the top down to hide any current projects and show off the beautiful craftsmanship of the oak grain tambour (roll top) of the desk.  As San Francisco Antiques tested the roll top, the tambour easily glided along the s-curve track of the desk.  It securely fastens when completely rolled down with a full mortise lock.  The George H. Fuller Desk Company engraved plaque frames the keyhole on the tambour.  San Francisco Antiques tested an additional lock that secures the middle desk drawer. 

Strong, Dovetail Joints

San Francisco Antiques also found that the drawers feature perfectly crafted dovetail joints that have remained strong and tight.  It is obvious to San Francisco Antiques that great care and pride in craftsmanship went into the building of this fine desk.  San Francisco Antiques observed that it was born in an era before power tools when special attention was given to each detail.

Two Drawer Pedestals

Further observations by San Francisco Antiques included the fact that the desk is supported by two drawer pedestals.  There are four drawers on the left and three on the right with the bottom drawer on the right twice as deep as the rest.  Each drawer is decorated with a lovely carved wooden drawer pull.  San Francisco Antiques noted as an additional feature that just above each pedestal of drawers is a handy pull-out board for more space to work on when needed.

Handsome Raised Oak Paneling

San Francisco Antiques loved the fact that the back and sides of the desk are handsomely adorned with raised oak panels giving the desk a very elegant appearance.  San Francisco Antiques admired this look and felt that it is too beautiful to hide and almost a shame to have the back of the desk hidden against a wall.  San Francisco Antiques observed that even the kneehole of the desk is decorated inside with this beautiful paneling to give even your feet a luxurious environment as you sit at the desk. 

Measurements of Desk and Many Compartments

Main Desk

San Francisco Antiques measured the desk and found that the outside dimensions of the desk are 54 inches long, 34 inches wide, and 46-1/2 inches high (29-1/2 inches to the top of the desk work area). 

As San Francisco Antiques sat at the desk, it was noticed that the work area of the desk is very generous measuring 50 inches long (inside the tambour and track) and 30 inches wide.  San Francisco Antiques likes the fact that it would work equally well for paying your monthly bills, writing letters, or working on your laptop.  It is a lovely combination of nostalgia and romance mixed with efficiency and functionality.  San Francisco Antiques believes that you should enjoy your work and your work space.

Compartments

San Francisco Antiques further noted that there are six 4-1/2 by 3 inch cubbyholes, and six 4-1/2 by 2-1/2 inch cubbyholes for items such as letters and smaller or folded papers. 

Also, San Francisco Antiques observed that there are two 2-1/4 by 13-1/4 inch vertical slots for larger items to stand up such as clipboards and notebooks, and two vertical slots 1-1/4 by 5-3/4 inches for smaller items.  Additionally, San Francisco Antiques saw that there are three horizontal shelves 13-1/2 inches long with adjustable heights. 

San Francisco Antiques noted that the desk has two small pencil-holder pullouts.  Finally, two small drawers are installed in the top of the desk measuring 13-1/4 inches long by 9-1/4 inches wide by 2 inches deep to store items that can easily be retrieved.  San Francisco Antiques pulled out the right drawer and found this date, “May 5—1902.”  The date format is written in an older style. 

San Francisco Antiques believes that you can find a place for everything in this gorgeous yet versatile treasure which is sure to become a family heirloom for its next owner. 

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT SAN FRANCISCO ANTIQUES REGARDING THE FEATURED BEAUTIFUL ROLL TOP DESK.

A “Fine Wine” That No Reproduction Can Compare To

San Francisco Antiques noticed that there are what would be considered “age appropriate” light marks and scratches on the desk and a few stains in the drawers which just seem to add to its character like a fine wine.  San Francisco Antiques realizes that it is not “perfect” like a brand new reproduction off the assembly line, but it is rich in history and heritage.  San Francisco Antiques maintains that no reproduction can come close to the distinctive quality of this fine, mature heirloom.  A desk of this vintage and caliber is far superior to a second-rate reproduction.

Recent Appraisal

San Francisco Antiques recently had this beautiful George H. Fuller antique roll top desk appraised in 2011.  The appraisal came in at $2500 to $3000.  We believe that our price of $2400 is very fair for this handsome desk.  It is in very good condition and, if properly cared for, San Francisco Antiques believes that it has at least another 110 years ahead of it to grace your home and the homes of your children and grandchildren and beyond. 

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San Francisco Antiques

Note:  This San Francisco Antiques post is a history of the George H. Fuller San Francisco Desk Company.

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT SAN FRANCISCO ANTIQUES REGARDING THE FEATURED BEAUTIFUL ROLL TOP DESK.

The San Francisco Antiques website has researched information on George H. Fuller who originally founded the George H. Fuller Desk Company in San Francisco, California in 1876.  He was trained as a cabinet maker and built the detailed, beautiful desks that bear his name.  His company built the desk that is featured on this San Francisco Antiques website.

San Francisco Antiques:  History of the Roll Top Desk

San Francisco Antiques found that roll top desks were just being manufactured and becoming popular in offices in the last quarter of the 1800′s just when George Fuller was starting his company.  His roll top desks were the new innovations in office furniture at the time, and he took pride in producing high quality, handcrafted furniture such as the roll top desk featured on San Francisco Antiques website. 

San Francisco Antiques also discovered that the roll top desk continued to be used in offices until the 1930′s enjoying a very long period of popularity among businesses for over 50 years (and, San Francisco Antiques believes, presently also).  The less attractive steel desk became more popular and took the place of the roll top desk. 

Roll top desks, like San Francisco Antique’s desk built by George H. Fuller, are a very popular item among antique collectors.  San Francisco Antiques’ desk has an added appeal for San Franciscans in that it was built by one of its own skilled craftsmen over a century ago.

San Francisco Antiques:  1906 Earthquake Devastated Businesses and Individuals Alike

San Francisco Antiques researched the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and found that it devastated both individuals and businesses.  On April 18, 1906 at 5:12 in the morning, an earthquake of what most (including San Francisco Antiques) would agree was around 7.9 magnitude, struck San Francisco.  The epicenter was about two miles offshore.  The quake ran along the San Andreas Fault for 296 miles, and the vibration was felt from Los Angeles to Central Nevada and on up to Oregon. 

San Francisco Antiques:  San Francisco’s Loss

San Francisco Antiques discovered that between both the earthquake and the fire (mostly caused by ruptured gas lines), approximately 80 percent of the city was completely destroyed.  Of this 80 percent, San Francisco Antiques found, an amazing 90 percent of the damage was caused by the out-of-control fires. 

San Francisco Antiques further researched and discovered that people were discouraged, and many moved their families, businesses, and cultural pursuits south to Los Angeles.  San Francisco Antiques research also found that much of the creative and artistic portion of the population moved to Carmel where the reputation of being friendly to the arts is alive and well to this day. 

San Francisco Antiques finds this rather ironic since the same San Andreas Fault that caused the earthquake in San Francisco runs south to Los Angeles where most people thought they would be leaving the possibility of devastating earthquakes behind them.  In fact, the San Andreas Fault runs between approximately the Salton Sea in Southern California to Mendocino along the Northern California coast—an amazing 800 miles long.  

San Francisco Antiques:  George H. Fuller Retires 

It was in this setting that George H. Fuller found himself after approximately 30 years in business.  The economic devastation has been compared to that of Katrina and estimated to be equivalent to many billions in modern dollars.  Mr. Fuller was about 66 years old after the earthquake.  It was a difficult decision, but he decided to sell his ledger and business to two brothers named Samuel and James Rucker.  He then retired and ended his business, building beautiful furniture. 

San Francisco Antiques:  The Rucker Fuller Desk Company Helps to Rebuild San Francisco

The Rucker brothers had purchased a furniture store in 1886 and named it the Rucker Brothers.  Samuel Rucker had also been mayor of San Jose from 1890-1892.  The brothers learned that there were two ships in San Francisco’s bay full of office furniture.  They purchased the furniture and helped businessmen rebuild their beloved San Francisco under the name Rucker Fuller Desk Company. 

San Francisco Antiques was told that this has always been a source of pride to the company for the past century because they rolled up their sleeves and helped San Francisco’s businesses and people after this devastating event. 

San Francisco Antiques:  Changing Locations and Owners

In 1908, the brothers moved their company into a building on Mission Street and ended up staying at that location for 25 years.  One of the brothers, Sam Rucker, died in 1921.  There have been various locations the company has moved to since then, and they are currently owned by the Ferrari family.  The current name of the company has been changed to One Workplace, but San Francisco Antiques found that they still have their ruckerfuller.com website because they have been known by that name for so many years. 

San Francisco Antiques:  “Keep that desk.  It’s an antique!”

One Workplace’s sales manager, Lin Repola (who was kind enough to furnish much of the history on the company), stated to San Francisco Antiques, “Keep that desk. It’s an antique!”  She recommends that San Francisco Antiques should keep the featured roll top desk. 

Yes, it truly is an original, beautiful San Francisco antique.  San Francisco Antiques is currently seeking a buyer who can fully appreciate the handsome roll top desk featured in this website and made by George H. Fuller almost 110 years ago.  Call or email San Francisco Antiques today!

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