1956 Dining table

I have inheirited my grandparent's dining table, first big bit of furniture they brought after they were married. They got it from Myer in 1956, was originally finished in an opaque stain with shellac over the top, after 70 odd years the finish was pretty beat up, have sanded it back to bare wood, still has some marks which I'm yet to work out (see pictures). Wanted to ask for suggestions to what to finish it with, I was thinking of French Polishing, but if anyone has other ideas would be great. Also can anyone suggest what type of wood it is, was told by family is some type of Tasmanian hardwood, but no one is sure? Any help is appreciated

Do you have some other photos of the whole item? The details are great but it doesn't give any context. Any before photos too would be useful.

I’m no expert, however it doesn’t look like any Tasmanian hardwood that I have played with.

How heavy is it?

Off the top of my head could it be one of the pines or beeches?

Tassie Myrtle is the wood From what I see on my phone . A very popular timber choice at the time . They used a lot of it . Nice stuff ! 1956 My Dad was an apprentice Cabinet Maker at Myer making Myer Heritage Furniture . It was either 1956 or 57 he won Apprentice if the year at RMIT . He told me each guy numbered each piece they worked on so it could be checked back to the maker if problems showed up . Yeah more pictures please . I have some pictures of the Myer workshop somewhere .

Rob

If you know how to French Polish and get a good finish go with that . I do a lot of FP and the ability to adjust the shine and gloss is great . Repairs are easy . It’s a heck of a learning curve though .
If you want something a bit easier these new Hard Wax finishes can be pretty amazing . Myrtle is a fine close grain which makes polishing a bit easier as well . I’ve been using some Osmo Polyx oil satin recently . It’s a Lovely soft dull shine that I’ve been finishing off with a 0000 steel wool and a wax . They recomend doing 2 coats and no more . They recomend a whole lot of stuff none of which I listen to actually . I prefer to see for myself and if it fails I do something different . Being a fine grained wood you may fine the two coats is good . I like starting with sanding sealer though . Oil based Wattyl , Thinned . I give that a good cut back when it’s dry and do two applications of Osmo with a folded rag pad . It’s very good and easy . Easy to repair apparently as well . I haven’t had a need to do that as yet .

Rob

Hey Rob, It was Myer Heritage, I will have a look for a number. Will put some more photos up as well

Some more photos, the last panel is pretty much how the entire top looked, without the scuff marks which were from me checking to see how well the sand paper went, will get some of the legs and put up tomorrow. Found some writing on, see photo, there is more on another part, but it is under the stain and impossible to make out. Thank you for the comments.

Interesting finish. It kinda looks like it could have been French Polished. It certainly would not be unusual for high end furniture of that time. The only to know for certain would be to try some methylated spirits on a patch you can't see. If it softens the finish, it was French polished. If not, probably some kind of varnish. In which event, you may as well use whatever you like.

The new hard-wax oil finishes are just about the simplest finish you can apply and you get a great finish with little work. I just wipe it on with a rag for a low build finish. You can see a picture of my new desktop I did with it here in this thread: Hard Wax/Oil -- Is this so easy it is cheating?

I don't think that is myrtle, it should be more pinkish orange if it is stripped like that. Interesting restoration!

Its Myrtle . The stuff shows up a lot in Melbourne . Its a cabinet wood I grab off the street rubbish heaps when I used to get a chance. Or $30 dollar wardrobes at auction . Lovely stuff . Ive got a desk and wardrobe worth of timber waiting to be turned into something I need atm , both found on the footpath. Is a bit like US Cherry but a little harder. Salmon pink and close grained a lot of the time but you do see a wide variation in colour in the pieces mostly . it Fades to a nice light yellow. You can see in that top the variation and the typical narrow boards . Its been given a kind of murky colour to even it out a bit . I have a client who brings me all the Fred Ward things she buys for restoration . 1950’s Extension Dining Table. Fred Ward. VINTAGE Label. FLER Parker era. – iNVISeDGE
Its lovely stuff to polish up . Ive only ever used French polish on it .

Here is some ebay pics I found showng it of nicely with its different colours. The Myer stuff always has the finger jointed boards from what Ive seen . Usually separated in spots and needing repair . Ive always just scraped of remaining glue and re glued with two pack .
Attachment 482234Attachment 482235

Looks like Myrtle / Myrtle Beech Could be either from Tassie or Vic. should be very fine grained and reasonably hardish. Works nicely. Haven't seen much of this for years, have the theory that it came from clear -fell cutting and sorted out later as the living ones in the Otways that I've seen seem to be random in the forrest. My best guess from the photos - colours vary between pinkish, pale yellowish -orange -brown , with sometimes small streaks of darker brown ,but not much.:roll: