What is a Knapp joint?
The Knapp is a very strong form of drawer joinery but was only utilized from 1870 until about 1900, when it basically fell completely out of use. It was replaced by machine cut dovetails, which are still mass produced in factories today. This Victorian Eastlake piece features Knapp joint details, check it out.
How old is the Knapp dovetailing company?
Information about the age of the piece on which you saw the joint. Mr. Knapp patented his first joint making Machine in 1867. In 1870 he sold the rights to an improved version of the patented machine to a group of Investors who formed the Knapp Dovetailing Company in Northampton, Mass.
When were lap joints used in furniture?
A machine made lap joint will most likely have clean cuts and guide marks may not have been used. The late 1600’s to the very early 1700’s, introduced a difficult to make joint into furniture making. Drawers that were made before this time were more of an inconvenience with an extremely limited use, as they would break rather easily.
Where did the Knapp sewing machine come from?
The machine began work in the Beal and Hooper Factory in East Cambridge in 1871. The price of the Knapp machine began to get affordable so its use spread throughout the East and it made some gains in the Midwest, where it was used by Nelson Matter in Grand Rapids and Mitchell and Rammelsberg in Cincinnati.
How do you date furniture with joints?
You can get an idea of the date of a piece of antique furniture by looking at the dovetail joint, as if it is hand cut you know its pre 1880 and the more primitive the cut usually means an earlier piece. Below you can see examples, the first is a 17th century drawer, pre dovetail so very primitive clout nails used.
When did they stop using dovetail joints in furniture?
18th Century English Dovetails By 1730, through dovetail joinery was abandoned in English furniture making in favor of the lapped construction. As furniture became more refined, furniture makers began to take pride in the construction of their drawers as well.
When were cove and pin joints used?
If you have an antique piece of furniture that features drawers with a curious-looking half-circle joint, you can be almost certain that it was made in a North American factory between 1871 and 1900.
When did furniture makers start using dowels?
The dowel-a peg or pin of hardwood-is a somewhat late development in furniture making; it replaced the traditional mortise and tenon joint in the early 19th Century. The presence of dowels often determines whether a piece of furniture that appears to be from the 18th Century is in fact a Victorian reproduction.
How old is Knapp joint?
The History: The Knapp joint was developed during the late Victoria Era in post Civil War United States. Patented by Charles Knapp of Waterloo, WI in 1867, the Knapp Joint was a huge breakthrough for the furniture industry; machines called routers made circular cuts in wood far quicker than by hand.
How can you tell how old furniture is?
How to Determine the Age of Antique FurnitureLook Past the Style of a Piece.Examine Bottoms, Insides, and Backs.Check for Perfectly Matching Elements.Try to Figure Out What Tools Were Used.Look at the Wood and Upholstery Fabric.Investigate the Screws and Other Hardware.
How do you date an old chest of drawers?
Saw marks can help you determine dates. Straight saw marks signify antique chest of drawers from the first half of the 18th century. From the end of the century, however, circular saws were used, leaving visible circular saw marks on the inside of carcases. Don't completely be put off by restoration.
What years were wooden wheels used on furniture?
Even though wheels (and therefore casters) have been around for quite a while, they weren't officially used to move furniture until the 1870s. David A Fisher filed the first patent for a caster in 1876.
How do you cut a Knapp joint?
11:3222:08How to make these Alternative Dovetail Joints (The Knapp Joint)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's not pretty but this is the original template I made and I did that by turning dowels. And thenMoreIt's not pretty but this is the original template I made and I did that by turning dowels. And then I cut slices off. They fit it into that guide.
How do I know if my furniture is Eastlake?
Identifying Eastlake Furniture Pieces of furniture in this style had low relief carvings, incised lines, moldings, geometric ornaments, and flat surfaces that were easy to keep clean. Also known as Cottage Furniture, the mass-produced pieces were much more affordable than fanciful revival ones.
What year did they start using nails in furniture?
A reasonable date for furniture originally constructed with round wire nails is after 1880. Here are examples of the modern straight-sided manufactured wire nail: The simple nail serves as a key to furniture dating. Until about 1800, nails were hand-forged – tapered square shafts and hand-hammered heads.
How can you tell if a table is antique?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.
How do you date furniture with screws?
1:553:01Rediscovery Centre - Tips to Help Identify Antique Furniture - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYeah these look like too similar slot head screws which have a bit of age you can see the rusting onMoreYeah these look like too similar slot head screws which have a bit of age you can see the rusting on the top which is a good indication that they have some age but if you look at the underneath.
How do you date an old chest of drawers?
Saw marks can help you determine dates. Straight saw marks signify antique chest of drawers from the first half of the 18th century. From the end of the century, however, circular saws were used, leaving visible circular saw marks on the inside of carcases. Don't completely be put off by restoration.
When were dovetail drawers made?
It was patented by Charles Knapp of Waterloo, WI in 1867. This type of joint was a significant advancement in furniture construction as it was made by machines whereas the dovetail joint had to be done by hand. The rate of production went from 20 drawers per day to 250!
How do I know if my antique furniture is valuable?
Basically, look for irregular shaped joints. If the joints are perfect, then the piece is not truly old. If they are irregular, there is a greater chance that the furniture is old and potentially valuable.
Why was the Knapp joint so successful?
A big reason for the huge success of the Knapp joint was the fact that machines that were needed for creating the dovetail joints were not created. However, when these machines were eventually created, the routers as well as the Knapp joints were abandoned and people moved over to using the new dovetail machines.
What Is A Knapp joint?
The Knapp joint is also known as Pin and cove, pin and scallop, and Half-moon. It is a visually unique and aesthetically distinct style of antique joinery that was only popular for a short period but was soon abolished due to the creation of the dovetail machine, which is still heavily produced and used today.
Why were the Knapp joints thrown out?
Because of this reason, people filled their homes with items from that time and as a result, the Knapp joints were thrown out because they looked too “modern” for the times.
Where was the Knapp Dovetailing Machine made?
Mr. Knapps then sold the rights to the machine to an investment group based in Massachusetts, and this group formed the Knapp Dovetailing Machine Company. The company then hired Mr. Knapps to serve as a consultant as well as Nathan C. Clement, who was a machinist so they could improve the machine even further and push it into large-scale regular production. The machine began work in the Beal and Hooper Factory in East Cambridge in 1871.
Where was the Knapp machine used?
The price of the Knapp machine began to get affordable so its use spread throughout the East and it made some gains in the Midwest, where it was used by Nelson Matter in Grand Rapids and Mitchell and Rammelsberg in Cincinnati.
When was the last Knapp joint cut?
The last set of Knapp joints were cut around 1905 and they have not been used in any form of production since that time.
What did the colonial revival look like?
There was nothing from the Colonial era that looked like it and it looked nothing like the dovetail joints that were predominantly used during that period. So as the colonial revival began at the turn of the new century, the “high tech” innovations that came with the 19th century were swept aside and the way was cleared for products that looked more “18th century-Esque”.
When was the Knapp joint made?
If you have an antique piece of furniture that features drawers with a curious-looking half-circle joint, you can be almost certain that it was made in a North American factory between 1871 and 1900. While it came to be known as the Knapp Joint, the joint is also variously described by its appearance: the pin and cove, scallop and dowel, ...
How many patents were there for dovetails?
Though people were patenting machines that could produce dovetails (106 patents for the like applied for between 1833 and 1900!), no one had yet developed an appealing way to cut more than one uniform pin and tail at a time. (See the Burley & Putman Dovetailing machine, patent nos. 12,122 and 26,647)
What were the joints made after 1800?
Joints made after the mid 1800’s, are more likely to have been produced using power tools and machinery to shape the timbers. These joints are more looking to be clean cut and even, with a smoother finish. Have a look at the cut lines on the joints, and feel around for gouges and rough finishes.
When were hand made joints invented?
Handmade joints that were made before the mid 1800’s, were created using hand saws and chisels.
How do carpenters use tenon joints?
Carpenters use the mortise and tenon joint technique to make a male and female connection between two pieces of timber. Called the “Tenon”, carpenters shape one end of the timber into a square tongue by reducing the thickness of the wood. On the other piece of timber, a slot known as the “Mortise” is made to match the measurements of the tenon. How closely the sizes match between the two determines how snugly the two parts fit. Some cultures may soak the tenon in a resin or glue prior to forcing the swollen wood into the slot. Others may not have used glues at all and required the fit to be as tight as possible. Then again nails, pegs or wedges may have been forced into the slot alongside the tenon, or driven through the side of the timber locking the tenon in place.
What is mortise and tenon joint?
One of the strongest and oldest forms of joinery that has been used by carpenters for thousands of years. While it is a simple design, the mortise and tenon joint is nonetheless an effective and versatile joint that can be found in most carpentry, from furniture and storage, to buildings and bridges. Most quality antique furniture has been made ...
Why are dovetail joints so rare?
Dovetail joints were difficult to make by hand and required a lot of skill to master. Despite its effectiveness it is for this reason that dovetail joints were relatively rare and reserved mostly for high end products.
What method do carpenters use to make joints?
The following are the methods that carpenters use to make this joints: Hand made Joints – Some carpenters still use this method, but prior to the mid 1800’s, this was the only way to make them.
What countries use joinery?
Just as with art styles, culture and fashion, each region of the world had their own joinery styles. Asian countries like China and Japan would often use such intricate designs that trying to assemble them yourself today, would be like trying to assemble one of these 3D puzzle toys. Other regions opted for brute force over fiddly designs, and would use a mallet to drive the pieces together or wedges and pins into place. Both variations while vastly different from one another, still followed the same principles, in that they would join the timbers in such a way that they couldn’t be pulled apart.
When were dovetail joints first used?
Woodworkers cut dovetail joints in the latter part of the 17th century in England, using small delicate saws and wood chisels. The marks are often visible, especially on the inside or underside of a piece. The joints were less delicate at first -- fairly wide and blunt, cut crudely with rare exceptions. But the style developed into a very thin, precise and fragile-looking joint. In the late 1890s, scalloped dovetails were the rage, but the trend shifted back to the classic triangular shape after a few years. Hand-cut dovetailing was the default until 1860 when uniform machine-cut joints were introduced. But fine cabinetmakers persisted in fitting their joints by hand until the early 1900s, and cabinetmakers in Europe cut dovetails by hand well into the 1930s.
Why is it called a dovetail joint?
It's called a "dovetail" joint because the flat-bottomed triangular shape of the wood insert looks like a dove's tail. Whether that tail is fat, skinny, symmetrical or used sparingly reveals a clue to the origins of the piece.
How many dovetails do country carpenters use?
Meanwhile, country carpenters were turning out sturdy and polished dovetailing in their handmade pieces -- but favored two or three large dovetails, fairly symmetrical, over the more delicate and numerous joints in which master carpenters took pride.
When was dovetailing invented?
American Aberration. American woodworkers played around with the ancient dovetailing concept and invented a version of their own in 1870. Eastlake and Victorian-style wood furniture, especially case furniture, displays a round dovetail known as a "pin and cove.".
What was the Egyptian footstool?
The Pharaoh's Footstool. Egyptian pharaohs were buried with fine furnishings and chests of valuables and rare spices to accompany them to the afterlife. Boxy shapes with joined wood angles were connected by dovetailing, a fact that contributed to the intact state of the grave goods when the pyramids and burial chambers were excavated.
Is dovetail joint machine made?
The use of the joinery technique stretches back into prehistory, but its utility is still relevant. Today, dovetail joints are machine made, and that fact is what helps to pinpoint the age of the chest of drawers from the attic. Machine-made dovetails are thicker than graceful, asymmetrical hand-cut joints.
When were drawer joints made?
So now you know that a piece of furniture with those odd little drawer joints was made between 1871 and 1900 without a doubt.
What was the rotary saw used for in the 1800s?
The early 1800’s saw lots of advancement in machinery for wood working and by the Civil War mechanized furniture factories were on line but the dovetail drawer joint was still a hold up.
