Woodrat's journey

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

Moderators: kiwigeo, Jeremy D

User avatar
woodrat
Blackwood
Posts: 1155
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:31 am
Location: Hastings River, NSW.
Contact:

Woodrat's journey

Post by woodrat » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:41 am

Well a few of you knew that I slipped out of the country for a little while. I have been in the UK visiting friends and doing some other guitar related stuff....those who know me know that means looking for wood :oops:

Well I have managed to sniff out a few gems in some antique shops here in the South West. My friends live in Exeter which is a beautiful city that was a Roman town about 1800 years ago....yes thats right 1800 years! In those days it was known as Isca. I have walked the wall of the old city which was built on top of the old Roman wall...you can still see some of the old Roman wall in places but what you see today is essentially the medieval wall that was built over the Roman foundations. I think most of the Roman wall was pilfered for building stone after they left around AD400.
Anyway...I thought that I would show some pics of what I have found. I found the best find first in an antique shop in a nearby town called Honiton. It is a solid Brazilian rosewood drop side table with two leaves that are 17mm thick old growth BRW. I then found a late Georgian breakfast table with what I think is Cuban mahogany about 25mm thick. After that I found a solid Brazilian Mahogany bed head that is very well quartered and about 25mm thick too. Yesterday I went to an Auction house in Torquay and bought a solid Brazilian Mahogany table with a top that is one piece of mahogany that is about 1500 by 1100. The rails on the table are perfectly quarter sawn and will make lovely necks. It was passed in at the previous auction and I asked how much I could buy it for and the Auctioneer said that the owner would take £30 for it....you can imagine how long it took me to think that one over! It was a hand made table about 120 years old, late Victorian. The maker had done his working out for materials and what the final cost would be on the unerneath of the top. The whole top cost 16 shillings and the rails 12s. The polishing cost £1-3-0 for a total of £3-2-6 but in the other workings the total came to £4-2-6 so I am guessing that he made the table for the difference....£1 exactly!
Today I broke the furniture down to what I wanted to send home. I did it in
my friends back garden which as you can see is hardly big enough to swing a cat but I managed :) Tomorrow I am going to make a crate up at my friends fathers workshop to sea freight it home.

John AKA WoodRat
Attachments
P1010588.JPG
P1010592.JPG
P1010597.JPG
P1010582.JPG
P1010573.JPG
P1010566.JPG
"It's never too late to be what you might have been " - George Eliot

User avatar
charangohabsburg
Blackwood
Posts: 1818
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:25 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by charangohabsburg » Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:02 am

Congrats Woodrat. These are some very nice guitars! :mrgreen: :cl :cl :cl
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

User avatar
Nick
Blackwood
Posts: 3641
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:20 am
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Nick » Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:03 am

Australian Herald headlines....
"Aussie buys up British Heritage"
John the Woodrat, a member of our fine colonial population, has today single handedly eliminated much of Britain's fine and proud heritage by buying, at bargain basement prices, all of it's historical wooden furnishings.
John is said to be ecstatic at his purchases but Harry Bludgenal, head of the British Heritage Society, is quoted as saying "It's criminal that these colonials are allowed to come over here and purchase such rare and valuable items that are so integral to our history. The last time such rape and pillage was seen on such a scale in these fair isles, the culprits were wearing pointy metal hats with horns on them but weren't carrying passports."
To add further insult to injury, Mr Bludgenal is said to be recovering comfortably in hospital after suffering a major heart attack last week, it is believed it was partially triggered by being told that John was seen to have had taken to the priceless furniture with a rip saw and screwdriver in order to make his purchases small enough to ship back home to Australia, what's more, pictures were proudly posted on a local Australian Guitar forum for all to see of his plunders. The final straw however, was when John was to have reportedly said "What I can't convert into guitars should burn well in the Pizza oven." Harry was apoplectic which pushed him fully into the near fatal attack.
As a proud Aussie, this reporter says..........."Onya John!"

Nice purchases John :D
"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.

User avatar
P Bill
Blackwood
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am
Location: Cedar Vale, Qld Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by P Bill » Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:31 am

I can only hope, in the timber scarce future, no one finds a use for old guitars. :D
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits

Bill

User avatar
Kim
Admin
Posts: 4376
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:32 pm
Location: South of Perth WA

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Kim » Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:38 am

Very noice!!! 8)

So what's ur mate's gate that's behind you in the first image made of Woodrat??

Probably get a few tenors outa that sign to. :idea:

Cheers

Kim

User avatar
peter.coombe
Blackwood
Posts: 723
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:52 pm
Location: Bega, NSW
Contact:

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by peter.coombe » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:11 am

Hello John

Nice finds. So how are you going to import all that CITES listed stuff into Australia? The mahogany should be ok, but the Rosewood will need paperwork.

Peter
Peter Coombe - mandolin, mandola and guitar maker
http://www.petercoombe.com

User avatar
Tod Gilding
Blackwood
Posts: 838
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:32 pm
Location: South West Rocks NSW

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Tod Gilding » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:36 am

Good to see you found your way home John. And with good finds, well done
Tod



Music is everyone's posession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.
John Lennon

User avatar
DarwinStrings
Blackwood
Posts: 1877
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Darwin

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by DarwinStrings » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:58 am

40 Shilllings for not shutting the gate, wish I could charge my kids that for not shutting the flyscreen door. If the Red Coats come looking for you John we will defend you and your stash till the bitter end.

Jim
Life is good when you are amongst the wood.
Jim Schofield

liam_fnq
Blackwood
Posts: 596
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:54 pm

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by liam_fnq » Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:12 pm

There's lots of great timber out there for building guitars but that beautiful furniture is gone for ever..............

User avatar
ozwood
Blackwood
Posts: 624
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:04 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by ozwood » Wed Jun 19, 2013 6:50 pm

John,



Like the little girl says on the natural confectionary company tv ad ............. Chop it........ :cl :cl :cl :cl :cl :cl :cl :cl :cl boring old english furniture :roll: :roll: .


catch you when you get back.

cheers,
Paul .

User avatar
kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10583
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by kiwigeo » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:21 pm

Should be an interesting episode of "Border Patrol" coming up.. :mrgreen:
Martin

User avatar
P Bill
Blackwood
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am
Location: Cedar Vale, Qld Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by P Bill » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:37 am

This could start a new trend. Now every furniture maker will need guitar templates in his kit and thru inlay to thwart future resawing. The tops, gables, rails, draw fronts will be guitar pattern traced and an inlay design worked out. It could work.
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits

Bill

User avatar
Nick
Blackwood
Posts: 3641
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:20 am
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Nick » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:04 am

Hey John, just had a thought, there must be a few empty IKEA boxes laying around in Britain. Shove your plunders, I mean purchases in those and bring them back in to OZ as "Flat pack furniture". Wouldn't be too far from the truth (so you couldn't be had for a false declaration) and wouldn't raise too many alarm bells at the border :wink: .
"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.

Shane Woonton
Blackwood
Posts: 112
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:23 pm

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Shane Woonton » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:27 am

That is awesome.

I'll never watch the Antiques Roadshow the same way again!

Shane

Gazm
Blackwood
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:25 am

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by Gazm » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:06 am

Be SCARED ye old Motherland !! Wiley Aussie Wood fox is on the prowl & NOTHING is sacred to a Brazilian starved lad from downunder...sic em Rex!!!
[ dibs on concert uke side scraps :lol: :lol: ]

:cl :cl

Gaz

User avatar
kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10583
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by kiwigeo » Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:48 pm

liam_fnq wrote:There's lots of great timber out there for building guitars but that beautiful furniture is gone for ever..............
I'm sure John (or others) will turn the wood into guitars that look much more exciting than that furniture....
Martin

User avatar
P Bill
Blackwood
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am
Location: Cedar Vale, Qld Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by P Bill » Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:51 pm

The people that are going to harvest our guitars to make lampshades haven't been born yet.
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits

Bill

User avatar
charangohabsburg
Blackwood
Posts: 1818
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:25 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by charangohabsburg » Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:35 am

I hope you are right Bill, at least when talking of "our" guitars. I am saying "at least" because I know that it has been done to guitars we generally refer to as factory guitars. I could not retrieve the picture on the www, I hope the reason is that the "furniture maker" felt ashamed of what he had done and hence had withdrawn the picture. :twisted: :roll:
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

User avatar
P Bill
Blackwood
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am
Location: Cedar Vale, Qld Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by P Bill » Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:58 am

Ai Weiwei is well known for transforming the works of others. I have seen his furniture works, shocking at first ( to a lover of Chinese domestic furniture ) but in the end very satisfying. He has imposed his will on the work of others but the original work can still speak.

None of my comments are meant to be taken very seriously, I just find this a very interesting topic.



http://www.galerieursmeile.com/artists/ ... ai-weiwei/
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits

Bill

User avatar
kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10583
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by kiwigeo » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:04 am

P Bill wrote:Ai Weiwei is well known for transforming the works of others. I have seen his furniture works, shocking at first ( to a lover of Chinese domestic furniture ) but in the end very satisfying. He has imposed his will on the work of others but the original work can still speak.

None of my comments are meant to be taken very seriously, I just find this a very interesting topic.



http://www.galerieursmeile.com/artists/ ... ai-weiwei/
Hes a furniture daubist?
Martin

User avatar
P Bill
Blackwood
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am
Location: Cedar Vale, Qld Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by P Bill » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:29 am

kiwigeo wrote:
P Bill wrote:Ai Weiwei is well known for transforming the works of others. I have seen his furniture works, shocking at first ( to a lover of Chinese domestic furniture ) but in the end very satisfying. He has imposed his will on the work of others but the original work can still speak.

None of my comments are meant to be taken very seriously, I just find this a very interesting topic.



http://www.galerieursmeile.com/artists/ ... ai-weiwei/
Hes a furniture daubist?

He is hard to pigeonhole. I very much doubt he did the work. The new work is as good or better than the originals.
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits

Bill

User avatar
charangohabsburg
Blackwood
Posts: 1818
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:25 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by charangohabsburg » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:45 am

P Bill wrote: He has imposed his will on the work of others but the original work can still speak.
You couldn't have said it better...

An other example is his (although non-furniture) project called "Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn". :roll: (Instead of dropping it he could have converted it into a musical instrument - only that nobody would have noticed.)
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

User avatar
woodrat
Blackwood
Posts: 1155
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:31 am
Location: Hastings River, NSW.
Contact:

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by woodrat » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:18 pm

Hi Again Brethren! , I thought that I would just post some pics of the crate that I made and how all of that beautiful furniture has been "condensed" to a more cubic form....:)
Attachments
P1010002.JPG
"It's never too late to be what you might have been " - George Eliot

User avatar
kiwigeo
Admin
Posts: 10583
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Adelaide, Sth Australia

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by kiwigeo » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:27 pm

Cubism...I like it!!
Martin

User avatar
woodrat
Blackwood
Posts: 1155
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:31 am
Location: Hastings River, NSW.
Contact:

Re: Woodrat's journey

Post by woodrat » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:32 pm

...more pics....to be continued...
Attachments
P1010005.JPG
P1010018.JPG
P1010021.JPG
P1010027.JPG
"It's never too late to be what you might have been " - George Eliot

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 137 guests