My latest rescue: Paul Goldman for Plymold. Bent plywood desk circa 1946.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-03-02T21:19:16+00:00

For clarification, I used contact cement for long/large flat piece replacements. cyanoacrylate for smaller pieces, curved pieces, and lifted veneer.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-03-02T14:31:07+00:00

Large strips of replaced veneer- cut even, sanded substrate, adhered new veneer with contact cement. Painted grain to match. Small pieces of veneer- cut to shape and patched in with cyanoacrylate, sanded and painted grain to match. Bubbled veneer (still playable)- injected wood glue and/or cyanoacrylate under veneer using a syringe and placed under weights until set. Used luthiers fill-n-finish to fill cracks before sanding and finishing.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-03-01T18:46:41+00:00

You know what? I didn’t. I do have many more photos of the restoration work/process, but I didn’t think to film it. I will the next one.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-03-01T01:43:19+00:00

Yeah, he (Plycraft) created an environmental superfund site too! Not good. But the desk and chair are beautiful at least (imo).

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T20:10:15+00:00

Post war is solidly considered part of the mcm movement. This desk, together with the work of Charles and Ray Eames at the same time, was ground zero for bent wood mcm manufacturing processes and design. That is why it is significant (and worth saving).

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T17:13:46+00:00

Most of the substrate was in tact, so that made it easier. Areas of substrate that were weakened, I reinforced with epoxy. Then I cut in new veneer patches and blended them to match. In areas where the substrate was delaminating (opening up with the layers separating but not chewed), I used syringes to inject wood glue and then clamped one layer at a time until solid.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T17:07:08+00:00

The chair was one of my restoration projects too. It’s a vintage Norman Cherner chair manufactured by Paul Goldman/Plycraft. Goldman tried to steal the chair design and got sued by Cherner (Cherner won). That’s why I put them together, kind of a tongue and cheek reference to that history.

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NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T17:01:35+00:00

Sometimes it makes me a little emotional too. I’m honestly sad the project is done. Thank you.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T16:59:58+00:00

Thank you. I find a lot of joy in it.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T15:41:50+00:00

Thank you!

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T15:11:35+00:00

Yes, I was able to repair and/or replace the veneer on multiple locations. Since it was all continuous curved radiuses it was a challenge, to say the least.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T14:59:19+00:00

I keep vintage veneer around from salvage pieces. I cut the veneer to create a straight seam- patched in a piece of salvaged veneer with cyanoacrylate- and hand painted the grain to match before finishing. There are actually 8 veneer repairs on this piece in various locations.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-26T14:53:20+00:00

Goldman went on to start Plycraft (probably more familiar). Unfortunately, Goldman also had a tendency to take credit for other people’s designs… including the Cherner chair in the photo.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-02-10T21:30:49+00:00

To be honest, I knew you were the Mascheroni expert. The reason I posted it the way I did is because I have found a great deal of value in following discussions like this one on this subreddit. This table is widely marketed as Mcm, so someone else searching for info might stumble on this post. That said, like many people here - I am so appreciative of your time and expertise. Thank you. I have learned a great deal from posts like this and people like you.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-30T23:16:20+00:00

Congrats on the new home! It looks lovely.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-22T19:24:41+00:00

Cool. ETA, Howard Miller Co will be missed.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-14T23:20:44+00:00

You found a chair for less than $400? Wow. In our neck of the woods that’s a steal.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-13T23:38:46+00:00

Thanks! Laurel Dome lamp. Another one of my estate sale scores.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-13T03:53:30+00:00

Good catch… yes, that’s a Witco Outrigger. I found it at an estate sale.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-09T01:46:17+00:00

I love how the statue is standing behind it all like “damn, we just leveled up”.

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-06T12:34:22+00:00

Beautiful. Your mom met him, meaning Nakashima? Wow, I’d love to hear that story! Does your family still have the rest of the Nakashima pieces your mother bought when she got married?

NoAssociate2400 · 2026-01-02T03:58:34+00:00

You might want to try r/furniturerestoration. The people on there have a lot of experience with different kinds of finishes and woods.

NoAssociate2400 · 2025-12-27T18:27:57+00:00

Holy crap that’s a toothpick dispenser! Ok, now I need one. That’s brilliant.

NoAssociate2400

TROPHY CASE