BESTOYS “SPACE LINE” BUREAU (c1957-1963)
First listed in 1959 S. Hoffnung catalogue, this bureau may have been in production since 1957. By 1965, it had been discontinued.
This was the ultra-chic of modern, ‘space age’ design utilising the roll top patented in 1881 in the USA by Abner Cutler.
As with the “De Luxe” Bureau offered during the same time period, the superstructure was made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine timber, the sides of which were cut to shape on a bandsaw and smoothed off using a large table-mounted disc sander. The flexible roller lid consisted of timber slats held together on the underside by a backing of fabric which was glued on using a waterproof adhesive. This adhesive was either rollered or brushed on. The freshly glued lids were laid flat and stacked one upon the other until dry. They were then trimmed of any excess glue. The slats most likely were painted before gluing.
The top could be rolled up or down along the parallel grooves on either side of the frame. These grooves were cut using a router and then waxed to ensure a smooth sliding action. Before final assembly of the body, the flexible top was attached to the writing top/drawer unit so that opening the top pushed the drawer out and closing it pulled it back in.
The drawer itself had a lift-up lid that was covered with a gold-embossed green, red or blue vinyl to simulate leather. The wooden shelf had a grooved pencil rack with a plastic inkwell on either side of it. Those were the days when school children were taught cursive handwriting, in pencil first and then graduating to pen and ink – no biros, no rollerballs, no gel or marker pens – but messy, blue Swan ink.
Flexible plastic beading was added to the side panels – originally co-extruded gold and black - dark brown on later production - and, while it added another process on the router, it removed the sanding process.
Early models had two handles on the roll top and, even though the catalogue illustrations did not change, by about 1963 only one handle was fitted.
As with all the Bestoys desks, stools and bureaux, the finish was two coats of semi-gloss clear lacquer, tinted to a maple colour and hand-sanded between coats.
In 1959, the “Space Line” bureau came with the standard Swedish-style tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine.
By 1963, two versions of legs were offered: the standard Swedish style made of dressed ¾” radiata pine with tapered legs or round tapered legs finished off with metal ferrules.
By 1965, the “Space Line” bureau had been discontinued.
As with the “De Luxe” Bureau offered during the same time period, the superstructure was made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine timber, the sides of which were cut to shape on a bandsaw and smoothed off using a large table-mounted disc sander. The flexible roller lid consisted of timber slats held together on the underside by a backing of fabric which was glued on using a waterproof adhesive. This adhesive was either rollered or brushed on. The freshly glued lids were laid flat and stacked one upon the other until dry. They were then trimmed of any excess glue. The slats most likely were painted before gluing.
The top could be rolled up or down along the parallel grooves on either side of the frame. These grooves were cut using a router and then waxed to ensure a smooth sliding action. Before final assembly of the body, the flexible top was attached to the writing top/drawer unit so that opening the top pushed the drawer out and closing it pulled it back in.
The drawer itself had a lift-up lid that was covered with a gold-embossed green, red or blue vinyl to simulate leather. The wooden shelf had a grooved pencil rack with a plastic inkwell on either side of it. Those were the days when school children were taught cursive handwriting, in pencil first and then graduating to pen and ink – no biros, no rollerballs, no gel or marker pens – but messy, blue Swan ink.
Flexible plastic beading was added to the side panels – originally co-extruded gold and black - dark brown on later production - and, while it added another process on the router, it removed the sanding process.
Early models had two handles on the roll top and, even though the catalogue illustrations did not change, by about 1963 only one handle was fitted.
As with all the Bestoys desks, stools and bureaux, the finish was two coats of semi-gloss clear lacquer, tinted to a maple colour and hand-sanded between coats.
In 1959, the “Space Line” bureau came with the standard Swedish-style tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine.
By 1963, two versions of legs were offered: the standard Swedish style made of dressed ¾” radiata pine with tapered legs or round tapered legs finished off with metal ferrules.
By 1965, the “Space Line” bureau had been discontinued.
Vintage "Space Line" Bureau Find
One example of the “Space Line” Bureau was found in Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre at 17 Bourke Road, Alexandria, NSW, 2015 (https://www.mitchellroad.com.au/) offered for sale in April, 2016.
The tag reads, “Rare Australian 1960s roll top desk Snelling era $350 In Your Space”.
While Nazzareno Bonaretti was a contemporary of Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), both were influenced by the times and their designs evolved concurrently. The Snelling range focused on adult-sized furniture; Bestoys brought contemporary styling to furniture for children. The “Space Line” bureau and subsequent desk designs attest to this commitment.
The bureau offered by In Your Space was most likely manufactured around 1963 and is in good condition. (The images provided were taken with a mobile phone and are less than perfect but they give a fair representation of the article.)
This bureau has dark brown flexible plastic beading around the top and bottom of the side panels, and the “Bestoys” sticker is die-cut, embossed gold-foil paper and printed in two colours with permanent adhesive backing. This type of label was used from about 1962 up until 1985.
The handle on this model is the original as is the gold-embossed green vinyl cover on the drawer lid. The tapered legs were originally supplied unassembled. It was a simple matter to fix them to the anchor blocks on the base of the superstructure by the four bolts and washers supplied. They were fixed into the anchor block’s tee-nuts, which were obscured by chrome dome-caps on the outside.
A plywood shelf has replaced the original timber shelf that carried the pencil rack and two ink wells.
The roll top is in perfect working condition, again attesting to the quality of Bestoys products.
While Nazzareno Bonaretti was a contemporary of Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), both were influenced by the times and their designs evolved concurrently. The Snelling range focused on adult-sized furniture; Bestoys brought contemporary styling to furniture for children. The “Space Line” bureau and subsequent desk designs attest to this commitment.
The bureau offered by In Your Space was most likely manufactured around 1963 and is in good condition. (The images provided were taken with a mobile phone and are less than perfect but they give a fair representation of the article.)
This bureau has dark brown flexible plastic beading around the top and bottom of the side panels, and the “Bestoys” sticker is die-cut, embossed gold-foil paper and printed in two colours with permanent adhesive backing. This type of label was used from about 1962 up until 1985.
The handle on this model is the original as is the gold-embossed green vinyl cover on the drawer lid. The tapered legs were originally supplied unassembled. It was a simple matter to fix them to the anchor blocks on the base of the superstructure by the four bolts and washers supplied. They were fixed into the anchor block’s tee-nuts, which were obscured by chrome dome-caps on the outside.
A plywood shelf has replaced the original timber shelf that carried the pencil rack and two ink wells.
The roll top is in perfect working condition, again attesting to the quality of Bestoys products.
And on Gumtree, this example (https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/annandale/desks/mid-century-rolltop-writing-desk-delivery-available/1295781871) offered for sale in May, 2022.
The advertisement reads:
Mid Century Rolltop Writing Desk - Delivery Available
$495
A rare and beautiful mid century rolltop writing bureau by Bestoys.
H 810 W 605 D 455.
Desk Height 640. Desk Extension Depth 600.
Viewings/collection in Annandale by appointment.
For more tremendous vintage finds, follow @mryesteryear on Instagram and Facebook.
[Contact phone number and some details have been omitted]
Mid Century Rolltop Writing Desk - Delivery Available
$495
A rare and beautiful mid century rolltop writing bureau by Bestoys.
H 810 W 605 D 455.
Desk Height 640. Desk Extension Depth 600.
Viewings/collection in Annandale by appointment.
For more tremendous vintage finds, follow @mryesteryear on Instagram and Facebook.
[Contact phone number and some details have been omitted]
This bureau appears to be the very same one detailed above it listed by Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre. Because Bestoys used genuine radiata pine timber throughout, the woodgrain pattern is unique to each bureau.
Careful comparison shows the similarities in the side panels. Still, this item is in excellent, pre-owned condition and is worth every cent being asked. It is a genuine vintage survivor of the “Space Age”. |