Bestoys Bureaux, Desks and Stools
The nursery furniture selection, and in particular the desks and bureaux, were made as straightforwardly as possible ensuring they were easy to assemble, keeping manufacturing costs low without sacrificing quality. The range of students’ desks differed considerably from the simple styles shown below to the “SPACE LINE” and “DE LUXE” Bureaux and their labour-intensive roll tops, shown on a separate page.
c1959
- “SPACE LINE” Bureau
- “IMPERIAL” Desk – with or without a map of Australia
- “SCHOOL MATE” Desk and Stool – offered plain; with a blackboard; with a map of Australia or with a blackboard and a map of Australia
- “VICTORY” Desk and Stool – offered plain or
- “AUSTRALIA VICTORY” Desk and Stool – offered with a map of Australia
- DESK and STOOL No 3
- DESK and BLACKBOARD
Bestoys "Space Line" Bureau
Bestoys "De Luxe" Bureau and Stool
"IMPERIAL" Desk - c1959-1965
The image on the left below shows the Bestoys logo on the side as a wet-application transfer. The image on the right shows the Bestoys brand as a permanent-adhesive 2-colour printed on white PVC label.
1965 was the last year the "Imperial" desk was produced.
"Imperial" Desk from Bestoys c1959 catalogue
"Imperial" Desk from Bestoys 1965 catalogue, the last year this item was produced
The first Bestoys label - wet-application transfer printed in three colours
Early Bestoys label made of permanent self-adhesive PVC printed in two colours on white
DESK and STOOL No 3 - to c1962
Desk and Stool No 3 from Bestoys c1959 catalogue
Another desk was the joined DESK and STOOL No 3. It was made entirely of timber and plywood and had a sloping hinged lid covering an ample storage space. As with all of the desks offered by any manufacturer at the time, this desk also came with a plastic ink well. The finish was maple-tinted lead-free clear lacquer, sprayed, hand-sanded and sprayed again. It was supplied partially assembled and 2 per carton. It would be up to the wholesaler to break the pack if the retailer required only one desk.
This item was most likely one of the first Bestoys produced from c1957 but, by 1963, it had been superseded by the more popular "School Mate" series.
The cross was made by Jim Bonaretti in preparing the next Bestoys catalogue
Practically unknown to schoolchildren today, up until the 1970s children were taught to use pen and messy, unforgiving ink.
Almost all of Bestoys' desks and bureaux provided a plastic inkwell for the student but, by the mid-1970s, this was discontinued.
(Read more about these childhood memories on this excellent website: https://kidsofthe50sand60s.com/tag/ink/)
DESK and BLACKBOARD - c1959-1965
A best seller, the folding stand was made of solid dressed radiata pine timber, undercoated, hand-sanded and finished in a semi-gloss lead-free lacquer tinted to a pastel pink or blue. Jim Bonaretti supervised the tint process making sure the shades were not harsh. The worktop was made of hardboard or Masonite applied to the top and bottom of the wooden frame. The top had a stencilled heart sprayed on it into which a large wet-application transfer was added. On the other side, the blackboard paint, too, was guaranteed to be lead-free. This item was supplied in a carton and partially assembled.
Desk and Blackboard from Bestoys c1959 catalogue
Desk and Blackboard from Bestoys 1963 catalogue. This item was produced until 1966
"SCHOOL MATE" & "VICTORY" Desks & Stools - c1958-1985
The “SCHOOL MATE”, “VICTORY” and “AUSTRALIA VICTORY” Desks and Stools go hand-in-hand. They were introduced together, one offering a correct writing slope (remember writing slopes?) and the other a flat surface. They were compact, taking up a corner of a room yet giving the young scholar ample storage space and working surface.
These desks stayed in the range, in one form or another from Bestoys' beginning in 1958 to at least 1985.
Antique writing slope from 1860s
Bestoys "Australia Victory" Desk and Stool
Bestoys "School Mate" Desk and Stool
1963
- “SENIOR GOLDEN” Desk
- “WORLD SENIOR GOLDEN” Desk - similar to the "SENIOR GOLDEN" Desk with a map of the world
- “DE LUXE” Bureau
"SENIOR GOLDEN" & "WORLD SENIOR GOLDEN" Desks - 1963-1964
By the 1965 catalogue, the "SENIOR GOLDEN" and the "WORLD SENIOR GOLDEN" Desks has been dropped and replaced by the "SENIOR" and the "WORLD SENIOR" Desks of a similar size but different construction.
"Senior Golden" and "World Senior Golden" Desks from Bestoys 1963 catalogue
1965
- “SENIOR” Desk
- “WORLD SENIOR” Desk – same as above with a map of the world.
"SENIOR" and 'WORLD SENIOR" Desks - 1965-1966
As with the "WORLD SENIOR GOLDEN" Desk, the "WORLD SENIOR" featured a full-colour map of the world on the top.
"Senior" Desk from Bestoys 1965 catalogue
"World Senior" Desk from Bestoys 1965 catalogue
1967
- “SCHOLAR” Desk and Stool. This line proved very popular and continued to be made, with subtle changes, until 1981.
"SCHOLAR" Desk and Stool - 1967-1981
A basic model, trimmed of almost all embellishments, the body was made of particle board, undercoated, hand-sanded, then spray-painted in semi-gloss white lead-free lacquer. The lid and pencil rack were constructed of ¼” Corinite hardboard with a stool to match. The legs were made of ¾” tubular steel and coated in black polymer paint and fitted with swivel ferrules. As with the other desks in the range, the “Scholar” was supplied in a carton with 16 nickel-plated self-tapping screws to attach the legs to the desk and stool. The base of both the desk and the stool were punched to indicate the position of the legs.
"Scholar" Desk and Stool from Bestoys 1967 catalogue
The basic "SCHOLAR" Desk and Stool featuring the new "Corinite" lid and matching stool proved an instant success offering quality at an economical price.
"Scholar" and "De Luxe Scholar" Desk and Stool from Bestoys 1968 catalogue
"Scholar" and "De Luxe Scholar" Desk and Stool from Bestoys 1969 catalogue
In 1968, with the success of the plain "SCHOLAR" Desk and Stool, Jim Bonaretti offered the option of chrome-plated legs, giving the basic model a touch of luxury.
"Scholar" and "De Luxe Scholar" Desk and Stool from Bestoys 1973 catalogue
The "DE LUXE SCHOLAR" Desk and Stool remained in the range until 1977, when the chrome-plated legs were dropped.
"Scholar" Desk and Stool from Bestoys 1978 catalogue
1968
- “TODDLER” Deskette.
"TODDLER" Deskette - 1968-1969
1978
- “SCHOOL MATE” Desk and Stool No 3 – with a PVC-coated full-colour map of Australia on the top
- “VICTORY” Desk and Stool
- “AUSTRALIA VICTORY” Desk and Stool – with a PVC-coated full-colour map of Australia on the top
- “SCHOLAR” Desk and Stool.
- "STUDIO" Desk
- "ELYTE" Bureau
Very little detail is available for the "STUDIO" Desk and "ELYTE" Bureau other than they were both made of Corinite and trimmed with brown PVC edging. Both were delivered unassembled. The "Studio" Desk needed to be completely assembled while the "Elyte" Bureau only needed to have the 4 Swedish-style tapered legs attached to the base.
"STUDIO" Desk - 1978-1982
"Studio" Desk from Bestoys 1978 catalogue
"ELYTE" Bureau - 1978-1982
"Elyte" Bureau from Bestoys 1978 catalogue
Vintage finds
When Nazzareno Bonaretti arrived in Australia at the end of 1951, the few commercial manufacturers of wooden toys and nursery furniture in Australia, and in Sydney in particular, all made similar products. This pertained to desks and stools as well. The ‘standard’ style was a sloping hinged lid with a pencil rack and inkwell mounted onto a wooden box which in turn was fixed to two broad planks of pine for legs, terminating in crossbar feet with a spacer to brace the legs.
Working for Roy Waddell, Nazzareno made the same style of desk as their competitors until c1958 when he cut ties with Roy and started manufacturing as Bestoys. In his earliest catalogue – produced for S. Hoffnung & Co – the separate desk and stool was not offered but a similar version was: the ‘conjoined’ desk and stool (as can be seen above).
Despite the intervening decades, some early mid-century examples of other manufacturers’ desks have survived. Those illustrated below may or may not have been made by Nazzareno but his would have been similar…
A rare find in Huskisson NSW
A Bestoys Desk with its wet-application transfer logo intact.
Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025
Inside of the hinged lid of the Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025. It has a timber frame (usually radiata pine) and plywood top. Bestoys did not make desks with solid timber tops
The back view of the Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025. Note the slat applied to the edge to prevent pencils from rolling off
Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025
Wet-application transfer of the first Bestoys logo registered in c1958
Another feature of the Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025 is that all the corners of the body of the desk were sanded round as seen here
View of the back of the Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025
Hinged lid and pencil rack on the Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025. Note the inkwell hole (inkwell missing) and the spacing of the hinges. This helps to determine the manufacturer of desks from this period
The screws securing the legs to the body are not original. The legs would have been glued and nailed to the cross bars
Detail of the pencil rack on Bestoys Desk from c1958 found in the Huskisson Trading Post September 2025; two grooves routered directly into the timber. (The Teddy transfer is not original □)
More finds
With thanks to Facebook and the Seller and with no intention to infringe copyright. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2027839858069601/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A3d9bbf65-72af-4ebf-bdc3-dfb3e1cb44e4
Bestoys Desk and Stool on Marketplace November 2025
The listing for the Bestoys Desk and Stool on Marketplace November 2025
Interior of the Bestoys Desk and Stool on Marketplace November 2025
Detail of the pencil rack and inkwell of the Bestoys Desk and Stool on Marketplace November 2025
With thanks to the Seller and eBay. No infringement of copyright intended. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/405201141959?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=8x_tlfyhrbm&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL
Wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Item details of wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Item specs for wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Interior of wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
Interior of wooden vintage Desk listed on eBay in September, 2024
With thanks to the Seller and Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1560400612321859/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Af285841b-87aa-415d-95a6-4201b5b7d0c5
Vintage Wooden Desk and Stool listed on Facebook Marketplace in June 2024
Offered on Facebook Marketplace, this wooden desk is most likely more than forty years old.
Very similar in style and manufacture as the Desk illustrated below left, this desk above has the applied pencil rack (rather than grooved into the board), and same Victorian style "butterfly" hinges. To bring it back to its original varnished pine timber would be a job-and-half but worth the effort - a bargain at $25.
This Desk is described as 'yellow' although it originally would have been spray painted in clear lacquer to show the pine timber's natural woodgrain. The top has an applied grooved timber pencil rack and a hole drilled to accommodate a plastic (possibly ceramic) inkwell, which would have been supplied. A timber batten is fixed to the bottom of the lid as well as the back of the top to prevent items from sliding off. The hinges are flush-mounted nickel-plated metal Victorian-style 'butterfly' design.
While not very clear in the photos, the lid is most likely a sheet of plywood applied to a timber frame. The base could be either plywood or Masonite. Each end of the crossbar feet has a block of timber applied beneath it to add style and stability. The top of each end is sanded round.
Of the two Desks offered here, it is the single desk that is similar to that made by Nazzareno. This desk differs from the one on the left in that the pencil groove is routered into the top and retains its original inkwell. The edge of the top has an applied moulding and the lid is Masonite over a timber frame. The feet, too, differ in the blocks under the crossbar are offset, rather than flush.
The desk to the left may still be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1336926363544489/?hoisted=false&ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A844e3403-e84c-46e0-a467-f1fa23fe882d
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/204233151547?hash=item2f8d3e943b:g:OMMAAOSwe3hiTW59&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8FLCJpf6QNJXYaxutXvld72IPZ3BCnAy6wzmzKKdoMH0xd3bXdKgPDLun2zxMwJYwo1OOuE5yZpv07ZRlZOkbAHqpc6PrTEW9knvsvJD6%2BzLUTDQ2RRnDJv13QVpA4AvOelH8wYs%2BM5t16FZsjnYVm%2BE0wtrDdWB3Vezoekq7mqKIjKB3AqairYE6CJzLFeAg%2FdRUPrPieTkXTCblfmF4VXFkMy%2FjfXm6Qb6UOJnVnozunmsU73YeomwkWmi0z3fZ0vXP4fNxhyOoAR2T7gQl%2FIINLG%2FBMbyWFp1H1sjgdmC%2BOsUiW5hbHoiYbiwphUtaQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5qNj5TLY
Also listed on Gumtree:
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/vincentia/desks/vintage-white-timber-child-s-school-desk-w-hinged-lift-up-lid-/1291900597
Wooden Stool from Dirty Jane's Bowral - April, 2021