I’m looking for some information and/or plans on round, segmented extension tables. I believe the original patent for this type of table (it extends in pie wedges so it stays round rather than going from round to oval) was held by a company called Johnstone and Jupe out of the UK. I have searched everywhere I can think of, including trying to contact some current UK manufacturers, but to no avail. Not surprisingly, they don’t seem willing to part with their plans. I am not a commercial furniture maker. I just want to build one for our my family’s use and it looks like it could be a challenging project. Any help?
Thanks.
Replies
http://home.att.net/%7Ewaterfront-woods/
Challenging might be an understatement. I can't imagine a commercial factory selling plans.
Funny that this came up, because I am currently building the next generation right now (I am "Waterfront-Woods" listed in your link but the proper address for my website is http://waterfront-woods.home.att.net). This weekend I finished turning the outer colonade of columns on the lathe, and I will next be turning the center column. The mechanical system has beed redesigned in SolidWorks and is out for fabrication.
There is a reason why you won't find a "Jupe" or similar table discussed much on the internet, and that is because most woodworking shops are not set up for the intense engineering necessary to make one of these work.
To give you an idea of the complexity, the cost of the mechanical system to make my design function is 3-times more than the cost of the wood products (African Ribbon Striped Mahogany).
As I stated in the original article 8 years ago, the next generation would use a fully machined (including laser-cut components), precision mechanism to avoid the misalingment issues of having a closed circular path of moving parts.
The cost for this table is in the ballpark of a new car, and no, the plans are not for sale. My design does not use the mechanical system patented by Jupe a century ago. My design is unique and proprietary. Because the attached SolidWorks 3D model does not reveal the mechanical system, I will share it with you. The mechanics are now concealed below the base.
View Image
Edited 11/21/2006 3:06 am ET by RickChristopherson
I don't know anything about the complex mechanism seen in the link posted by the previous respondent, but I have seen round tables that stay round as they expand from 5 to 7 feet and do so by means of arc-shaped leaves applied to the circumference and interlocking with the main table as well as each other. The table I saw was a very attractive "reproduction" piece in an antique store, but it was something currently produced and easily ordered.
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