Jefferson book stand

[Jeff]

It may be interesting to build but not particularly useful. Has anyone built one?

I can't find much detail but Roy Underhill's video is a helpful start.

The Woodwright's Shop | Thomas Jefferson's Bookstand | Season 28 | Episode 4 | PBS

The sage of Monticello based his five-sided bookstand on designs he found in Paris.

www.pbs.org

 

[Martin Roper]

That looks like a cool way to display books. I saved it. Thanks!

 

[Dave Richards]

I did a model of it about a decade ago. Interesting project. Room for five different iPads.

 

[Jeff]

Here's one that can be bought for $560, but that's no fun. Also here's the link to Dave's SketchUp model. Between that and run/pausing/rerunning/pausing Roy Underhill's video the construction details become more understandable.

Jefferson Bookstand - Etsy

The Jefferson Bookstand, as pictured, is constructed of solid walnut with 1/2” book holder panels and breadboard ends. These ends allow the wood to move and will ensure that your Bookstand will look beautiful until you pass it on to your grandchildren. It was originally designed by Thomas Jefferson

www.etsy.com

Jefferson's Bookstand - Another Workflow Example - FineWoodworking

There are a lot of ways to approach drawing a model in SketchUp. I think most users develop a work flow that works for them. Recently I've spoken with several woodworkers who have told me...

www.finewoodworking.com

I haven't found specific plans online though. I'm struggling with how to do the "lazy susan" details of the 2 bottom boards in Dave's pic above to rotate the bookstand. Any thoughts? Alternatively, Rockler has lazy susan hardware that's affordable.

 

[Dave Richards]

I don't think Jefferson went to Rockler to get a lazy Susan for his. As I recall, his swivels on the round central shaft--the top being rounded--and perhaps it sits on a heavily oiled piece of leather that is sandwiched between the base and the bottom of the box. Oiled leather would have been a common thing back in those days. Probably lubricated with beef tallow which could easily be refreshed with the stub of a candle.

 

[Jimbo]

I made two of these a few years back, with the intention of having one be gift worthy. My daughter was graduating from the University of Virginia and so I was following the little known rule that gifts must have a Jeffersonian theme... I used 8/4 mahogany and bookmatched all the panels; also went with lazy susan hardware for the base. My avatar photo show me on "completion day", and here's a pic of the one I kept.

Jim

 

[Jeff]

Ha! I don't think that he got his lazy susan at Rockler either. Monticello is about 156 miles from me so maybe I should make a road trip up there this summer and examine it first-hand.

 

[Jeff]

Thanks Jim. I may send a PM if I decide to try one.

I made two of these a few years back, with the intention of having one be gift worthy. My daughter was graduating from the University of Virginia and so I was following the little known rule that gifts must have a Jeffersonian theme... I used 8/4 mahogany and bookmatched all the panels; also went with lazy susan hardware for the base. My avatar photo show me on "completion day", and here's a pic of the one I kept.
View attachment 192338
Jim

 

[JohnnyR]

last time I was at Roy's school, he had one there.

 

[Jeff]

last time I was at Roy's school, he had one there.

I've asked Ed Lebetkin to ask Roy if there is a set of plans that I can buy.

 

[Jeff]

Roy sent the plans to me today.

 

[Dave Richards]

Would be interesting to see how the dimensions he has compare to the ones I was working from when I did the models years ago.

 

[Jeff]

Would be interesting to see how the dimensions he has compare to the ones I was working from when I did the models years ago.

Roy's plans date from 2008 and I think that they're copyrighted. His panels for the books are 1/2" thick and the breadboard end caps are 1.25" wide, but I'm drawing mine at 2"w.

Curious, where did you get your dimensions? I started with a seat-of-the-pants 12" cube book stand from the Monticello website but that doesn't include the lazy susan base (2 pieces). I also found this one on Etsy with some overall dimensions (12" cube x 26" high).

Jefferson Bookstand - Etsy

The Jefferson Bookstand, as pictured, is constructed of solid walnut with 1/2” book holder panels and breadboard ends. These ends allow the wood to move and will ensure that your Bookstand will look beautiful until you pass it on to your grandchildren. It was originally designed by Thomas Jefferson

www.etsy.com

 

[Dave Richards]

It's been ten years or more since I modeled it and don't recall the source of the dimensions. The easels are all 12 in. wide and the side ones are 9 in. tall overall. Not nearly as much of a gap between the base and bottom of the box, though. The one in your Etsy link looks a bit crude compared to Jefferson's and a little taller than his.

 

[Martin Roper]

It's the high-tech, 18th-century equivalent of having 5 windows open at once.

 

[Grimmy2016]

I did a model of it about a decade ago. Interesting project. Room for five different iPads.

Did you do an article on this before? or a video? Always looking for cool new content to add to the website, and SketchUp is always something that interests people.

 

[Dave Richards]

Hi Scott, years ago I did a video showing my workflow for modeling it in SketchUp. I'd need to go back to and see if it's still around. Probably not what you were thinking of, though. I might have to do an updated version since I would model it differently now.

d

 

[Grimmy2016]

Hi Scott, years ago I did a video showing my workflow for modeling it in SketchUp. I'd need to go back to and see if it's still around. Probably not what you were thinking of, though. I might have to do an updated version since I would model it differently now.

d

Might still be worth posting.. and we can link it directly to your YouTube page if thats where you have it stored!

 

[Dave Richards]

I found the video but it's pretty awful. I'll see if I can make a new one while we're locked in our houses.

 

[Jeff]

I found the video but it's pretty awful. I'll see if I can make a new one while we're locked in our houses.

You're correct! I used yours and the one by Roy Underhill and they're both pretty awful but they got me through the exercise step by step.

do an updated version since I would model it differently now.