Windsor chair restoration?

[Timothy Murphy]

I have a beautiful Windsor chair with broken "under-carriage". It seems that restoration of Windsor chairs is rather a specialist area.

Could some kind soul suggest a UK expert in this? Or a site dealing with windsor chairs?

I was told that there was an expert in Northern Ireland - which would be most convenient for me - but after long research have been unable to locate him (or her).

Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.

[Adrian]

HI Timothy

He's in the UK - but this guy

something of an expert in Windsor chairs - nice guy - tell him Adrian says hello !

Regards Adrian

[Doki]

I used to work in the same building as Nigel Coope and often used to pop into his worksop, and he always made a good job. I've never seen him working on an old chair, as his business is making new ones, but I suspect he'd be able to have a look at it or give you some advice over the phone.

[Andy Dingley]

Plenty of people competent to do it though - green woodworking has seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly chairmakers.

If you went to something like the Westonbirt Arboretum annual festival of wood you'd see a lot of such makers there, along with their wares. Take your pick of them. Maybe there are similar events near Dublin?

It's also debatable as to whether the gothic-styled chair prominently displayed on

even a "Windsor", owing to the pre-seasoned timber, cabriole legs, bench joinery and the sawn back splat. Certainly the appropriate techniques to repair that chair (akin to casework techniques) would be a long way from those for a more traditional Windsor, made in the green by a bodger.

[Mark]

I thought 'windsor' was a generic term for a chair which has the back fixed to the seat and the legs fixed to the seat. As distinct from other chairs which have the back as a continuation of the back legs.

mark

[The Medway Handyman]

Thats what I thought as well. This agrees & has some interesting info, worth a read

[Andy Dingley]

It's frequently used to mean almost anything; although a slab-seat (as you describe) is the core of it, because there's little other way to make a chair out of green timber. A joined frame is going to require you to dry it first.

In terms of how to repair it, our primary consideration is in the _techniques_ used to make it, and in choosing techniques and restorers who are specialist in those techniques.

[Timothy Murphy]

Thanks very much for all the advice from everyone. I'm sure I'll be able to make progress now - I'll let you know how things go!

[petercharlesfagg]

Rather late off thec starting blocks but might I suggest contacting just a few makers of chairs to gather possible costs etc.

they cannot help may I suggest another forum belonging to the "Association Of Woodturners of Great Britain" (AWGB), I am a member of that august body but specialise in bowls, dishes and platters!

Peter Fagg.