Many years ago, somewhere between the 19th and 20th centuries, the roll-top desk was often used by businesses because of the privacy it provided. They also enjoyed the top that slips on conveniently and covers up the mess of the workday. Today, many home-based businesses in particular are also enjoying the creativity and versatility of the roll-top desk over conventional flat-top desks.
An inventor from India, back in 1829, created the original roll-top desk. His name is Jacob Alles and he started his own furniture manufacturing company at a young age. In an effort to sell his furniture, he traveled throughout the United States. In order to have something to do in his spare time, he did some carving. Hence the prototype of the roll top desk was born. Soon after, they were sold everywhere.
Conventional desks have great drawers for storage and a large work surface, but in addition to this, the roll top desk also has plenty of cubbies for organizing and the top is a built in feature. The roll top is supported by several columns of drawers on each side and cubbies that line the back of the desk.
There are also partitions that support the slatted top on the sides of the desk. The roll top has slats that fit into slots along the raised edges. That’s why the top can easily go up or down.
Some of the advantages of the roll-top desk are not just the top that covers the day’s clutter, but the many cubbies and compartments that line the sides of the desk, making it easy to keep things in their place. There is a knee socket with drawers on each side and these often have locks, making the desk a very private place for important documents. When the top is rolled up, it completely disappears into the desk structure.
Still a popular choice, roll-top desks today come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes with so many finish options. There are extremely modern versions that are huge in size, as well as desks that are just the right size for a child to use.
As an example of options in the modern roll top desk is the deluxe version made of solid oak. The drawers are made of solid maple wood that covers the sides. The style of the desk is made to accommodate a PC with all the office equipment that goes with it. There’s a pull-out tray for your fax or printer, letter- and legal-size drawers for your files, trays for your CDs, and ample surface area for work space. The top still rolls up and down, but is made with precision-grade steel ball bearings.
When choosing a desk for your home office, you may prefer the vintage design of the Roll Top Desk, also made of solid oak with solid maple drawers. This is a desk that closely resembles the originals sold in the late 19th century. These pieces are so beautiful that they can easily become family heirlooms. The construction, while closely resembling the original desks, is made with high-tech precision-machined steel ball bearings. The original design still makes it a lovely addition to any office, especially the home office.
