http://cgi.ebay.com/MISSION-OR-GOTHIC-STYLE-SOLID-QUART...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

guess the maker, the date, and the type of wood

That is a sleeper! They have no idea. I actually know this one. Limbert arm chair No. 13, 1903 catalog, ash.

Seems kinda rare, especially in that condition. If I had the money I would "buy it now."

THe top rear slat appears different than the rest of the chair. Almost looks like pine? And the ad says the chgair is quartersawn oak, yet I see none of the medullary rays typically seen in quartersawn oak. Of course I am a newbie and likely have no idea of what I am talking about

Bullseye for Steve ...nobody else even gets a chance!

There are no medullary rays because the wood isn't oak - it's ash like Steve says; typical of much of the early Limbert, and ash has lots of variation in grain pattern but no rays...and yes it would seem to be worth it at the 'Buy it Now' price, simply because of the identification..and in case anybody is wondering, yes all those bolts and screws are original to the design

i saw the chair, but didnt give it a second glance.

ash shows rays if quartered, as do most hardwoods. cherry, walnut, maple all have rays, but my favorite is sycamore.

What is the chair worth? Because the ad says that they will not ship, meaning whoever buys it has to pay a freight company to pickup, crate, ship. Typically $300-$500 depending on where you live. So add that to the $200 BIN price and you are at $500-$700 with shipping....

Or, have someone pick it up for you My wife knows some folks in Tampa...of course then I would have to get it from them. No plans to go there any time soon. Good question though - what is it worth at auction? At a regular dealer? At a dealer who specializes in A&C? How often do Limbert chairs of this style come up?

A quick search of the web finds Limbert arm chairs ranging from 325-1675 but most over 1000 although they all have padded/spring seats and are mostly later models...

Most all hardwoods do have medullary rays but why aren't we seeing more quartersawn other woods. Sycamore might be a little soft but walnut, cherry, maple could be really neat. Why just oak? I suppose the others do stand alone in their good looks when straight sawn but wouldn't there be increased strength with quartersawn (as in oak)? I don't think the others are as prone to splitting & warping like oak.

"Pickup only" does not seem to be the way to go on ebay. Few people are bidding on this fine H-back:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gustav-Stickley-H-Back-Chair_W0QQit...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

possibly because it is pickup only and there may be few A&C collectors in FL who could pick it up. I would love to have it.

Whats it worth - don't know really, if I get a chance I'll scan some old auction catalogues today. I think the value is in the rarity and identification, not really the construction because it's a relatively simple chair, but unique nonetheless.

Shipping - the way to go is Greyhound, if the seller can pack it and drop it off at a station, and if you can pick it up at the station closest to you. Greyhound is the cheapest bar none method but there are size limits I think, however a single chair will likely make it. Go to the Greyhound website and do a test box and weight from City A to City B, and not a rush but a few days turnaround for timing, and you'll be surprised how cheap it is. In this case I would message the seller and ask if he would try to pack it (scrounge a big television box from an electronics store) and you can give him an extra 50 for his efforts, scoop the chair at the low bid for 100, and ship it Greyhound for 50, and its 200 total; even at the 'buy it now' it might only be 300 total.

On the Gus chair he's got a reserve price and this might be keeping people away from bidding. Having a reserve and a 'buy it now' is silly. Say his reserve is 400, so why not just start the bidding at 400 and keep the buy it now as is??? If it doesn't sell, lower the starting bid to 350, don't start the bidding in the basement because it will take 20 small bids to get it up to a realistic price.

Rays - I've never seen rays in ash but I guess the laws of science would prevail and it makes sense; cherry yes and maple yes, some of the best cabinetmakers pieces from the 1800s are 'tiger' maple (and birdseye) and wavy cherry

You are right about greyhound, i have used them to have rockers shipped. However for this auction, the shipper will not crate or drive it anywhere. The ad says so AND i asked them to make sure

..bumping this one back up..

The Gus chair Steve noted only got bid to 23 bucks

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gustav-Stickley-H-Back-Chair_W0QQit...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I looked it up tonight, it's a 500 dollar chair! Wow, does nobody in Florida know who Gus Stickley is?!

Hey Fellows,
I have found out from my UPS delivery driver that UPS Ground is now starting to ship furniture. It might be worth your checking them out.I plan to use them to ship some of my pieces.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

..bumping again..

Nobody bought the Limbert!

http://cgi.ebay.com/MISSION-OR-GOTHIC-STYLE-SOLID-QUART...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller has relisted it with only a buy it now price or "make an offer".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6629...RK%3AMEWA%3AVRI&rd=1