Double seats and desks1900-1940s

Several old timber and iron desks with smooth flat desk-tops and curved seats. The legs are iron.

Timber and metal double seats and desks made from 1900 to 1944 situated in the 1910 classroom of the NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education.Originally the desks were screwed to the timber floor. In this room they are screwed to wooden battens.

>View image of the specified positioning of these desks

About the object

These timber and iron double seats and desks were used in NSW schools from the late 1890s through to the 1970s. They were manufactured to the late 1940s.

The desks were designed to be screwed to the wooden floorboards in rows with aisles between them. The seat of each desk unit provided the seat to the desk in fronts

The iron legs are called 'standards'. They support the desk top, a shelf underneath and a curved seat. They have a hinge that enables the seat to fold up.

The desk top and shelf are single pieces of solid timber. The seat back and base are curved and made of timber strips.

A hole for an inkwell and groove for pens and pencils is on each desk top. Two students sat at each desk.

The desks were available in a range of sizes for infants to upper primary and high school students.

With seats joined to the desk they maximised space. At the time, classrooms accommodated 40 to 50 students.

The desks were listed in the 1890s school furniture specifications as the 'perfect automatic' desk.

Significance

These timber and iron double seats and desks provide evidence of:

the style of school furniture used in the first half of the 20th century
classroom arrangement of the time with desks in rows, close together to accommodate large class sizes
a focus on written work sitting at desks and facing the blackboard.

Object details

Date – the date stamps range from 1900 to 1944

Creator – NSW Department of Education

Place – NSW

Materials – timber, iron

Dimensions – largest desk length 106cm x width 40cm x height 75cm at top. Smallest desk length 81cm x width 29cm x height 55cm at top.

Look closer

An old timber and iron desk with smooth flat desk-tops and curved seat. The legs are iron.

Timber and iron double seats and desks with seats in the down position, date-stamped 1899 and 1897.

Old timber and iron desks in straight rows in a 1910 classroom.

Single and double timber and iron seats and desks in the 1910 classroom of the NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education.

Date stamp pressed into timber - PS May 1920

Manufacture date stamp on a timber and iron dual desk - May 1920The crown represents Government-made and PS is for public schools.

Iron legs of a double timber and iron desk. There is an ornate twirly pattern on the iron leg.

Iron legs, called standards, of timber dual desks, circa 1900 and 1920.Note the ornate iron lacework on the standard on the left. The seats folded up to enable sweeping under the desks.

Think and wonder

See

What do you notice first?
What would the surfaces feel like?
What do you like or find interesting about these double seats and desks?

Think

What would it feel like to sit at one of these desks?
How would you feel about having the person in front of you with their back against your desk top?
If somebody made the desks today, what would be different?
What can you learn from examining these desks?

Wonder

What do you wonder about these desks?
What else would you like to know about them?

Do

Compare

How are these dual desks similar and different to the 1880s long tom desks and the 1950s timber desks?

Use a three circle Venn diagram to express the similarities and differences among the three types of desks.

Inkwell mischief

There are stories of girls' pigtails being unknowingly dipped into inkwells whilst sitting at these desks. What other mischief might have happened at them?

Create a cartoon or compose a short fictional narrative to express an example of primary school mischief at these desks.

Explore and connect

Wooden desks with wooden chairs in straight rows in an old classroom with wooden floors and a blackboard at the front

Wooden desks and chairs, circa 1950 and 60, in a timber demountable classroom circa 1950 at the NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education.

Wooden chairs on top of wooden desks in an old classroom with wooden floors.

Timber chairs placed on the desktops of timber desks to enable sweeping.

Wooden desks, circa 1955

Moveable timber desks and chairs were manufactured by the NSW Department of Education from the early 1950s. They were made of plywood - thin sheets of timber glued together - with solid timber legs.

Each desk had a masonite shelf under the desk. The desks had a hole for an inkwell and a groove for pens and pencils. Later, when ink was no longer used in schools, just a groove for writing equipment was included.

The desks and chairs were made in various sizes, marked by a metal coloured 'button' on the side of each.

Chairs up

At the end of each day, the students placed their chairs on top of their desks to enable the floor to be swept.

At the start of each day, students stood behind their desk, were greeted by their class teacher then put down their chairs to 'be seated'.

At the time, as a sign of respect, students always stood when an adult entered the room and only sat when they were given permission to.

Sounds

What sounds would you hear as students put down their chairs or moved their chairs to stand?
During the day, what sounds would you hear in a room with wooden desks, chairs and floor?

Long wooden desks with long wooden bench seats in an historic classroom with wooden floors and an open fireplace.

Timber long tom desks in the 1877 schoolroom of the NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education.

Long tom desks, circa 1880

Long tom desks are long wooden desks with metal legs. The legs are screwed into the floor.

Students sat at the desk on a long timber bench seat, called a 'form'.

Long toms have five holes for inkwells and a groove along the top for pens and pencils. The writing surface slopes down.

Imagine sitting and working at a long tom. What would you like and dislike?

>Go to Long tom desks page

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands of people using this site. Is, always was, always will be – Aboriginal land.

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