"English joiner John Head (1688–1754) immigrated to Philadelphia in 1717 and became one of its most successful artisans and merchants. However, his prominence was lost to history until the author’s discovery of his account book at the Library of the American Philosophical Society. A find of great historical importance, Head’s account book is the earliest and most complete to have survived from any cabinetmaker working in British North America or in Great Britain. It chronicles the commerce, crafts, and lifestyles of early Philadelphia’s entire community: its shopkeeping, cabinetmaking, chairmaking, clockmaking, glazing, metalworking, needleworking, property development, agriculture, botany, livestock, transport, foodstuffs, drink, hardware, fabrics, furnishings, household wares, clothing, building materials, and export trade. Jay Robert Stiefel, historian of Colonial Philadelphia society and its material culture, presents the definitive interpretation of the John Head account book and introduces many other discoveries. The culmination of nearly 20 years of research, this new volume serves as an essential reference work on 18th-century Philadelphia, its furniture and material culture, as well as an intimate and detailed social history of the interactions among that era’s most talented artisans and successful merchants. Profusely illustrated and in large format, the book includes a foreword from furniture historian Adam Bowett and an introduction by historian Patrick Spero, Librarian and Director of the American Philosophical Society Library" -- Provided by publisher.

Magnificent reproduction of 1788 folio of Hepplewhite furnishings. Classic, highly valued work depicts chairs, stools, sofas, sideboards, beds, pedestals, desks, bookcases, tables, chests of drawers, wardrobes, fire screens, and many other items. 128 plates.

Account book kept by a cabinetmaker in New Haven, Connecticut. Based on research, the cabinetmaker may have been Howard Smith.

The One Book Every Cabinetmaker Needs to Own Build any cabinet imaginable, in any size, and with lightning speed. All you need are common workshop tools, a sheet of plywood and this ingenious book. The Complete Cabinetmaker's Reference is the Rosetta Stone of the woodworking world. Its worksheets unlock the secrets of efficient case construction because author Jeffrey Piontkowski has done all the hard work for you. He shows you in just five easy steps how to build any one of 23 cabinet styles - from simple base cabinets to pantry cabinets to file cabinets: Pick the style and size cabinet you need and flip to that page. Cut your pieces to size using the cutting list and the plywood optimization charts that show you how to waste as little material as possible. Cut all the dadoes and grooves shown on the 3D exploded drawings. Assemble your cabinet using the step-by-step photos as a guide. Build any doors and drawers using the book's detailed and exact instructions. If you're a beginner, this book lets you build cabinets like a pro. If you're a pro, this book lets you build cabinets faster than ever and expands the range of what you can offer your clients.

Here's an updated rundown on how commercial cabinetshops work, with advice for the ameteur as well as for the professional. Provides practical standards and sensible procedures, plus tips and tricks. Emphasizes sound craftmanship, smart planning, accurate measurements, and organized workflow.

With continual themes of perfection of technique and building to the limits of one's skill, this authoritative resource provides in-depth instruction for mastering the craft of cabinetmaking. A bevy of topics, including the proper way to sharpen and hone tools, hollow grinding methodology, and obtaining proper grinding angles, are detailed in this comprehensive cabinet-making sourcebook. Lessons devoted to using and understanding various woods, including common or exotic pieces, learning how to read grain, and the pros and cons in working with air-dried wood versus kiln-dried wood, will educate any level of woodworker. Chapters devoted to resawing as well as problems and concerns due to moisture content and wood movement are also included.