BESTOYS “DE LUXE” BUREAU - c1959 to 1965
First listed in 1959 S. Hoffnung catalogue, this bureau may have been in production since 1957. By 1965, it had been discontinued.
The descriptions read:
The descriptions read:
This modernised, scaled-down version of the roll top desk patented in 1881 in the USA by Abner Cutler, demonstrated the quality Bestoys products achieved in making furniture for children.
The superstructure was made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine timber, the sides of which were cut to shape on a bandsaw and smoothed off using a large table mounted disc sander. The flexible roller lid consisted of timber slats held together on the underside by a backing of fabric which was glued on using a waterproof adhesive. This adhesive was either rollered or brushed on. The freshly glued lids were laid flat and stacked one upon the other until dry. They were then trimmed of any excess glue. The slats most likely were painted before gluing.
The top could be rolled up or down along the parallel grooves on either side of the frame. These grooves were cut using a router and then waxed to ensure a smooth sliding action. Before final assembly of the body, the flexible top was attached to the writing top/drawer unit so that opening the top pushed the drawer out and closing it pulled it back in.
The wooden shelf had a grooved pencil rack with a plastic inkwell on either side of it. Those were the days when school children were taught cursive handwriting, in pencil first and then graduating to pen and ink – no biros, no rollerballs, no gel or marker pens – only messy, blue Swan ink.
Being ‘de luxe’, this version of the Bestoys bureau had extra decoration. Gold adhesive tape was applied to the front of the drawer and around the leg anchors of the bureau and the matching stool, which was sold separately.
The finish was two coats of semi-gloss clear lacquer, tinted to a maple colour and hand-sanded between coats.
In 1959, the “De Luxe” bureau came in two versions: the standard Swedish-style with tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine or round tapered legs finished off with metal ferrules.
By 1963, only the tapered pine leg version was produced and by 1965, the “De Luxe” bureau was discontinued to make way for more up-to-date models that were less labour-intensive.
The superstructure was made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine timber, the sides of which were cut to shape on a bandsaw and smoothed off using a large table mounted disc sander. The flexible roller lid consisted of timber slats held together on the underside by a backing of fabric which was glued on using a waterproof adhesive. This adhesive was either rollered or brushed on. The freshly glued lids were laid flat and stacked one upon the other until dry. They were then trimmed of any excess glue. The slats most likely were painted before gluing.
The top could be rolled up or down along the parallel grooves on either side of the frame. These grooves were cut using a router and then waxed to ensure a smooth sliding action. Before final assembly of the body, the flexible top was attached to the writing top/drawer unit so that opening the top pushed the drawer out and closing it pulled it back in.
The wooden shelf had a grooved pencil rack with a plastic inkwell on either side of it. Those were the days when school children were taught cursive handwriting, in pencil first and then graduating to pen and ink – no biros, no rollerballs, no gel or marker pens – only messy, blue Swan ink.
Being ‘de luxe’, this version of the Bestoys bureau had extra decoration. Gold adhesive tape was applied to the front of the drawer and around the leg anchors of the bureau and the matching stool, which was sold separately.
The finish was two coats of semi-gloss clear lacquer, tinted to a maple colour and hand-sanded between coats.
In 1959, the “De Luxe” bureau came in two versions: the standard Swedish-style with tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine or round tapered legs finished off with metal ferrules.
By 1963, only the tapered pine leg version was produced and by 1965, the “De Luxe” bureau was discontinued to make way for more up-to-date models that were less labour-intensive.
BESTOYS BUREAU - c1956 to c1960
Unfortunately, no catalogue illustrations exist of the earliest bureau produced by the Bestoys factory at 26 Hutchinson Street, St Peters.
By 1st April, 1958, the name of "Bestoys" was officially registered as belonging to Messrs. N. & E. Bonaretti and the rocket and moon trademark was registered 14th September, 1960 even though it very likely had been used prior to that date. (In fact, one of the earliest recollections by the eldest daughter was of her father carefully spray-painting details on the large rocket that was to have hung in front of the burgundy-coloured velvet curtains at the toy fair at the Trocadero around 1957.)
It is feasible that Jim Bonaretti was producing a bureau at the Hutchinson Street address from around 1956 when he moved his family there.
By 1st April, 1958, the name of "Bestoys" was officially registered as belonging to Messrs. N. & E. Bonaretti and the rocket and moon trademark was registered 14th September, 1960 even though it very likely had been used prior to that date. (In fact, one of the earliest recollections by the eldest daughter was of her father carefully spray-painting details on the large rocket that was to have hung in front of the burgundy-coloured velvet curtains at the toy fair at the Trocadero around 1957.)
It is feasible that Jim Bonaretti was producing a bureau at the Hutchinson Street address from around 1956 when he moved his family there.
While no catalogue illustrations exist, several examples of the bureau do. These are now more than that three-quarters of a century old!
The first example is from Dr Mary-Jane Walker of The School of Lost Arts in Geelong, Victoria (Australia).
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In her own words, Dr Walker relates the history of her bureau pictured above:
We bought our BESTOYS desk second hand in Albury NSW from a secondhand shop I think or maybe a furniture auction house that we used to go to. I can't remember what we paid for it, but it wasn't much. I wanted a small desk that the children could have as their own.
Over the ensuing years all four of our children, now all adults used it as their special space.
It is amazing that when a child has a special respected place for their own 'work', whether that is drawing, painting or playdough or later writing, it seemed to give them a sense of their own creative autonomy. It always sat out in the shared living spaces when they were very young or maybe later in one of their bedrooms.
It was always much loved and used, and featured stickers and decoration over time which changed who was using it. The 'secret' space under the tabletop was especially loved as was the grown-up roll top feature. I believe that this early respect for the children's own learning contributed to all four getting over 99.6 in their final Year 12 scores, but I can't prove it!
The desk has followed us over many moves and was most recently in my art studio as a small useful space near the door. It has now been taken back by our 25-year-old son as a cool mid-century modern bedside table, much admired by his friends and flatmates, so its story continues.
Thank you to your father for valuing children with such a beautifully made piece of furniture.
Kind regards,
Mary-Jane
2nd April, 2024
We bought our BESTOYS desk second hand in Albury NSW from a secondhand shop I think or maybe a furniture auction house that we used to go to. I can't remember what we paid for it, but it wasn't much. I wanted a small desk that the children could have as their own.
Over the ensuing years all four of our children, now all adults used it as their special space.
It is amazing that when a child has a special respected place for their own 'work', whether that is drawing, painting or playdough or later writing, it seemed to give them a sense of their own creative autonomy. It always sat out in the shared living spaces when they were very young or maybe later in one of their bedrooms.
It was always much loved and used, and featured stickers and decoration over time which changed who was using it. The 'secret' space under the tabletop was especially loved as was the grown-up roll top feature. I believe that this early respect for the children's own learning contributed to all four getting over 99.6 in their final Year 12 scores, but I can't prove it!
The desk has followed us over many moves and was most recently in my art studio as a small useful space near the door. It has now been taken back by our 25-year-old son as a cool mid-century modern bedside table, much admired by his friends and flatmates, so its story continues.
Thank you to your father for valuing children with such a beautifully made piece of furniture.
Kind regards,
Mary-Jane
2nd April, 2024
With sincere thanks to Mary-Jane for supplying this history of her desk and allowing me to publish it.
The School of Lost Arts website can be found here: https://www.theschooloflostarts.com.au/
The School of Lost Arts website can be found here: https://www.theschooloflostarts.com.au/
Other vintage "Finds"
Bestoys "De Luxe" Bureau
Several of these bureaux have turned up over the years.
One superb restored model was found on 360 Modern Furniture website in 2018.
One superb restored model was found on 360 Modern Furniture website in 2018.
Described as mid century roll top desk Bestoys retro vintage Danish Scandi era, this bureau featured round tapered legs fitted with gold-coloured ferrules. It retains its original handle. It would have been manufactured between 1959 and 1965. (The chair isnot a Bestoys product.)
Jim Bonaretti would have been very pleased with this excellent restoration.
Jim Bonaretti would have been very pleased with this excellent restoration.
Bestoys Bureau
Another bureau was offered for sale on eBay in December, 2018.
This desk is from the same era as Dr Walker's: between c1959 and c1960. The handle may not be original and the top shelf still retains the Bestoys wet-application transfer between the two dome-head pins. The logo of the rocket and the moon was registered 14th September, 1960 - No 162422 - but was in use before formal registration, as seen on the catalogue produced by S. Hoffnung in 1959.
Unlike the “De Luxe” version, the writing surface on this model does not pull out and storage is accessed by lifting the hinged lid. The hinges are original. It, too, has a grooved pencil rack on the wooden shelf but only one inkwell.
As with almost all of the Bestoys range from that time, Jim applied to register all his designs to make sure his competitors could not copy them. This bureau, like Dr Walker's, is stamped on the frame beneath the lift-up lid: BESTOYS REGISTERED DESIGN APPLICATION NO E246432 PENDING
This example is in play-worn condition but still holding together after all the years of usage.
Unlike the “De Luxe” version, the writing surface on this model does not pull out and storage is accessed by lifting the hinged lid. The hinges are original. It, too, has a grooved pencil rack on the wooden shelf but only one inkwell.
As with almost all of the Bestoys range from that time, Jim applied to register all his designs to make sure his competitors could not copy them. This bureau, like Dr Walker's, is stamped on the frame beneath the lift-up lid: BESTOYS REGISTERED DESIGN APPLICATION NO E246432 PENDING
This example is in play-worn condition but still holding together after all the years of usage.