FIG. 44
CHAPTER VII
Re-upholstering
FIG. 45
The first evidence of deterioration in much old spring upholstered furniture is a sagging seat. If attended to at the first indication of sag the fault may be remedied by simply retacking the webbing which most likely has pulled away from the rails. If the sag is not remedied shortly the stuffing begins to shift, and the exposed springs will soon cut or wear a hole thru the cover. Then the seat is practically beyond repair, with the exception of the utilization of the springs. Should the springs show evidence of rust, or if they have lost their temper and resiliency, new ones are required. The best policy is to repair a seat at the first indications of sag, providing the materials generally are worthy of repair.
In Fig. [45] is shown a small rocker with webbing and springs placed, and springs properly tied. This seat is a reconstruction job. Note that the cords are secured inside the rails, and that the webbing is tacked underneath the rails excepting on the front rail where it is fastened inside. This is necessary because of the curve on the bottom of the front rail. It shows the base for a hard-edge seat, and is treated in the same manner as the Queen Anne stool previously described. The one exception is that the goods are to be stretched over the faces of the rails and tacked underneath.
OLD FURNITURE.—Many heirlooms and other pieces of old furniture may be repaired by reglueing and replacing parts, or by re-upholstering, and the whole refinished so that it will compare favorably with fine pieces of furniture. A piece of furniture of this kind is illustrated in Fig. [46]. The treatment of the seat is somewhat different from that described before. The front edge has a hard edge, identical to that described in Chapter VI. The edges at the sides and back need no sewing; at least, they require very little stitching.
FIG. 46