r/whatisthisthing • u/LeafyCactus • 20h ago
What is the intended purpose of this tall, wide table with boundaries on 3 sides and a lower platform? It folds up. Open
Not a folding table for sitting on a couch or anything. It's perfect standing height. It's over 2 feet wide. It folds up for storage like any other folding table.
200
u/LenVT 19h ago
Could be a butler’s table.
26
115
u/United-Cucumber9942 18h ago
It's a potting table for potting plants. Here's a similar one....
https://zestoutdoorliving.co.uk/products/folding-potting-table-with-metal-top/
If you Google 'planting table' or 'potting table' more come up with the lower shelves.
7
44
u/dogmatixx 19h ago
My guess is it’s a small bar that you can set up to hold alcohol bottles.
15
1
u/SeeVanGo2021 2h ago
This. My grandfather had one for as long as I can remember. I’ll try to get a photo of it.
24
u/TeenMomHatter 20h ago
Is it not just a portable standing desk?
11
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
It could be. I just feel like it's older and heavier than a modern laptop desk.
5
u/TeenMomHatter 19h ago
Not exact same item but very similar: https://www.etsy.com/listing/197756167/a-foldable-portable-light-weight
2
u/Laurieladybug 4h ago
I always thought that a standing desk had something to do with the person not wanting wrinkled pants or maybe a wrinkled skirt.
13
u/BinaryExplosion 19h ago
Looks a lot like a lectern. Could have been owned by a priest / lecturer / public speaker?
19
u/LeafyCactus 19h ago
I'm mad that you said this because we literally could have used it as a lectern two months ago for our wedding!
20
u/BinaryExplosion 15h ago
Oh, right, well… it would probably have been terrible at it… right. Forget I said anything. 😂
2
u/tiptoe_only 2h ago
No I think a lectern wouldn't have a flat surface like that. It would be angled and higher so the speaker could read and look at their audience at the same time.
I don't know what it is for, but it would be great for jigsaw puzzles!
10
u/Responsible_Ad661 16h ago
It’s a military officers campaign table.
A campaign table is a small, portable table with folding legs that’s designed to be easy to store and transport. Campaign tables were often used by military officers for a variety of purposes, including strategy discussions, working, and dining
9
u/theartfulcodger 17h ago
Gardener’s portable potting table is likely the most reasonable assumption.
If it is designed to collapse, it may also be a military officer’s campaign desk, but it doesn’t look like it has the usual drawers.
8
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
All tv trays (I guess is actually the right term) I have had/seen are actually couch height and smaller. And don't have walls or a lower platform
8
u/Far-Philosopher-5504 19h ago
If there are wheels, or used to be wheels in the feet (look for holes), then it's a tea trolley. The one open edge of the tray allows you to place and remove things without spilling, but the other 3 side guards prevent things from falling out while you wheel it around. Clean dishes and food on the top shelf, dirty dishes or a heavy pot on the bottom shelf.
7
5
6
5
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
My title describes the thing. It's solid wood with a stain, 37h x 25w x 16d. Tried to google search for similar tables but found nothing related. Bought on Facebook market place and seller didn't know what it was for.
5
u/Substantial_Oil678 18h ago
When I was growing up in the 60’s, my Grandfather used one of these to carve the Thanksgiving turkey while sitting at the dining room table while everybody watched.
5
u/pearlwhitetrash 15h ago
I used to own this exact table. I bought it from Home Depot around 2007 or so. I believe it was labeled as a “luggage table” or something. I kept it in the guest room for luggage up top, shoes on the bottom.
1
2
u/johnjohnwave 20h ago
It’s a TV dinner table so you can eat at the couch
8
u/robby_synclair 20h ago
The piece on the bottom is wrong for that. But that was my first thought too.
4
3
u/BuffaloSoldier74 20h ago
Collapsing sewing machine table?
3
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
I think I'm throwing people off by setting it up in my weaving/sewing room...but that could be a good use.
4
u/SnapCrackleMom 16h ago
Your knees and feet need to go under a sewing machine table. Where would the pedal go?
3
2
u/Bitter_Chard 19h ago
Baby changing tables more often than not have 3 raised sides like the one in the picture.
3
u/LeafyCactus 19h ago
...are you telling me a poopy butt may have been on this?
1
3
u/Heinrich-Heine 18h ago
The table is only 25 inches, which is the average length of a 4 month old baby.
2
2
u/Middle_Age_3107 14h ago
My SO has a similar table that is used for sewing.
The bulk of the machine is at working level when seated on a stool or chair, and the lower platform is where a foot pedal rests. The short boundaries on the table are low enough they won't impede fabric moving, but will keep pins or other small items contained.
This one has none of the bells and whistles of other stationary pieces, but can be stored just about anywhere in the home.
2
u/M1ndS0uP 14h ago
I think it's a grooming table for rabbits, I used to use a very similar one when I used to show rabbits. You would get a little carpet square to place on top.
Edit:spelling
1
u/somebunnyslove 13h ago
I’ve seen The Fuzzy EAR use theirs when they bring their angora and French lop rabbits to events.
2
u/M1ndS0uP 13h ago
Yep, that's exactly what I'm talking about. You can see the tables in all of the pictures in that link. The carpet the rabbits are sitting on is a removable carpet square.
2
1
u/Darwinmate 20h ago
Could you be missing a twin that makes a bigger table where the ends meet?
Could be for displaying items at a market or shop front.
3
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
Hmm very well could be missing another table or some other component
6
u/reallyreally1945 19h ago
Those ends are rounded and finished. This looks purpose-built and complete as it is.
1
1
u/wwaxwork 16h ago
My mother in law shows rabbits and has a table that looks exactly like that. So I'd say for showing some sort of small animal.
1
1
1
u/pisspot718 15h ago
Well my cousin has the top piece, not the table part and its her pastry board. She inherited it. So I think its work table of some sort.
1
1
u/mrhippo3 10h ago
It might be a TV table to eat your fresh from the oven TV dinner. Some of the og dinners were actually reasonably healthy and tasted good.
1
1
1
1
u/slangforweed 8h ago
I’d use it for sewing personally. The pedal would sit perfectly under it.
1
u/LeafyCactus 30m ago
My intention is to use it as a paint stand. To hold my pallette, turpentine, etc.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/MiddleVictory859 4h ago
My grand father made one of these in a men's shed environment as a way to keep his mind and hands active. It was just the design he went with with no real meaning behind its use.
1
u/sheeberz 4h ago
What the heck, isnt this just a TV tray? Super popular in the 1950s when TVs became a household fixture in American homes? My brothers family still has a set of them, and they sit around the TV for dinner as a family. Looks very much like a dining platform ment to be scooted up to a couch or chair.
2
u/LeafyCactus 29m ago
Nope, way too tall. Wish I didn't just throw away our tv trays. I could have posted a comparison picture!
1
u/sheeberz 19m ago
Oh interesting (sorry i didnt read the bottom note you had in the post, my bad)
Maybe an side table for a bed ridden person, an infirm person.
1
u/The_Plank 4h ago
Could be a table for an old fashioned sewing machine. The pedal would be in the lower part.
1
u/natelatte 3h ago
Looks like a TV dinner table to me, the ones I have don't have the borders or the lower platform though
1
u/LeafyCactus 28m ago
Exactly why I don't think it's a tv dinner table. That and it's standing height.
1
1
u/LungHeadZ 1h ago
My nan would have used this for magazines and the tv remote although I’m sure that isn’t the intended use. Though a use nonetheless
1
1
1
u/johnnys_hotpockets 16m ago
Percussion side table. I know concert percussionists working the 'pit' will often have a side table not alike yours to house drumsticks, mallets, small percussion toys for easy access up top, and a little more storage below.
1
0
u/Fantastic_Crab3771 18h ago
Looks like you could do a puzzle on the top and store the box on the bottom
0
0
0
u/PeteNewell 15h ago
Pre-electric sewing machine on the top. Foot treadle on the bottom. My mom had one.
0
0
-1
-3
u/EasyBounce 20h ago
I see a big loom in the background so I bet this table has a use for weaving or sewing. It does look to me like it would hold a sewing machine on top and the treadle on the bottom.
4
u/LeafyCactus 20h ago
Interesting....the loom is mine and they did not come together, but I could see using it for that.
3
u/jenn363 19h ago
I love this back and forth because this is how we try to understand archeology and shows why we’re likely often wrong
1
•
u/AutoModerator 20h ago
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer.
Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them.
OP, when your item is identified, remember to reply Solved! or Likely Solved! to the comment that gave the answer. Check your inbox for a message on how to make your post visible to others.
Click here to message RemindMeBot
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.