# Is there a name for this type of cabinetry mechanism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684 "2008-05-01T23:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/1 "2008-05-01T23:09:28Z")
My sister’s annual Christmas gift is a fountain pen. A while ago I mentioned that I love the pens (A LOT!!) but I’m running out of places to put them. Most of the display cases out there cost a fortune and the pens lie flat - therefore taking up a lot of horizontal space, and I haven’t much more to spare. Several years ago a friend and I spotted (and I later received as a gift) a display case for some of my fountain pens. It’s about 9" high, 11" wide, and 4" deep, all wood with glass panels front and back. The pens are stored vertically; divots in the bottom rail securely hold the barrel, and the rail in the middle has 3/4" holes drilled through to keep the pens upright. Here’s the neat part: To get a pen out of the case you pull the top towards you. As the hinged front essentially falls down (think of a stiff-as-a-board drunk falling flat on his face) the “mechanism” (it’s really just routered joinery, like finer drawer slides) lifts the pens and rails straight up. I’ve been searching for _anything_ that resembles this for the last two years and keep coming up dry. The case I have came from the Bombay Company which 1) no longer carries it; and 2) is either going out of business or reformulating its brand. Help? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/2 "2008-05-01T23:17:14Z")
Is it anything like [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/BROWN-PEN-COLLECTORS-57-PEN-Wooden-Swivel-Display-Case_W0QQitemZ130218539659QQihZ003QQcategoryZ969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)? Some photos might be helpful, in any case; even crappy cellphone pics will do. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/3 "2008-05-01T23:22:21Z")
Sounds like things I’ve seen for kitchen cabinets that present spice bottles - they have a mechanism similar to a set of gymnasium bleachers that flops and rotates a set of racks from tucked away to tiered and easily accessible. Do you really need a mechanism to hold and present the pens, or is simply displaying them sufficient? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/4 "2008-05-01T23:57:03Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Is it anything like [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/BROWN-PEN-COLLECTORS-57-PEN-Wooden-Swivel-Display-Case_W0QQitemZ130218539659QQihZ003QQcategoryZ969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)? Some photos might be helpful, in any case; even crappy cellphone pics will do. [/QUOTE] If I had/could find a photo I’d just send that to sis and she’ll get it made for me. 😛 That’s not at all what I’m looking for, unless you can grasp the top of that glass in the picture, pull it out and down, and the pens lift up. [QUOTE=gotpasswords] Do you really need a mechanism to hold and present the pens, or is simply displaying them sufficient? [/QUOTE] The biggest problem I have is that I have thismuch space to display T H I S M A N Y pens; two more boxes like the one I have will equal the horizontal square incharage (I made that up) by one traditonal, horizontal storage box and also display 3 times as many pens. The second biggest problem is that I fucking hate - HATE! - dusting, and the case I have is nicely enclosed so all I have to do wipe off the 4" x 11" wood top, not Windex the 12" x 12" glass top. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/5 "2008-05-02T00:35:01Z")
You could try [Levenger.](http://www.levenger.com/pagetemplates/navigation/Preview.asp?Params=category=8-92%7Clevel=2-3%7CSortMethod=0%7Cpagecount=%7CView=All) I also feel obligated to include a link to [Pen Island.](http://www.penisland.net/) :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/6 "2008-05-02T02:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] I also feel obligated to include a link to [Pen Island.](http://www.penisland.net/) :D:D:D [/QUOTE] For some reason, all their pens have a slight curve to them ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/7 "2008-05-02T02:25:49Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] You could try [Levenger.](http://www.levenger.com/pagetemplates/navigation/Preview.asp?Params=category=8-92%7Clevel=2-3%7CSortMethod=0%7Cpagecount=%7CView=All) [/QUOTE] Don’t think I haven’t tried. Take [this](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=Category=8-92%7CLevel=2-3%7Cpageid=961%7CLink=Txt) and put it 90 degrees on end with the endcaps on top and and glass behind and you win. Even though there’s still no joy on the case I’m looking for I still want to know if there’s a name for the mechanism. If I say “barrister bookcase” everyone knows what that is - the glass front flips up and slides back. My pen case is almost exactly the same. The only differences are that it’s flipped 180 degrees; the front doesn’t slide back; and opening the case lifts the contents. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/8 "2008-05-02T03:18:52Z")
I know these arn’t what you’re looking for, but I’m ‘thinking out loud’ so to speak. [http://www.bgartforms.com/Pen\_Display\_Cases.htm](http://www.bgartforms.com/Pen_Display_Cases.htm) Perhaps, standing on their edge [http://www.usadisplay.net/plexi/plexi-pen.html](http://www.usadisplay.net/plexi/plexi-pen.html) Check out the Step Style Hmmm, I think I understand what you’re looking for but I’m not seeing it. Can I safely assume the one you doesn’t have anything at all written or engraved on it? Does it look expensive to make? Perhaps you can find a woodworker to make one for you. Otherwise, I’m not sure, but I do have a suggestion, retry some of your search terms but use ‘pencil’ instead of pen, you might get a different set of websites to search though. Oh, and if this looks anything like something you might see as a display in a store, try adding ‘retail’ or ‘commercial’ to your seach string. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/9 "2008-05-02T03:37:07Z")
When I buy a [set](http://www.tonsoftools.ca/drillset.jpg) of five drills, the box they come in has a nice mechanism of keeping the drills clasped down, yet the black part of the box can clap back for easier access. Is it something like that? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/10 "2008-05-02T05:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Hmmm, I think I understand what you’re looking for but I’m not seeing it. Can I safely assume the one you doesn’t have anything at all written or engraved on it? Does it look expensive to make? [/QUOTE] At least I’m sharing my frustration to others so I’m not the only one. I think I’m going to have to break down and try to get a hold of a digital camera. It doesn’t look expensive to make at ALL; in fact, IIRC, the case I have was about $30 back in ~2002. Which is shit-cheap for Bombay Company, yeah? My friend wouldn’t have given it to me if it would have cost too much more than a good hard-back book. I don’t know if you’re at all familiar with Bombay Company but it’s that highly-polished, dark-mahogany look typical of the place. When you look at it, it’s nothing more than two simple glass-fronted picture frames, one front and one back, like a shadowbox without the “shadow” - you can see through it, so instead of that velvet-lined bit for the flag there’s another glass-fronted frame. And, just like a shadowbox, there is plenty of room inside for “stuff”. It’s just that “sort of an upside down barrister bookcase mechamism but different” bit isn’t really a google search term, y’know? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/11 "2008-05-19T02:43:39Z")
I have [pictures](http://picasaweb.google.com/rsandy/PenCase) now! Hopefully that will make my question a little clearer… In order the pics are: Completely closed up; completely open; a view of the other side while half open; a view of the other side while completely open; and a view of the side while completely open. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/12 "2008-05-19T04:05:22Z")
From the series of pictures, it looks like the action of lowering the front glass panel raises the pen rack. This is more like an elevator lift than a barrister case, and similar to the supports that slide out when you fold down the writing surface on a secretary. I’ve never seen hardware for the lift you want. Most box makers would use a mechanical arm mechanism, where the supports for the rack ride up the grooves in the sides. I’ve never made one like that, but it shouldn’t be too hard. The question is, are you willing to pay for custom woodworking? You might wind up with more money in the case than there is in the pens. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/13 "2008-05-19T07:36:06Z")
Isn’t that a cantilever effect? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/14 "2008-05-21T02:58:41Z")
[QUOTE=Harry1945] From the series of pictures, it looks like the action of lowering the front glass panel raises the pen rack. This is more like an elevator lift than a barrister case, and similar to the supports that slide out when you fold down the writing surface on a secretary. I’ve never seen hardware for the lift you want. Most box makers would use a mechanical arm mechanism, where the supports for the rack ride up the grooves in the sides. [/quote] Yup, that’s exactly what it is. I should have taken dismantled pictures when I had the chance, but the rails the pens sit in is itself an open box that can be lifted out of the frame. It sits about an inch off the bottom of the framing, just enough for the lift-out-and-down bit to catch and raise as its opened, and rides up on a somewhat slanted routered groove. > [@](#): > > I’ve never made one like that, but it shouldn’t be too hard. The question is, are you willing to pay for custom woodworking? You might wind up with more money in the case than there is in the pens. You misunderstood my OP. _I_ won’t be paying for it; my sister will. Her last couple of pens were in the $100-$300 range; I assume the cabinetry work would be considerably less than that. Regardless - it doesn’t look like this has a name or is available off the shelf, so I’m thinking this won’t happen. Ah, well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/15 "2008-05-21T04:46:38Z")
[QUOTE=chique] Yup, that’s exactly what it is. I should have taken dismantled pictures when I had the chance, but the rails the pens sit in is itself an open box that can be lifted out of the frame. It sits about an inch off the bottom of the framing, just enough for the lift-out-and-down bit to catch and raise as its opened, and rides up on a somewhat slanted routered groove.You misunderstood my OP. _I_ won’t be paying for it; my sister will. Her last couple of pens were in the $100-$300 range; I assume the cabinetry work would be considerably less than that. Regardless - it doesn’t look like this has a name or is available off the shelf, so I’m thinking this won’t happen. Ah, well. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Any reasonably proficient woodworker could reproduce that from the pictures, and do it even better if given the original to measure from. I think it would probably cost about what one of the pens cost - $100 - $300, but she might get a price break if the woodworker feels s/he can make and sell many more. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-cabinetry-mechanism/447684/16 "2008-05-21T22:43:15Z")
Now I’m gonna have to make one just to see for myself what it will cost.