Rolltop Desk and Swivel Chair

Kit's Rolltop Desk & Swivel Chair
$70 QSF


Grade A+

This set includes Kit's desk and chair.

This set is so beautiful. It is incredibly detailed. I have my Grandfather's swivel chair from the 1930's here, and it looks exactly like Kit's, right down to the golden oak finish and the "adjuster knob on the bottom.The knob does not really adjust anything, it is just decorative, but it looks terrific.
The rolltop works nicely, though sometimes you have to work with it just a little bit.The drawers all slide in and out with the greatest of ease, as does the writing board. There areplenty of little nooks and crannies to tuck away Kit's favorite things.

A+ for realistic detail!

[barbara]

I would also give this an A+, I just snagged one from ebay for $35! This has been on my wish list, but I kept putting off spending almost the cost of a doll on it.

It's great quality, and the details are fantastic! I would love to have a full size version for myself. The little pull out shelf for her typewriter is a nice detail that could have been overlooked, but wasn't. I would recommend anyone going to the MCM sale to get one whether they have Kit or not!

[monimarine]

I just got this back this week in an exchange order. I agree with the original review giving it an A+. The detail is amazing and the face that all the drawers slide out for use is great for play value. My daughter is thrilled with it.

[Keri]

This is the neatest piece of furniture I've seen yet! ...well, except it's only the second.


Things I like:
-- The roll top feels like a real roll top, with a flimsy hood that has strips of wood attached.
-- The two side drawers and writing tray are secured so they don't come out too easily.
-- The chair can be pushed in so that it's almost flush if there isn't a doll in.
-- Or, if the doll wants to sit at the desk, she can do so easily with her feet underneath and eveyrthing.
-- The chair is a great shape and Beatrice has been able to sit in it no problem, whether she's tucked into the desk or not.
-- It looks good from all sides.


Things I'm not as fond of:
-- The handles on the roll top feel like they're going to break off if I tug on them too hard to open or close it.
-- The roll top doesn't move smoothly, making me feel like I need to tug it.
-- Overall, the scale is MUCH too small. Beatrice practically towers over the desk and I can't fit her books into one of the lower drawers, which I very much wish I could.
-- It can't fold down or anything for storage, which means it's one of the bulkier pieces - not that any of the other desks do, either, but still.


For appearance, playability, and storage, I give it an A-. It's fantastic and I'm so glad I puchased it!


--- KERI

[kbrzez]

A+

The detail is amazing!! The doll fits well into the chair too. The roll top desk parts makes it so realistic. Kits typewriter fits perfect on the desk and her other treasures fit in to the drawers. Worth every penny.

[maggiedoll]

I wanted to post some pictures of the desk as it could work "in use."
American Girl catalog has a couple of nice pictures of the typewriter and school supplies with the desk but this will have to do.

Mine:


I wanted to desk to represent a bookish girl who happens to wear perfectly white dresses. (Picture refuses to resize itself.)


First of all, as no one at American Girl ever employed the concept of scale? The poor girl towers over her little desk.

One could argue that Kit received a child-sized desk back when she was seven or eight yet that does not explain this:

What is the point with cubbies if they don't hold anything? Real roll top desk can hold papers, books and supplies in their cubbies, not a few bits and pieces.


The redeeming quality is the drawers. The top drawer holds the pencil box from Samantha's school supplies and Kit's pencil case.


Regardless of the lack of cubbie space the desk top does hold a fair amount of books, a typewriter and a few other things.


The top holds the girl's lamp, camera, paper case and inkwell in case Felicity needs to sign something.

My doll's desk holds supplies that come from Kit's Hobo, school, camera, typewriter and nighttime accessories, Samantha's school supplies and a few odds and ends that I thought looked cute.

When I bought this desk, I was expected to be disappointed in the scale. However, I was pleasantly surprised on how much stuff the desk could hold. It could be better but its qualities outweighing the scale issue. I think it passed as the childhood desk of a budding writer and therefore it deserves another A.

[sarahc]

Here are dimensions for a real human rolltop desk

54 in W x 29 in D x 53 in H

[Thimbleberry]

The scale of Kit's desk might look small but it's exactly the same scale as children's roll top desks of the 1930's. I've been an antiques dealer for over 25 years & used to often see kid's roll tops from that time period. They just made them small like that.

[Kennasmomluvsag2]

This may sound like a really stupid question but does Kit's swivel chair actually swivel? We just got Kits desk and chair but the chair is broken and I think its missing a piece but I can't really tell. My husband is really good at fixing things and would like a picture of the bottom of the chair. Would anybody be willing to take a quick picture and post it for me. I would be very grateful. Thanks so much.

[happymargaret]

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Since I cannot give you a picture, here comes some words.

The 4 legged base is firmly connected to a metal plate and cylinder. The cylinder is inserted into a metal half circle "drum" underneath the seat. The plate & cylinder allow the seat to freely rotate. Or, you could hold the seat and be able to spin the wood base and the cylinder. No adjustments can be made as the 'springs' and the wheel are just for 'show.' Opposite the wheel on the semi circle metal 'drum' in between the two 'springs' (metal fake coils), there is a small screw. Maybe if you loosen it a little, it might allow the metal cylinder to move a bit more freely. Just a thought.

I do hope you can get the chair to swivel. Kit's desk & chair are really nice pieces of furniture.

[aggals]

This seems to be a common problem and you would have found many chairs at the mcm sale for this very reason.

[AGmom2AlliTori]

Wow, wow & wow! I ordered this desk on January 7, 2009... I finally received it on December 16, 2009. It was worth the wait - however I am still not happy about the uncertainty of possibly not getting it all all.

It is the most awesome piece of American Girl furniture - bar none! Photos do not do this desk justice - really.



I believe that giving this desk an A+ doesn't even do it justice. It is truly a superb piece!

D~


_{*mod edit to remove dead image links*}

This desk and chair set is utterly beautiful and worth every penny! I finally bought it in December after wanting it for years, and let me tell you, it was so worth the wait! I LOVE IT!

It is very sturdy and well-made and a blast to play with! I've had so much fun adding little gadgets and things to Kit's desk so that she can truly feel like a real newspaper reporter.

Grade: A+++++

_{mod edit to remove broken image links}

[KitandKat]

I love this desk... it's the only piece of AG furniture that I seriously coveted, and I finally got it at the Outlet around Thanksgiving '09 for $40. Totally in love with it. It has so many compartments! I never noticed the scale issue, since my grandparents have an adult rolltop my grandfather made and he is taller than it as well, so I just thought that was how it was supposed to be... assuming it was a kids' desk. Kit's typewriter fits perfectly and the little pull-out tablet is the perfect size for a piece of paper to scratch notes on. The swivel chair is great as well... it really swivels, and it has indentations so the doll sits more naturally in it and is less likely to slip off.

Overall... definitely A+

[molly&lydia]

Kit's Desk and Chair is an incredibly detailed and well made piece that is suitable for either historical or modern dolls. I love it and highly recommend it! A+

The swivel chair:


The desk with laptop and a few books:


Lydia googling something while Ruby looks over her shoulder:


Comparison pic of Desk with my human sized rolltop desk:


Comparison pic with the top open:


The dolls have no trouble sitting in the chair:



Did I mention how much I love this desk?!

[tkimt]

So classic, it looks great in a modern scene too! Here's Molly as a Lanie nature girl, sitting at Kit's rolltop desk:

[francie]

Not the best picture but here is how I have mine displayed right now.

[sissy]

Kit's desk is one of my favorite pieces. I simply cannot say enough good about it. Here is a picture of my Kit hard at work on her newest issue of the Hard Times News:

[lwheeler]

I love this desk; it is one of my very favorite AG items…

[numberonekitty]

I'm so happy for you that you finally have Kit's desk. It truly is one of the most awesome things AG makes. I wish all of their items were made with the same attention to detail.

Here is my Kit and her desk:

[felicityelizabeth]

For new owners of Kit's desk: Don't forget about the damage that the typewriter feet can do to the finish of the desk. There must be information somewhere on this site about it.

[skukla]

May 25, 2012 11:44:34 GMT -5 felicityelizabeth said:

For new owners of Kit's desk: Don't forget about the damage that the typewriter feet can do to the finish of the desk. There must be information somewhere on this site about it.

It's noted in the "Items That Stain" faq, here:
agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=faq&thread=9500&page=1

But for the in depth discussion, this thread in the Looking Back Archive dishes the details and suggestions for avoiding stains on one's beautiful desk:
agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=kitarchive&action=display&thread=44009

[maggiedoll]

I really like Kit's desk, I just wish that it was a bit bigger. In my Kit's world, she got a child size version when she was a bit younger.

I do have a word of caution, I kept Kit's pencil box (from her school supplies) in own of the drawers. One day, as I was lifting the pencil box out of the drawer, it fell out of the drawer and into the desk. I still don't know how the desk ate the pencil box. The only way I could get my pencil box was to get the drawer out of the desk, but it will not go back in. Therefore, my Kit's desk now has her drawer separate from the desk. Moral of the story, don't let your desk taste pencil boxes.

[Summer's Mama]