The Bench Table is an exact copy of one found in Chester Co., PA. The seat board is wedged mortise and tenoned (glued also) into each end board of the table base (the bench). The seat board is nailed to the aprons which are, in turn, glued and old squared into each end board of the base - good solid construction. The Table is made so that the top can be pivoted 90? to the floor, thereby making a bench with a back (the top). This would serve to hold the heat in from the fireplace while keeping away drafts. They thought of everything in those days - they had to. The Bench Table is built from 150+ year old pine and old square nails. To date, I have built 206 PA. Bench Tables. One of the nice features of the Bench Table, and also one of the reasons it's so popular, is that there are no table legs to "fight" at each corner. This table is available in length from 4 to 8 feet, width 37" to 39". I was asked to make two of my PA. Bench Tables and four Country Benches for Jody Foster's movie "Nell" 1996 - a good movie. Ms. Foster was up for an Oscar but did not win. Seating - I always allow 24" per average sized person (200 lbs. and under). Example: 6 foot rectangular table 38" - 40" will seat three on each side and one at each end, for a total of eight average adults.

        This second bench table is shown in an old pine finish. Actually, for the movie "Nell", I finished their tables and benches in natural pine because after the set director explained the back woods cabin scenes to me, I suggested a natural finished base with a dark top would be best; a painted table would have looked out of place in the various scenes.

        This shows the wedged open mortise and tenon of the seat board being joined to the base end board, the hand beading on the seat board edge, the hand beading on the apron and the original square nails holding the hand beaded apron in place.

        When it came to making the base, I took the original, when I was in Chester Co., PA., and stood it up on end on a piece of construction paper. Then I traced the end board of the original base, took various measurements and several pictures. From these, I made my templates, found a source of early lumber and began making my first Chester Co., PA. Bench Table.