De Soto Frank wrote:At the risk of asking a silly / dumb question, is this machine "all original, but well-cleaned", or refinished ?
Also, is this American Walnut, or Circassian ?
Dumb questions aside, this is simply stunning ! You must be very proud of it !
Congratulations !
This is actually a very apt question. Doing some completely unrelated research, I found what is probably the best description available of Circassian Walnut. It is from the June 1913 issue of
The Craftsman, and reads:
"THE USES AND MARVELS OF CIRCASSIAN WALNUT"
CIRCASSIAN walnut (Juglans regia Linn.) yields one of the best known and most expensive cabinet woods on the American and European markets. Botanically, Circassian walnut is the same as the so-called English walnut, the latter name being used almost exclusively by those who grow the tree for its nuts; while the former is the one generally applied to it by manufacturers and other consumers of
the wood. Of all the common names given it, English walnut is the least appropriate, because the tree is not a native of England, but was brought there long ago from Asia and cultivated. Obviously, the most appropriate name for the tree is Circassian walnut, since this indicates at once its true
origin and natural range. Other common names applied to it are royal walnut, Italian walnut, European walnut, French walnut, Persian walnut, Austrian walnut, Turkish walnut and Russian walnut. In Italy the
tree is called ancona auvergne; in Persia, jaoz, charmagz and akrot; in Greece, carua, caryon, cersicon and basilikon (kingly tree) ; in France, noyer; in Germany, englische Wallnuss and gemeine (common) Wallnuss; in Spain and Cuba, nogal; in South America, nogal, nogal America, and nogal comun.
Probably no other wood has served so many purposes as Circassian walnut. Long before the discovery of America it was the most popular of all woods for furniture and interior finish, while throughout southern Europe the wood is still used locally for all grades of furniture. Its present high cost, however, prohibits its use in this country for any but the very finest furniture and cabinetwork. When more abundant, its use abroad also included coach-making, turnerv, toys, press screws, joinery, carved work and wooden shoes. During the wars of the eighteenth century Circassian walnut was used so extensively for gunstocks that even at that early date the supply was seriously decreased.
The wood of old trees is especially valuable on account of its dark color and beautiful veining, strength, lightness and elasticity. When particularly well marked it is one of the most attractive and valuable of veneer woods, particularly for furniture. The best grades often bring a higher price than mahogany, especially in the United States. Adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions, Circassian walnut is one of the most widely distributed of commercial timber trees. It is native to the
eastern slopes of the Caucasus, and extends eastward along the valleys and slopes of the Hindoo Koosh to the southern foothills of the Himalaya Mountains, where it is said to form large, pure forests. From there it extends southward to northern India, and to the mountains of upper Burma. Some
authorities claim that it stretches across the continent to Japan.
Sir Dietrich Brandis describes trees from the region northwest of the Himalayas as being 28 feet in circumference and from 100 to 120 feet in height. It is probable that the species reaches its best development in the Caucasus Mountains. In the Sikkim Himalaya, according to Dr. Joseph Hooker,
an English botanist, Circassian walnut inhabits mountain slopes between elevations of 4,000 and 5,000 feet, while in northern India it is found at elevations of from 3,500 to 11,000 feet, being most abundant in Kashmir. It grows also to some extent in the arid valleys. In northeastern India (Darjeeling) Circassian walnut is planted extensively for its fruit. It has been widely planted in Europe, having been grown successfully as far north as Warsaw in Russia, and as far south as Italy and the Mediterranean islands.
According to Pliny it was introduced into Italy from Persia. This must have happened at an early date, since it is mentioned as existing in Italy by Varro, who was born 116 B. C. There is no authentic record as to when Circassian walnut was brought into the United States. Here it has been planted from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the greatest attention having been given to it on the Pacific coast, where it is grown for its nuts. Since wherever it is grown in the United States it is for this purpose, the wood produced is of little importance.
No other timber tree has been exploited more than Circassian walnut, and the demand for it has always been greater than the available supply. Much of the Circassian walnut now used in various parts of the world comes from the shores of the Black Sea, and from other regions as far as Persia. Large shipments come from India to England, whence some is shipped to the United States.
