Limbert Bookcase

You’d be hard pressed to find a bookcase that ticks all the right boxes more than the Limbert No. 357. Its compact size and craftsman details set it apart.

Original Limbert case pieces are really something to behold. Black and white catalog pictures rarely do them justice, but if you get the chance to see one in person, you instantly understand why people are drawn to them. I first realized this when bidding on a small Charles P. Limbert bookcase at an auction in Oregon. The fit and finish of his surviving cabinet work is truly remarkable. Unfortunately, I lost my bid on the antique, but I have owned two double-door Limbert #358 cases since then. The project at hand is the #357 single-door version and is a wonderful introduction to building glass door bookcases. The form of this bookcase is perhaps more feminine than other square Limbert cabinets due to the long, tapered legs and decorative corner cutouts. Many woodworkers shy away from glass door bookcase projects, fearing the perceived complexity. I’ve built several glass door cases of varying complexity, including ten-pane leaded glass doors, and can say the #357 is surprisingly manageable to build. Since there are no horizontal glass dividers, building the glass door is greatly simplified. Table saw joinery techniques will be presented here, allowing construction of the door without chiseling any corners. Once you bring the door parts together, the glass recesses are formed automatically.

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What You Get:

  • 11 pages of step-by-step instructions
  • 58 full-color photos and illustrations and explosed views
  • Materials list and retail hardware sources

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