A Campaign Bookcase for Lighthouse Keepers

One of the pieces I wanted to build for the book “Campaign Furniture” was a replica of a folding bookcase that was used to transport a portable library to lighthouse keepers and their families.

I decided not to include the project because it was American, and all the other projects in the book were British.

But today my desire to build this sort of bookcase was stoked anew when I saw a replica of the bookcase library at the Au Sable Light Station on Lake Superior.

The bookcase is a rugged piece of furniture designed to withstand sea travel. The carcase pieces are joined by through-dovetails. The doors are mortise-and-tenon frame-and-panel. But the real star of the show is the brass hardware. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

The strap hinges are screwed to the case sides and wrapped around the back of the case. And if that’s not enough to keep the hinges in place, the straps are riveted to the case sides. And the hinge leaf on the doors is mortised into the stile and is nearly as wi…