I still have the 2 bulb florescent desk light that MY DAD had—before I was born & I am 81. It swings & pivots into many directions, and has a very heavy base. I was using it this afternoon, posting 2020 bookkeeping for a client I have had for OVER 51 years.
I also have a 1920’s Los Angeles OAK school board desk.. bought at a garage sale over 40 years ago. .Heavy as hell, but I love it. Has a swing up platform on left side that has springs as thick as my garage door springs...which held an OLD fashioned typewriter—a HEAVY one. One drawer on the right side has multiple slanted spaces for paper/onion skin/carbon paper, etc. Also center drawer with pencil nooks.
I also have a hand pastry blender that belonged to my mother, and she was born in 1906.
I love the old things. They remind me of Grandma’s house and some happy times.
My dad got an old oak desk at an auction in the 1970s, just got rid of it last fall, and I know exactly what you mean about the swing-up platform, and the springs. It would SOUND like garage door springs, too.