What kind of joint is this ? (pics)

[Dennis McFern]

Hi guys,

I recently bought an antique dresser that had these interesting drawer joints. How are these made and what era would that be from ?

http://decorencore.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/web-31002-05.JPG

http://decorencore.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/ce9415a029450839ccd3e905fe12d3c7.jpg

[Sam Yerardi]

Early issues of Fine Woodworking has had several writings about that type of joint and demonstrated how they are made. I need to dig out the articles but they are actually much easier to make than they appear. I've never tried it, but my vague recollection says that it wouldn't be hard to do this. My memory is very vague but it sticks in my mind that the articles seemed to imply that these were factory-made joints used infrequently in the 1930's and 1940's. I'll probably discover I am completely wrong about it but that's what sticks in my mind. I'll try to look that up before I hit the sack tonight and try to post it in the morning if I can find it.

[Dewey Torres]

http://www.antiqueweb.com/articles/antique_knapp_joint_dovetail.html

Joints were only made from 1871 to 1900

Dewey:)

[Bill Wyko]

My guess would be late 1800s. Beautiful piece of furniture you have there.

[David DeCristoforo]

Called a "scallop and pin" joint, "knapp" joint, "cresent and pin", etc. Machine made and a PITA by hand. There are some templates and jigs available to make these. i.e.:

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=886-459&LARGEVIEW=ON&CARTID=200402157660284040--1

YM

[Brian Effinger]

These guys are right. It was in the "Ask Wood" section of the Oct. 2007 issue of Wood Magazine (I just knew I had seen it recently). They were used in lieu of hand-cut dovetails so that the manufacturer's could speed up the process during the victorian era.