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Thread: I need a pair of 3” long square butler’s tray table hinges.

  1. #1
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    I need a pair of 3” long square butler’s tray table hinges.

    I’m restoring a butlers tray table. The hinges have to be square and 1 1/2 x 3”. I find that size only in round hinges. All the square ones are 2 1/2” long. Anyone have a source?

    As you see, one side is longer than the other. They are mortised into the top, so I have to fit the same size or larger. (I can widen/lengthen the mortise, but prefer not to fill a gap.) They have to be butler tray hinges, because they have a stop that keeps them from sagging when open.

    3711AD10-E9E6-4499-8D42-3BFAFDF89817.jpg 09B291FD-1561-4328-8452-6A48CE733F14.jpg

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
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    Try Whitechapel Ltd, I see some similar hinges in their catalogue (4 or 5 year old one)
    https://whitechapel-ltd.com/

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    Let your hands tell the story of the passion in your heart

  4. #4
    I bought some many years ago for a butler’s tray table I made , as I had wanted one since childhood. I’ve bought a couple at yard sales
    and such. I don’t buy the ones with the round end hinges, no likee . I had thought they were all same size…’til a found a really large one. The early ones were the real thing as the table tops were just held in place with pegs. I dare say only the male real butlers
    carried those trays , too heavy for the maids .

  5. #5
    Rockler sells butler tray hinges.

    Later edit: sorry, Rockler hinges are round.
    Last edited by Gordon Dale; 08-17-2023 at 11:27 AM.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by mike calabrese View Post
    The 3” are only available in round.

  7. #7
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    Paxton Hardware LTD has the 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" you mentioned, and also 1-1/2" x 3-3/16".

    Actually, they're drop-leaf hinges. Dunno it that suits or not.
    Last edited by Kent A Bathurst; 08-17-2023 at 11:31 AM.
    When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.

  8. #8
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    How about this one? https://whitechapel-ltd.com/243h17.html Size: 3" x 1 1/2"


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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Garson View Post
    How about this one? https://whitechapel-ltd.com/243h17.html Size: 3" x 1 1/2"


    Darned close, and Kent as well- close. A drop leaf hinge doesn’t have a stop so that it opens flat and stays there.

  10. #10
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    How about these? To me, they look like the drop-leaf hinges, but the description claims they hold open flat.

    https://www.hingeoutlet.com/products...ends-available

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary Ragatz View Post
    .......the description claims they hold open flat.
    Looks great to me, but Malcolm's is the only vote that counts.

    For a butlers tray, the trick is for the hinges to hold flat in use, but when they are folded, they also hold at 90*, creating sides on the tray, providing handholds for the butler, and helping keep the runny eggs plate from running off the tray mid-stairway.

    The ones you highlighted do both:


    • Lock open in the flat position and hold vertical at 90°


    Pretty cool - I'm filing your link in the proper location on my laptop
    When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary Ragatz View Post
    How about these? To me, they look like the drop-leaf hinges, but the description claims they hold open flat.

    https://www.hingeoutlet.com/products...ends-available

    When you select the larger size, it only allows you to select the round hinge, not the square.

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