Drafting tables: their importance in the modern world

In the past, drafting tables were known as architect’s tables and were always large and heavy pieces of furniture. They were designed so that anyone using them could place large sheets of paper on top of them. These large pieces of furniture were used for many different purposes, whether it was sketching, writing, or drawing precise plans, the drafting table was a true workhorse for the user.

These older models of the now classic designs were ornate furniture made from exotic types of wood. They were so beautifully made that you would very often find them in libraries or in study rooms, who would use these tables as a desk.

With the industrial revolution, a new specialized trade appeared in the world, these draughtsmen, as they were known, began to use these large supports to draw the plans they had been commissioned to draw and in a short time the drawing table was made of steel instead of of traditional wood.

Tables today are fully utilitarian in design, allowing the professional draftsman to use them as tools of his trade. All tables come with all the necessary drafting instruments incorporated into their design. Whether it’s a square, a protractor, or whatever other tool is required, it’s on the drawing board.

Although called a table, a drafting table has a vertical design that allows the user to stand upright in front of them to draw whatever they need on the sheet of paper that is placed on the board. At the base of the large frame that holds the sheet of paper is a narrow ledge where the user can place their drawing tools, such as a pencil or pen. Everything the user needs is close at hand to make the task he is attempting as easy as possible.

In the modern world of computers, the drawing board is less in demand among some professional draftsmen, as blueprints can now be drawn on a computer using programs that are specifically designed for the job. In some parts of the world, the shooting table is still sought after, be it the modern model or the old-style table, some people still like to have one of those pieces of furniture in their workplace or at home.

It is interesting to think that classic, traditional and antique style reproductions of drafting tables are now being produced to fill a niche market for people who decorate their homes with these great pieces of furniture.

As with everything else, drafting tables have been superseded by technology, but for the true traditionalist they will always be the foundation of an essential tool of their trade. It is a tool that does not depend on electricity, nor does the cartoonist have to worry about computer viruses or that his machine crashes in the middle of a job. Add to this that you don’t have to learn to use the complicated programs that can do the work for you and you end up realizing that these accountants will always be found on the job site.