Okay - the general consensus seems to be the stains should remain! I'll probably clean it up a bit with wax and 0000 steel wool, just to get any grime off, but I won't worry so much about using a special product on the stains. (The bright green ink stain, however, may have to go as I didn't feel it has as much history to it as the darker stains ;-).) moonshadow - I never find much of anything on my local CL either, so I look in the LA and San Diego areas where all the good stuff is! Even then, it took me a year of searching under "antique pine" to find this. My DH wants me to actually have the space completed before I start filling it up, but I told him these things don't come up too often in my area.

I third lkplatow's comments, and I do the same thing as far as comparing an item to what I would have to pay for a similar item in a conventional furniture store (if I could even afford to buy it new, which I usually can't!). I don't buy attempting an "investment" and counting on maybe there being some future value increase, I buy things to use and I think about whether it is worth $X to me. I rely on eBay a lot since Craigslist where I am has a nasty habit of sucking like a black hole - I think there are too many people watching "Antiques Roadshow" and thinking their junk is so teddibly teddibly valuable! ;-) I can't afford the days of downtime to recover from two or three hours in the car to go look at and maybe buy something, so I just find it a lot more manageable to have things delivered right to my door. There's a very charming and well-priced end table on my eBay watch list now, but it's local pickup only and more than an hour away so I'm waffling on it. (DH fulfilled his quota of playing fetch for me with that trip to Boston!) One bit of advice I do have is don't be shy about asking questions of the seller, many have a bit more information but are just lazy about posting it in the description or don't volunteer it as it may turn off potential buyers. Ask for additional pictures if at all possible. Try to get photos of the underside, the back, any labels or stamps, and the drawers (both side view as in brutuses' first photo and interior to see if the bottom has split or separated from the sides). If it's veneered, ask if there were any cracks or lifts in the veneer before it was reglued, because sometimes if the veneer wasn't glued down just right with the right glue it can pop back up later. Ask if the drawer operates smoothly or is tight or loose. Ask if there is an odor to the piece - a musty smell may indicate poor storage, like in a barn or basement, which can negatively affect a piece of furniture by causing cracking or loosening of the joints and lifting of veneers, and it can be tough to get a cigarette smoke odor out of some furniture. I once came across a piece that had been stored in a barn and even on that cold day there was a perceptible odor of cat spray - I cannot imagine what it would have smelled like under warm conditions! If they don't respond well to my questions (as opposed to maybe they just don't know), I better want that item pretty desperately to purchase from that seller. Check out their other auctions, current and completed, and look for a pattern. If the item's been listed half a dozen times with no bids, there is likely a problem with either condition or price. It's quite a cute table although it looks like it's a lift-top which I find rather inconvenient since to get at the storage space you have to take everything off the table, so make sure you think about its functionality along with its appearance.

I have found this out about sewing tables. When you use the decorative or zig-zag stitches your table needs to be very sturdy. A light-weight table may vibrate badly when you sew. I would be careful if you use a computerized machine. Servicing can be very expensive. I bought a 12 ft. run of formica countertop from the thrift store. I had my sons mount it on 3 double base cabinets, leaving a gap about midway so I can push my chair up close to sew. I like the easy clean-up surface. Since this counter came from an office it has pre-cut holes for computer hook ups. This worked out great for my overhead lights and additional machines. I used one of those computer multi hook up bases (not sure what you call them) It has 6 outlet plug-ins on it, I have all my lights and machines plugged into them. Whenever I want to "close up shop" I just hit the master switch and everything goes off at once. I enjoy all the feedback on here. It's nice to see how everyone works out their issues so it works well for them.

It's a sewing table....commonly called a "Martha Washington sewing table". The original design dates to early 19th century....yours looks like a depression era repro.