Here is an eBay site showing Peck & Hills Furniture catalogs and ads. They appear to be a store, and were in a few different states.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=peck+hills+furniture

Thank you, voila. I'll take a look at it from home (I'm at work and eBay is blocked).

Do you know anything about extension mechanisms? She says the pedestal stays still, while the top extends using a cable/pulley mechanism. I've not seen one like that before, and am wondering if it's difficult to open/close, and if it's sturdy.

The table can go from 54" round to 115" oblong by using its seven 9" leaves. There to two drop down legs at each end.

It sounds like exactly what I need size-wise, but it would be worthless to me is the mechanism is junk, right?

Can you try to open it when you go to look at the table? I actually think old hardware mechanisms were made better than they are now, unless it is broken. It must also have rails (wood or metal) on each side to support the leaves, which would seem to make it very sturdy.

Yes, I can try to open it when I go look. It's a long drive, so I was hoping to gather as much info as I could before going.

This is the only reference I could find for a pulley mechanism with stationery pedestal, I believe. Hope this works out well for you. Best of luck!

http://www.vandykes.com/product.aspx?p=204418

Thank you, voila. I have a hard time picturing a mechanism like that being used in the 1900's, but maybe this table isn't as old as the owner thinks.

I'm going to go take a look this weekend. So long as it's in decent shape and opens/closes well, I'll be happy!

Maybe I should start a new thread with some pictures to get help in identifying the style?

Do you have a picture of the table? Surely you are not going to drive a long distance to see about buying a table without even a picture to see if you really want the table.
I have seen and eaten at a number of tables that extend from a center pedestal....and I will tell you they are tippy. I own a round oak one now.....and I very VERY rarely put the leaves in it.
I have never seen nor heard of a table with a pulley mechanism to extend. I see the picture of the replacement pulley, so they must exist....

I started another thread with pictures, Linda. There are drop down legs at each end, which should keep it from being tippy. Or at least I hope so!

When you have a central pedestal on a extension table, it is crucial for balance that the sides draw apart equally; therefore they invented various "equalizer slide" mechanisms. The type that has survived to present day uses gears to unite the pieces so they draw equally. The pulley/rope type must have been a competing patent, but which ultimately proved to be the less viable design.

Here is the pulley mechanism on my new, old table :)

It was off the pulleys and all tangled up. I restrung it (no easy task!), but should replace the cable because is quit worn and crimped. I ended up getting it a tad off-center, but will make it straight when I redo it.

You bought it??? Great!!

Update, I replaced the cable the other night. It opens and closes with ease, now, and stays perfectly centered :)

I've still not been able to find ANY information of that type of mechanism, though.

Well....perhaps you should be the one tow rite the book.

I guess so!

If you're feeling really ambitious, you might try a patent search and see if you can find the mechanism. I believe most of the patent records are online, but it'll take a bit of looking.

I have the exact same hardware on a 100 year old oak table as you show pictured on an old discussion. I can't figure out how to run the cable underneath because it was missing when I got the table. Do you still have the table and possibly pictures to show how the cable attached and ran around the pulleys?

Hi, Brad! Let’s see some pics of your table. Do you know anything about it, like manufacturer or age? i do still have mine and can try to get some pics to you