Can they hold modern laptop computers?

Most table-top antique bookstands handle laptops easily. The wooden lip at the base stops the device from sliding, just as it did with heavy folio books. Freestanding stands work well too, provided the ratchet mechanism remains solid. The adjustable height lets people use them as standing desks in home offices.

I have noticed that the adjustable wooden slope on mine feels quite stiff when I try to change the angle, is there a way to loosen it?

Wood swells and shrinks with seasonal humidity changes. If the hinge joints are entirely wooden, they will naturally tighten during damp winter months. Rubbing a simple block of paraffin wax along the moving wooden parts helps lubricate the friction points. Do not use liquid oils, as these soak into the old timber and can damage the historical finish.

What are the side brass rings for?

Those rings originally held candle sconces. Reading after dark required direct light, and fixing candles to the stand meant the light moved alongside the book. The metal arms slotted into the sockets. Many of these detachable sconces became separated from their stands over the centuries and are now lost.

My freestanding one has a telescopic central column that slides up and down, but it seems to drop suddenly if I put too much weight on it, what is missing?

The locking mechanism likely needs attention. Most central columns rely on a threaded wooden peg or a brass thumbscrew passing through the outer collar to press against the inner shaft. Over decades of use, the tip of this wooden screw wears flat. It loses the friction required to grip the inner column under load. A cabinetmaker can easily fit a small matching timber extension to the peg to restore its grip.

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Antique Bookstands

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Designed to hold heavy volumes at a readable angle, antique bookstands range from simple wooden slopes resting on a table to tall freestanding pillars on tripod bases.