How do you fix a wobbly pedestal base?

You have to address the main joint. The block connecting the pillar to the tabletop usually relies on a large wooden thread or long iron bolts. Over time the wood shrinks and the glue doesn't hold. Taking it apart is the first step. The old animal glue needs cleaning off before cramping it back together with fresh adhesive. Sometimes a cabinetmaker will need to pack the joint if the shrinkage is bad.

I have a table with an eight-sided top but the base has four legs instead of a central column, does this change what it was used for?

Yes, the leg arrangement alters the function. Tables with a single central column were often used as centre tables. People could pull chairs right up to the edge without banging their knees on the legs. Four-legged versions usually served as occasional tables. They sat against a wall or in a window bay holding lamps and plants. The legs provided stability for heavy items but made seating awkward.

What is the best way to clean the top?

Start with a damp cloth wrung out until it is nearly dry. Wipe away the surface dust gently. Do not leave sitting water on the veneer. Apply a good quality beeswax polish once or twice a year. Rub it in sparingly with a soft cloth and buff it off.

My octagonal table has tiny brass wheels on the bottom of the feet, were these added later or did they come with them originally?

Most nineteenth-century tables left the workshop with those castors attached. Furniture of that period was heavy and rooms were rearranged frequently. Servants needed to roll pieces aside to clean the carpets. It is common to find replacement castors. The original brass wheels wore down or snapped off at the pin. If they match the style of the leg they're likely original to the piece.

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Antique Octagonal Tables from the 19th Century

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Antique octagonal tables are eight-sided freestanding pieces originally designed to anchor a room, serving as central library tables or occasional pieces for games and serving tea.