Schreiber Maple
From organ pedals to Salt Shaker Woodworks, Schreiber Maple carries its story forward.
The Story
When Marika and Dennis Bordes lived here in Seguin, we became good friends. One evening over wine at my house, Marika noticed my shop. She paused, looked around, and said, “Oh, you are a serious woodworker! You need to come to my studio so we can work together.” I was astounded — honored, really — and I took her up on the invitation. That step not only gave me the chance to spend time in her studio, but it’s also how I met Alan Schreiber.
Marika is an internationally recognized wood sculptor, and her encouragement played a real part in shaping my path. You can see her work here.
Alan quickly became more than a fellow woodworker; he became one of my closest friends and a true mentor. He was legally blind when we met, yet he sculpted alongside Marika, came to my shop to work with me, and taught me the art of turning on the lathe. We’ve spent countless hours in my shop working on projects together, and he has even joined me as my second at several shows.
Some years later, Al told me about some good solid maple he had salvaged. The catch was that it wasn’t boards or planks — it was part of an old organ. Specifically, the maple foot pedals. Al had saved the organ base from the dump so he could reclaim those pedals, but as his eyesight continued to fail he never got around to it. He asked if I’d like to have them, and of course I said yes.
Salt Shaker Woodworks to the rescue! I went over to his place, and together we dismantled that organ. When it was done, I had 18 (or maybe 19) solid maple pieces rescued from the landfill. Better saved in my shop than rotting away. As thanks, and as a nod to my friend and mentor, I named this wood Schreiber Maple.
About the Tree
The maple behind this story is sugar maple (Acer saccharum), sometimes called rock maple. Known for its dense, hard wood and brilliant fall color, sugar maple is a beloved North American hardwood. It’s the species most often tapped for maple syrup, and it can grow well over 100 feet tall with a wide, rounded crown.
The photo shown here is a representative sugar maple, not the actual source of Schreiber Maple, since this wood was reclaimed from the foot pedals of an old organ.
About the Wood
The reclaimed maple that makes up Schreiber Maple isn’t dramatic in figure or grain. It came from the foot pedals of an old organ, solid pieces of rock maple with plenty of life still in them. What makes this wood extraordinary is not the way it looks, but the story behind it — and the man it is named for.
I haven’t yet put these boards to use. They’ll be saved for those projects where the meaning matters just as much as the wood itself.
Why It Matters
Most of the woods in my shop carry the story of the trees they came from. Schreiber Maple is different — it carries the story of a friend and mentor. Alan Schreiber gave me more than wood; he gave me time, encouragement, and knowledge at the lathe. Naming this maple after him is a way of honoring that gift.
It also matters that this maple was reclaimed. The organ base it came from was bound for the dump, but instead its solid rock maple pedals were rescued. Saving good wood from being wasted is at the heart of what I do at Salt Shaker Woodworks. When the right project comes along, these pieces will take shape and carry Alan’s story forward — proof that both people and materials deserve a second life.
Made From Schreiber Maple
There are no Schreiber Maple pieces available at the moment. When the right project calls for it, this wood will find its place. Until then, you can see what’s available now from other reclaimed woods, or request a custom order if you’d like to talk about something special.