Bring the things it is supposed to hold
Joe Colombo’s 1970 design combines pivoting trays with open compartments in a compact mobile unit. B-Line describes current production with an ABS structure and drawers, polypropylene castors and several heights. Those current materials and dimensions are useful references for the specified products, not an automatic description of every earlier trolley.[1]
Make a short contents list: flat paper, pencils, brushes, bottles or sewing supplies. Measure the awkward items first. Shallow trays can make small tools easy to find, but a tall bottle needs a suitable open compartment and clearance above it. Do not mistake a drawer’s outside face for its usable internal depth.
| Contents | Check on the actual trolley |
|---|---|
| Flat paper or notebooks | Clear internal dimensions and the route into the tray. |
| Pens, brushes and small tools | Tray depth, dividers and whether items obstruct closing. |
| Tall bottles or rolled material | Usable open height and stable placement in the compartment. |
| Items used while seated | Reach from the chair with the tray open. |
Measure below the desk and beside it
The current Boby range includes heights of 31.5, 52.5, 73.5 and 94.5 cm on a 43 by 42 cm footprint. Use the relevant drawing to identify a candidate, then measure the trolley and your desk. Overall desk height does not tell you the clearance beneath an apron or drawer.[1]
Mark the closed footprint beside your chair, then have the seller demonstrate the full normal swing of the trays you intend to use. A trolley that fits snugly between desk and wall may trap its most useful storage. Check the space for your knees and the route used when you roll it out.
Here is a practical trial: sit where you work, place a cardboard footprint beside the chair and move your hand through the proposed tray position. If you have to stand up and move the trolley every time you want a pencil, a lower or differently arranged version may suit you better.
Look at the plastic carrying the movement
Open each tray normally and watch its pivot area. Does it move evenly and return without dropping or catching? Ask for photographs around the pivots and underside, particularly where a tray appears misaligned. A crack in a load-carrying part or an old adhesive repair deserves more attention than uneven colour.
Do not force a stuck tray or remove parts to discover the problem during a viewing. Ask whether the fault has been assessed and whether a compatible replacement exists for the exact production version. The current catalogue’s modular appearance does not guarantee that every old component can be exchanged individually.
Check the wheels on an appropriate clear floor: the trolley should move as intended without a wheel dragging, coming loose or being visibly different from its companions. Confirm the complete castor arrangement against the identified model. An improvised wheel can alter height and stability as well as appearance.
Let the colour be a preference, not a repair plan
Compare colour and surface in ordinary daylight. Fading, marks and discolouration may be acceptable if the trolley works well and you like the result. They are separate from cracks, distortion and previous repairs at pivots or wheel attachments.
Avoid buying on the promise that a chemical treatment will restore the exact original colour. Establish the material and care instructions first; bleaching, solvents or abrasive polishing can create a new problem. If cosmetics are the reason for a discount, decide whether you can enjoy the existing surface rather than budgeting an unverified transformation.
Message to adapt
Please show every tray opening and closing, the pivot areas, open compartments and castors. I need usable tray dimensions and the overall height, plus the production identification and any repairs. Are the wheels and trays complete for this version, and has any cracked component been assessed for replacement?
A good Boby is the little cabinet that makes a working corner easier to use. Choose the drawer arrangement you will reach into every day; the colour is the enjoyable extra.