I don't really think it is either ;) That's what made me giggle. :) NO idea what it would be useful for. That flip up would make me claustrophobic.

I bet it is a writing desk for when you want to write a SHORT note haha.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/hsh/3849932434.html
I have some household items for sale.

Traditions Toaster, only used a few times, works $10
White Mighty Mender WW200, works and comes with some thread that is already for sewing machine, $15 Jack La Lanne's Juicer, works do not use anymore, $40

Contact me either email, call, or text.
Wow a juicer that takes thread?

Steve, They have relatives near Chicago. ~G~
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/atq/3839519397.html

Now I may be wrong but something(s) doesn't look right to me here.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/hsh/3829583772.html

A Fashionmate 237? I think they have a one piece top, most of them have a large knob for the foot pressure, an external motor, are marked "Singer" on the back (can't see the front), have a different handwheel with a plastic-not chrome stop motion knob, no fashion disk door in the top and a single plastic spool pin on top too. Also, they stay still when you take their picture.:D
This one is $75, is broken and missing the foot pedal. Hmmmm, what does that cord there go to?
~G~

I think it is a secretary desk. I believe it is for a typewriter. The top folds over it so it can hide under there when not needed. I have seen similar ones that it slides out like a keyboard tray. It looks big enough for a typewriter to me.
~G~

I bet you are right!

I could see that. I still don't get why anyone would want that "cover" looming over them. That would be the first thing to go for me. I'd always feel like it was waiting to pounce. :shock:

It does look like it would be in the way for whatever you would want to do there. It does LOOM, lol. You also would have to clear off your desk every time you wanted to flip that thing over. I am guessing that is why this design never caught on. But it looks like a mid-century piece so, that would explain a lot.
~G~

Yes, a lot of that mid-century furniture has interesting and impractical design. :) All they had to do is make it swing the other way... of course that would require more space, but if the right side was against the wall, the typist's arm would be too. So ideally, there'd be space.... Heck, even if it was a lift off piece...

That left side is the only place to put your typing copy too...