Drafting board base

A base for a table top, especially a drafting board, comprising first stationary hollow upright column means, second column means slidably supported in said first column means for vertical up and down adjustment of said column means relative to said first column means, substantially horizontally extending table top support means, means operatively connecting said table top support means to said second column means, and slip brake means operatively interposed between said first and second column means, said slip brake means comprising two openings arranged opposite each other in said first column means, brake plate means guided in said openings, U-shaped bail means having spring elastic legs operatively arranged for exerting pressure on said brake plate means, intermediate members operatively interposed between said brake plate means and spring elastic legs of said bail means, relatively flat conical disk means secured on each side below the rotational axis of said U-shaped bail means, said spring elastic legs of said U-shaped bail means running onto said conical disks when the U-shaped bail means is tilted inwardly toward said column means, whereby the load on said brake plate means is relieved for the elevational adjustment of the second column means and whereby the brake plate means are subjected to the full load again when the U-shaped bail means is released to thus simultaneously tilt back into its normal position.