Kashka-Kat wrote:since the wood is so old (possibly 100yrs) is it going to shrink anymore? Or should I futz around with the Figure 8's or some other wood tabletop attachment hardware?
Wood continues to move even after it "dries". It reaches EMC, equilibrium moisture content, with its surroundings. As the humidity changes so the wood moves. The majority of the movement is across the grain.
Kashka-Kat wrote:About those 1950 chairs - would they have been assembled with hide glue?
Any Gunlock chairs I've worked on have not used hide glue. I believe they were an aliphatic resin (yellow wood glue), which is not water soluble. You will need to use a glue with gap filling properties. The mortise and tenon needs to be well cleaned. I usually use an epoxy for its gap filling properties and resistance to movement.