early modern table ID?  

Does anyone have any info on this weird fold-down table?
It has a formica top, does anyone know when formica was first used in furniture?
Also the table has a spring loaded mechanism allowing it to drop down by pulling out two bent ply handles on each side making it into a coffee table.
I was thinking of restoring the black paint on base and possibly removing the formica, however wanted to check on ID first and make sure it was not some rare prototype!
Thanks in advance!