I’ve always had an appreciation for mid-century modern architecture. As far as modern design goes, the mid-century efforts are just so approachable and optimistic. It’s all kind of fun… Of course, nothing captures this fun as much or as well as the garage door. And, as such, I decided to scour the web for as many examples as I could find.

Enjoy the gallery after the break.

So yesterday I gave you the latest in expensive plastic technology and cord reels. Today, I give you old shit… I mean, vintage cord reels that have stood the test of time while looking good doing it. Gentlemen, this is what a cord reel should be.

In my experience, complicated plastic things often end up sucking. The RoboReel is definitely that – complicated and plastic. BUT, the idea isn’t a bad one and I can see where units like this might come in handy. At over $300, however, they aren’t cheap.

More info here.

I’ve never liked those bench tops that collapse against a wall. I tried one in my last shop and found that it was always down and full of stuff and never folded away. It made me wonder what the point of the whole thing was… Even so, I love the idea of having added workspace only when you need it. This past weekend, I stumbled upon this collapsible job built by “Double B.” I think it rules!

Check it out:

In the peace of the night… Right? This thread rules.

If I weren’t such a greedy bastard, I’d have only one hot rod at a time. And as a result, I would only need a simple shop to house it… And this is the kind of layout I’d want. A simpler time, no? I found this layout in a 1955 issue of “Hot Rod Handbook” and am absolutely infatuated by the pureness of it.

Full sized image after the break.

Here’s a great example of what a little thought, a tad of money, and a lot of elbow grease will get ya. There is something pretty charming about motorcycle workshops, no?

Check it out.

This is a bit off-topic perhaps, but I had to post it… The Michigan Theater was built in 1926 and represented the grand city of Detroit and it’s dedication to the arts.

“It is not merely a theatre for Detroit,” owner John H. Kunsky told The Detroiter in August 1926. “It is a theatre for the whole world. It is designed to be the great showplace of the middle west.”

The theater closed in 1976 due to, ironically, a lack of parking. It’s now a giant parking garage… I thought the images were fascinating.

There’s lots of reason to have a computer in the shop. I guess the biggest reason is research… There is nothing like have Google at a moment’s reach. However, placement is always an issue as these damned contraptions are fragile and tend to get temperamental when exposed to the elements. This made me think about how folks locate their computers in the shop.

The above is a pretty good thought – though I think typing would totally suck.

What do you guys do?

Me… I use an iPad. From that I have an internet connection, a great selection of music, plenty of storage for docs, and it’s pretty durable as well.

I’ve got so many damn chucks… and so many damn lost chuck keys. You know what rules?

This thing!