Industrial Metal Desks

[Carl B]

Of course these old desks would now be "desirable".... I sent three of them to the scrap metal yard a couple of years ago!! I had purchased them for $5.00 each out of a Surplus Sale at a local Aerospace & Defense Contractor. They were the same desks we used when I was in the Air Force 69-73.

Much like the ALL-STEEL EQUIPMENT MODEL #6629 shown - some with larger tops but all with same legs.

Today I have one of the first Computer-Vision Work Station desks and tables {circa 1978/80} - that I use for my home office. Purchased out of the same Surplus Sale. ;-)

FWIW,
Carl B.

 

[DonkDonk]

Today I have one of the first Computer-Vision Work Station desks and tables {circa 1978/80} - that I use for my home office. Purchased out of the same Surplus Sale. ;-)

MUST SEE PICS!!

 

[mikester]

I cant begin to tell you how many of those old steel desks were scrapped at my old job. They were in just about every office of every building on a 5000 acre site. As time went on the offices were remodeled and a lot of "built ins" were installed. We used to keep all of the old furniture in a huge warehouse and issue it to people that needed it. After time some of the older buildings were torn down and there was just so much of the old stuff around it was all tossed into the scrap yard. The same with the old metal chairs. Nobody wanted the ones without arms or wheels. Then we had to toss all of the wheeled chairs that didnt have 5 wheels. Seems the safety people were concerned about people flipping them over when there were just 4 wheels. I had one of the old metal desks in my office. Sombody had a huge formica top made for it that had an oak look. Worked well for me.

 

[cshabang]

i decided i want mainly vintage stuff in my house and vintage tools in my "shop"..so thanks guys...thanks alot, now I have something else to add to the list...

 

[555]

I work for the US Gov...we just sent two big heavy desks to salvage. I offered them to several people but had no takers. I didn't have room in my shop or they would have been mine.
Regards,
555

 

[Beaumont67]

Old Table Brush (possible drafting use?)
Heavy Cast Iron Scotch Tape Dispenser (missing roller)
Rotating Ink Stamp Holder (for old wooden handle stamps)
Office Stapler (missing plastic "tear drop" top piece - great vintage style)
- that compliment the tankers, in the old office world:


Art Deco Ash Tray, from vintage Steel Case factory office era:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

------------------------------------------------
Beaumont { :>)) www.petperfectexpress.com
1965 Malibu S/S, 1966 Beaumont Custom original paint, 1967 Beaumont Custom, 1967 Beaumont Custom original paint, 1967 Beaumont 396-350HP Sport Deluxe M21-411's - SOLD 1970 Judge

 

[reddog289]

Seeing all this is depressing."My" Desk at work is a newer battleship, But it don't compare to the 50's/60's one it replaced.I work for a local school district and last summer one of my schools closed. I need to see if I can get one on the cheap.
All I can say for the desk that have been bought since I started for the schools 10 years ago is they don't make them like they used to.

 

[Golfer]

If you want to pay shipping from Denver I'll give you one or two or three ----. I can't give them away here.

Pics? I'm not too far away

 

[ibedayank]

the old desks are like the old tools 90% of the time they are just built better

 

[Climber]

The most cost effective butcher block top is in Ikea. Their is one in Stoughton, MA. I got all tops for my kitchen where.

 

[Steevo]

I have one like this one, too:

It is all steel, including the top surface.
Someone prior to me built an angle iron base for it and removed the original feet. It sits 35" high now, and had a lathe bolted to it when I got it.
It sits in the garage now, serving as my workstation for "house tasks". I bolted my Craftsman vise to it.

 

[JC23]

Here's sumptin I tripped over on eGay. It's a bunch of these desks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-13-All-Stee...ultDomain_0&hash=item4cf829302c#ht_6942wt_802

 

[dittle fart around]

Check out this site they have a supply of "tanker desks".

 

[ih560]

While a student in college I worked on the research farm and occasionally had to help the federal surplus property people move their old **** around. They had hundreds of these desks stored in old barns on the research farm and we were always having to move these heavy things around. I hated seeing them and the SteelCase filing cabinets. Both were over-built and probably cost a fortune when new. Seems like that's all the government used, because there were never any light desks or filing cabinets. The crazy thing was, even though there were hundreds of these old desks stored in barns getting covered in dust and slowly becoming useless, the federal excess property people would always take box trucks and load up more of this stuff every time the government got rid of it and just kept filling more barns. From what I understand of that federal excess property program, they had to use it, store it or give it back. The junk couldn't be sold except by the government and then it was auctioned, so I am not sure why they were hording so much of this **** at the school.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Old Table Brush (possible drafting use?)
Heavy Cast Iron Scotch Tape Dispenser (missing roller)
Rotating Ink Stamp Holder (for old wooden handle stamps)
Office Stapler (missing plastic "tear drop" top piece - great vintage style)
- that compliment the tankers, in the old office world:


Art Deco Ash Tray, from vintage Steel Case factory office era:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

------------------------------------------------
Beaumont { :>)) www.petperfectexpress.com
1965 Malibu S/S, 1966 Beaumont Custom original paint, 1967 Beaumont Custom, 1967 Beaumont Custom original paint, 1967 Beaumont 396-350HP Sport Deluxe M21-411's - SOLD 1970 Judge

The stapler is cool! and yes that is a drafting table brush...to brush off the eraser doo doo.

 

[ADaughen]

Though I'm pretty sure you could park a car on them and they wouldn't even flinch

My wife ran into one with the car. It didn't even budge.


Two came with the house (best photo of mine - sorry):

The wife wanted to get rid of them, but the small one will be a reloading bench, the big one will probably take the vice and drill press. Right now, the small one is holding a short block on it.

Are you guys really into these? Are they something you'd considering actually putting in your garage? I have a personal interest in mid century still furniture and have access to a lot of stuff. Desks, cabinets, lockers, shelving, tables. Over the years, restore/refurb/resell is something I've done just to fund my shop habit, but many, many, times I've considered growing it a bit.

Most of my customers are designers/artists/young professionals, but it seems as if there might also be appreciation here.

I'd be interested in some unrestored lockers... preferably, the tall ones, 18x18

 

[kbs2244]

Don't be afraid to take them apart.
My drill press sits on a 3 drawer end, the table saw on a pair bolted together without the knee hole.
I have two 3 drawer ends with casters as roll around work tables.

 

[DonkDonk]

Don't be afraid to take them apart.
My drill press sits on a 3 drawer end, the table saw on a pair bolted together without the knee hole.
I have two 3 drawer ends with casters as roll around work tables.

I NEED PICS!!!!!

 

[Climber]

I NEED PICS!!!!!

I know you ... from SS. Here is your picture

 

[964haus]

Had one of those during high school - taken from my dad's pre-renovated office. Once it was in place in my room, it never moved for the next 5 years as it weighed a tonne. Completely sturdy, but tended to get a little cold during the winter months.....

(wish i had it now)

 

[964haus]

Yes, that's a drafting brush

 

[jpeace3]

I have an idea to take one and put heavy casters to make a roll around shop table. Maybe even put the wire welder in the center compartment. I think it would be handy to pull up to my latest project to pile stuff on.

 

[isaac338]

This thread inspired me so I grabbed this one a while ago when I saw it by the curb - makes a great lathe stand!

 

[madmikeee]

Is this guy freaking SERIOUS!??!

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/atq/2467089849.html

 

[Retro_shop]

We have two in our kids playroom/home office. These are the only furniture they cannot destroy or enter. Replacement keys are available online.

In my old workplace, these were referred to as Missile Commander desks, since they came out of NORAD via gov't surplus. I believe they were designed for duck and cover protection, too. I'd dive under one if I thought the building was going to collapse.

 

[Granite Guy]

omg I think these desks are the coolest thing going. I've been working on a complete restoration of a 1955 Shaw Walker. It came out of an old appliance store that my family bought over 25 years ago...recently my brother was cleaning out one of the storage areas and was going to throw it away. I loved how it looked, and thought it would be perfect for my newfound steel restoration hobby. I've researched the brand and have become fascinated with it's history. I gobble up any piece of industrial steel office furniture I can get my hands on. My wife can't stop me because I've got a 10,000 sf shop with plenty of space for my picks! I have 4 tanker desks total, 2 Shaw Walkers, a General Fireproofing Co, and a Steelcase. All of them have been free so far....but I'm usually willing to pay up to $100 or so. I've got a few smaller steel desks, tanker bookcases, a really neat telephone table...I love all of it!

My 55' Shaw Walker is going to be in my office at home. I actually bought some auto paint for it yesterday. Spraying a base coat white, then clear a clear coat. Getting close to finally finishing her! Still need to find linoleum to wrap the top with.....been working on that for over 6 months with no luck, but haven't been real aggressive yet. Looking for the original reddish brown color.

Next will be the 59 Shaw Walker for my office at my shop....which will be really cool whenever I get around to it. Even though the original top is in great shape, I'll replace it with granite. I'm going to have the my graphics guy do a vinyl wrap with my company logo all over it. Gonna be sweeet. Nice conversation piece in my office, which kind of doubles as my showroom for my granite countertop business. It'll be a show stopper.

I could talk all day about these desks. My wife (and everyone I ever try to talk to about them) think I'm nuts!

Those of you cutting them up, or throwing them away make me want to slap you around!!!

j/k to each their own.

 

[RivennHewn]

You all are wrecking my good thing.

I am a const. superintendent. I get a new job trailer for every project.

The first thing I do is search CL for a old metal desk, use it for the job and then give it away so I don't have to store it.

I've been doing this for years. If you all keep collecting them, I'm going to actually have to buy and store one.

 

[JC23]

I saw two more on CL (NEO) for less than $30 the other day. I will get one someday but right now isn't the time.

Then I'm gonna paint it within an inch of its life!!!

 

[mopar66]

What do you think of the tanker deak in this listing?

http://providence.craigslist.org/fuo/2470120887.html

 

[DonkDonk]

What do you think of the tanker deak in this listing?

http://providence.craigslist.org/fuo/2470120887.html

Well I think that is an awesome desk. It would cost you some $$$ to have a desk redone like that. I am not sure you would want to use that for the garage, but it sure would be sweet in my office... I would buy that in a heartbeat if it were close to me.

 

[mopar66]

At first I was thinking of a way to use it in the garage. But I think it is probably to nice of shape for that. Could get rid of my old computer table in the den and probably the my small filing cabinet and use this.

 

[therealjakeg]

I have a Steelcase that I redid, turned out awesome then started looking and found that they go for thousands of bucks, made me feel good since I got it for free. Solid desk good luck people.

 

[mopar66]

I left a message for the seller I am going to try and take a look at it tomorrow.

 

[Granite Guy]

yeah that's a solid buy. the tanker desk anyway.....but not the other desk at $250.

I'd offer $300 for both and hold my ground....maybe 350

 

[PECVD2]

I have the Oak (general) version in my bedroom. can't beat it for style, functionality and robustness (if that is a word).

 

[jdieter]

Check state and university surplus auctions. I just picked up 6 battleships and 12 secretary desks along with a pile of other office furniture scrap steel. After I sold the descent stuff and the junk as scrap steel. I x4 my initial investment and got the items I wanted.

 

[madmikeee]

2 for FREE in MA

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/fuo/2467631261.html

 

[PsRumors]

Here's mine. It was left by the previous owner of the house. The office in the shop was built around the desk so either a wall would have to come down or the desk would have to be cut for it to come out.

 

[patrick66]

I had a government surplus desk exactly like the one above in DonkDonk's posting. I bought it for just six dollars at a US auction in Germany, and made the error of actually sending it home in my household goods. That damn thing was just too massive for my needs! It ended up in my shop. One day, I simply hauled the damn thing to the recyclers with a bunch of other metal scrap. It was far more of a hindrance than a help, anywhere I had it. Won't make that mistake again.

A small desk is a better idea, IMO.

 

[KCarGuy]

PsRumors, Thats a Great Chair also...
I have found a few without the arms, but I am holding out for one just like yours with the arms.