Industrial Metal Desks
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dittle fart around
Well-known member
I do believe those hydraulic shelves were meant for typewriters. You know those big hulking things they used before computers.
bobemmerich
Well-known member
Over the past year or so, they've cleaned out a lot of old areas of the building where I work, and they must have loaded in my best estimates 2-300 of these into dumpsters and just let them take them to the scrap yard. Not to mention filing cabinets, drawing file cabinets, chairs, older tool boxes, etc...Its a shame they couldn't give them to anyone or maybe auction or sell them off. I was lucky enough to get an old tool box before it went into the dumpster...
I got these. price were right.
Excellent! Glad I posted it! I live in Billerica MA. A buddy of mine is from Pelham, he drives a white 67 mustang, tall guy with a beard, you will probably see him puttering around town
tinbender 66
Well-known member
I got this one at Habitat for $10. Couldn't find a manufacturer name on it. I forgot to take before pics.
I'm still looking for Steelcase ones. They sell pretty cheap around here. I have a couple Steelcase cabinets. This one is the first one from the desk.
I'm still looking for Steelcase ones. They sell pretty cheap around here. I have a couple Steelcase cabinets. This one is the first one from the desk.
Excellent! Glad I posted it! I live in Billerica MA. A buddy of mine is from Pelham, he drives a white 67 mustang, tall guy with a beard, you will probably see him puttering around town
I am running tree service. Happy Trees LLC.
We are very active in community. As well providing best services to people for reasonable pricing. Best in 20 miles radius. Most of people knows me.
Sorry for hijacking.
Any way ...
dittle fart around
Well-known member
If you're looking for desk ideas or for other industrial storage from the 40's check out Twenty Gauge They have an office in LA
91FE
Well-known member
I snagged this last weekend off of CL. It was $35 bucks. I probably overpaid, but I thought it was cool looking and the money was going to a church.
... no, the tools weren't included. That's just how I intend to use the desk.
... no, the tools weren't included. That's just how I intend to use the desk.
dittle fart around
Well-known member
View media item 10818This is my Father In Laws desk. He picked it up at the California Veteran's Home in Yountville in the sixties. He said they had hundreds stacked up like cord wood. It still has the federal property tag on it.
JC23
Well-known member
I just checked my CL and as usual, there were about three of them. One guy wanted $300 for his and it's been there since June.
DonkDonk
Well-known member
I found this cool app that lets you custom "paint" a tanker desk. Pretty cool.
http://www.retrooffice.com/design.htm
http://www.retrooffice.com/design.htm
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I have one of those. It is a Steelcase, and made like a battleship. Got it at auction for cheap because no body wanted to move it. Was able to find a one drawer table to match, well almost match. Took the locks out and had keys made for both. They are collectable as well as functional and therefor quite expensive.
Any new office furniture costs a lot and is no where near the quality of the old models. I think they build this stuff to last just a few years so a business has to replace them. The price is steep but it is also a writeoff.
I have been looking for a chair to complete my "office" and so far no luck under 250 bucks. These items are perfect for a vintage type office layout, that is my intention, if I live long enough to complete it.
Any new office furniture costs a lot and is no where near the quality of the old models. I think they build this stuff to last just a few years so a business has to replace them. The price is steep but it is also a writeoff.
I have been looking for a chair to complete my "office" and so far no luck under 250 bucks. These items are perfect for a vintage type office layout, that is my intention, if I live long enough to complete it.
JC23
Well-known member
Saw the usual two or three on CL today but the funny part is one was listed in the TOOL section.
Finally, a CL lister that gets it!
Finally, a CL lister that gets it!
tinbender 66
Well-known member
I picked up this one from CL this past Sunday for $20. It's got a Steelcase badge on the center drawer. Got it from the owner of a local farm supply place. It's in nice shape except for that divot in the laminate front left corner. I'll fix that, give it a paint job and it will end up right where it's sitting now when I finally finish the "office". It weighs about 200 lbs. I'm hoping to stumble upon a Steelcase, ASE, etc. credenza but they are pretty rare.
I did find a Steelcase console table on CL for $175 but I didn't want to spend that much. Really not a bad price though.
I'll post pics of the restoration when I get to it
.
I did find a Steelcase console table on CL for $175 but I didn't want to spend that much. Really not a bad price though.
I'll post pics of the restoration when I get to it
.JC23
Well-known member
Anybody have pics of the matching credenza or console table? I haven't seen those yet.
When I get mine, it will be painted with as many Ed Big Daddy Roth monsters as I can fit on there. Might even grind it down to bare metal for a base, too. Whatcha think?
When I get mine, it will be painted with as many Ed Big Daddy Roth monsters as I can fit on there. Might even grind it down to bare metal for a base, too. Whatcha think?
DonkDonk
Well-known member
I don't know where to buy the parts from, but I can get the desks for less than $10... even less than $5 pretty much every week. I could buy one and pull the parts you need? I wonder if the file cabinets have the same hardware, I can get those for $5 or less as well and they are much easier to manage.
Gotta see pics of that, sounds killer. Here is a Steelcase console table.
The credenzas are rare I guess and they sell for lots of $$$, but it looks it would be fairly simple to make one out of a desk?
Open credenza:
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JC23
Well-known member
Hey thanks, Donk.
Like I said, I've never seen those before. Man, they even look pricey! At least now, I can keep an eye out for them.
And don't worry about seeing my painted desk. I will post a bunch of pics when I do it. The bad part is, the project is quite a way off into the future. Gotta take care of a bunch of other stuff first.
Like I said, I've never seen those before. Man, they even look pricey! At least now, I can keep an eye out for them.
And don't worry about seeing my painted desk. I will post a bunch of pics when I do it. The bad part is, the project is quite a way off into the future. Gotta take care of a bunch of other stuff first.
That would be really helpful. Let me see if I can get some pics of what is going on and we can put heads together about what parts are broken or missing.
Several years ago (12) I was at a pallet company.
They had been out of business for several years. I helped the guy clean up the place & he GAVE me an old steel case desk.
I had it as id for 5 years & I finally spray painted it.
We moved from Indiana to Calif & I gave the desk away.....
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A few months ago I found an old "Art Metal" desk on CL. $80.00 delivered.
The top was SHOT. I would up taking it off, it was easy it was barely attached.
I bought RED & WHITE Rustoleum. I am disabled & cannot afford the big bucks.
My son in law pained it for me.
I bought some regular FLOOE Linoleum & glued it to the top.
Locksmith made me 2 new keys for $12.....
They had been out of business for several years. I helped the guy clean up the place & he GAVE me an old steel case desk.
I had it as id for 5 years & I finally spray painted it.
We moved from Indiana to Calif & I gave the desk away.....
*********************************************************
A few months ago I found an old "Art Metal" desk on CL. $80.00 delivered.
The top was SHOT. I would up taking it off, it was easy it was barely attached.
I bought RED & WHITE Rustoleum. I am disabled & cannot afford the big bucks.
My son in law pained it for me.
I bought some regular FLOOE Linoleum & glued it to the top.
Locksmith made me 2 new keys for $12.....
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richtersrodz
Well-known member
I have an original grey Tanker desk, from my TXANG unit. We were relocating, and they were
throwing the desk away!! I was told I couldn't take it, since it was gov't property. But if
it were to make it to the dumpster, then I could have it out of the trash. A month later, I
show up for drill, and it is sitting next to the dumpster, with a big dent in it from the fork
lift, moving it out of the warehouse. Later that night, I came back to the unit with my
truck and loaded that sucker up. I was lucky to get it, because they couldn't get it into
the dumpster, and it had been sitting outside for about a month, and was full of rain water.
It even has the sticker on the side of it, saying "Property of ***" . Seems my unit got
it from another unit, elsewhere. My unit dated back to the mid 40's, so it is that old.
So, now I have it, and just picked up a military issue looking filing cabinet to go with it, at a
resale shop for $25 (Army green). Not sure if I will repaint the cabinet to match yet..
throwing the desk away!! I was told I couldn't take it, since it was gov't property. But if
it were to make it to the dumpster, then I could have it out of the trash. A month later, I
show up for drill, and it is sitting next to the dumpster, with a big dent in it from the fork
lift, moving it out of the warehouse. Later that night, I came back to the unit with my
truck and loaded that sucker up. I was lucky to get it, because they couldn't get it into
the dumpster, and it had been sitting outside for about a month, and was full of rain water.
It even has the sticker on the side of it, saying "Property of ***" . Seems my unit got
it from another unit, elsewhere. My unit dated back to the mid 40's, so it is that old.
So, now I have it, and just picked up a military issue looking filing cabinet to go with it, at a
resale shop for $25 (Army green). Not sure if I will repaint the cabinet to match yet..
sberry
Banned
I have 3 of them, some auction back in the day for 10$ or something. I put printer in the side cab in my office. I added shelves to one and have drawers loaded with hardware.
The board under makes another shelf and is also a shim so the pallet jack reaches, they are heavy without load. I would have found a use for a couple more of them, I would say they are getting harder to find.
The board under makes another shelf and is also a shim so the pallet jack reaches, they are heavy without load. I would have found a use for a couple more of them, I would say they are getting harder to find.
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richtersrodz
Well-known member
Check this out.. They are selling for $1,500 on this site.
http://retrooffice.com/
Too bad they are like selling an elephant. Mine is soo damn big, that you just
about give yourself a hernia trying to move it. And I haven't figured out how
to take the top off yet, without ruining the formica.
(Not mine below, but the same style. This one is from the website)
http://retrooffice.com/
Too bad they are like selling an elephant. Mine is soo damn big, that you just
about give yourself a hernia trying to move it. And I haven't figured out how
to take the top off yet, without ruining the formica.
(Not mine below, but the same style. This one is from the website)
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sberry
Banned
I salvage a set of steps yesterday, made out of treated just poorly braced, banged around and falling apart. I drive it back together with a hammer, handful of screws and couple braces, about an hour including the installation,, safe and useful again for 5$ in materials, would have cost a couple hundred in lumber.
I use all that stuff like the desks and anymore consider the effort, finding something used even if it needs modification is usually faster.easier and cheaper than building from scratch. Its a rare day I buy something new for storage.
I use all that stuff like the desks and anymore consider the effort, finding something used even if it needs modification is usually faster.easier and cheaper than building from scratch. Its a rare day I buy something new for storage.
sberry
Banned
I tore the top off one and they are steel, can add a mat or paint it like I did one in pic. Recover with linoleum.
richtersrodz
Well-known member
I may get brave one day and try it again. It's the original top, and didn't want to tear it
up, break or bend it.. just get it apart, so that I could get it into my house.. I see all of
the other screws to take apart the file cabinet sides, but I think the screw heads are run in
from the top, then covered over with the formica.. I've gotten pretty good at moving it.
Up on it's side, then carry it on a dolly upside down. It's just getting through the door that
has been an issue...
up, break or bend it.. just get it apart, so that I could get it into my house.. I see all of
the other screws to take apart the file cabinet sides, but I think the screw heads are run in
from the top, then covered over with the formica.. I've gotten pretty good at moving it.
Up on it's side, then carry it on a dolly upside down. It's just getting through the door that
has been an issue...
Nighttrain
Well-known member
I may get brave one day and try it again. It's the original top, and didn't want to tear it
up, break or bend it.. just get it apart, so that I could get it into my house.. I see all of
the other screws to take apart the file cabinet sides, but I think the screw heads are run in
from the top, then covered over with the formica.. I've gotten pretty good at moving it.
Up on it's side, then carry it on a dolly upside down. It's just getting through the door that
has been an issue...
Richter, I bought a desk just like that last week. I'll put up pictures tomorrow. Made by All-steel? When I moved it into the office the rub rail popped out a bit and I noticed that there ar big screws under the rub rail. Tha may be the way to remove the top. Mine even has those same feet that arch out. Got it for $75.
rburke65
Well-known member
WebDogZ.....welcome to GJ.
DonkDonk
Well-known member
JC23
Well-known member
Was visiting with a bud last week and the subject came up. Turns out he has one in his basement he wants out so I got a free one when I want to go lug it up them steps!
Whoo hooo!
Think I'll go take a look...
Whoo hooo!
Think I'll go take a look...
93sr20det
Well-known member
If anyone lives near Picayune Mississippi there is an old gentleman and his brother that have warehouses full of these things for dirt cheap. They got them all at auction from Stennis Space Center.
I got one from an old photo lab that was closing down . I took it home and replaced the rotten top with some felt and glass. Mine is made by Shaw Walker which has since gone out of business.
Edit: Link to desks for sale:
http://www.shoppicayune.com/moseley/index.htm
I got one from an old photo lab that was closing down . I took it home and replaced the rotten top with some felt and glass. Mine is made by Shaw Walker which has since gone out of business.
Edit: Link to desks for sale:
http://www.shoppicayune.com/moseley/index.htm
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Richard D
Well-known member
I got one years ago for $40. I mounted my 9" South Bend on it. I don't remember the left footrest being gone, this is an old photo.
DonkDonk
Well-known member
I got one years ago for $40. I mounted my 9" South Bend on it. I don't remember the left footrest being gone, this is an old photo.
Wow that big *** desk makes that lathe look tiny! I too have a South Bend 9" lathe and they are lots of fun.
richtersrodz
Well-known member
JC23
Well-known member
Mikesova... That's a freaky looking cat you got there..
Yeah, me too. Laser eye model?
Richard D
Well-known member
I have a piece of 1" plate I plan to mount to the desk and mount the lathe to the plate.
That lathe is a 1934 model, the first year for the 9". It looked NASTY when I bought it for nearly nothing. It had a reverse thread lead screw, which I changed when I replaced the broken half-nut, and a ******* thread spindle nose that was hard to find chucks for. I got a whole new headstock and spindle with the common modern thread; still have the old headstock and spindle, I'll make some kind of tool out of it some day.