Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

looks great i like all the snap on tools

Maybe I just like red?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Pictures tell such great stories. Thanks for showing them

And that was just a few of the pictures showing the rebuild. There are at least twice as many pictures that I didn't post. I really like looking at all the background equipment and tools in all those pictures and seeing how much of that I still have out there or what's still waiting in the tool shed.

Thanks for checking in.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hi Thomas. I've been working my way through all the pages for the last couple of days. I wasn't going to comment until I was totally caught up, but I can't resist now.

You do realize you now have the beginnings of a tank, right? Come on, you can't just scrap the tank parts you already have. I know from everything I've read so far you normally think outside the box. Well,, forget the box. Just pick up a few more parts and you can have your very own tank. Yeah, a TANK!!!!!

(Sorry Chris - the Devil made me do it)

Mike In Virginia

Hi Mike and a warm welcome to the thread. You're going to fit in just fine here. We like trouble makers 'round these parts.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Let's see... the landing strip could double as a race track

...and about that pool......

OK right, good thought. Combining facilities would probably go over better, yah. Chris is real practical that way so good one.

The pool though, that's kinda' vital don't you think?

Thomas

 

[hobbitss]

Let's see... the landing strip could double as a race track

That was the idea...

 

[markviii]

With all of you conspiring about future expansions, we'll just need some sort of motel or something to accommodate the car club tours or tool junkies either driving in or flying in for the "experience". Oh, I can see my second (well, maybe third or fourth) career right now! Thanks for all the help... (there's no emoticon for the tone of voice just expressed..). Just wait... your turn is coming...

Chris

 

[HOTFR8]

That seems reasonable Joe. The engine stand stays in the old shop and I have a favorite color for my equipment in there...


...just in case you over looked it.

Thomas

I know the color Its called newspaper... Well I see lots of Black and White and red all over. Sorry I could not resist.

All those photos show you have done alot of work.

 

[hobbitss]

I know the color Its called newspaper... Well I see lots of Black and White and red all over. Sorry I could not resist.

All those photos show you have done alot of work.

I agree... White is hard to keep clean...
Red stand and Black mounting plate sounds good...

 

[M1903a4]

With all of you conspiring about future expansions, we'll just need some sort of motel or something to accommodate the car club tours or tool junkies either driving in or flying in for the "experience". Oh, I can see my second (well, maybe third or fourth) career right now! Thanks for all the help... (there's no emoticon for the tone of voice just expressed..). Just wait... your turn is coming...

Chris

Hi Chris.

I've been married 43 years - don't need an emoticon for that tone of voice.

 

[ToyMeKaNeK]

Another little Nova popped up in my inbox, Thomas. Remember this little Saturday night cruiser and what it would do in the straight line? Ummm, I can still smell the fumes.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_d...vra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SC0512_F328

John.

Edit: OH, Thomas!! I just had to add this one. She's real fine my...
http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_d...vra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SC0512_F324

 

[JimVonBaden]

Huge flashback to my military years, and the infamous "**** can"!

I love this thread. My fater owned service stations from the 50s to the 70s. I practically grew up in them.

Jim

 

[charlief1]

Hi Chris.

I've been married 43 years - don't need an emoticon for that tone of voice.

I've neve been married and even I know that "tone of voice. Good thing I never did the deed then.

Huge flashback to my military years, and the infamous "**** can"!

I love this thread. My father owned service stations from the 50s to the 70s. I practically grew up in them.

Jim

I didn't grow up in them but I started out in them. I wish I had been around then but I'm just not that lucky.

 

[JC23]

Huge flashback to my military years, and the infamous "**** can"!

I love this thread. My fater owned service stations from the 50s to the 70s. I practically grew up in them.

Jim

That rag can...

Needs paint!

 

[mdbeck1]

(there's no emoticon for the tone of voice just expressed..). Just wait... your turn is coming...

Chris

I've got to agree. I don't think there's an emoticon for it either but this one is pretty close....

...or combine that one with these two...

 

[Jagmandave]

Do they still make these? So cool.....

 

[donnie]

Do they still make these? So cool.....

I do not know if they are still made, but if you go back, WAY BACK, in this thread you can see that this is an old one that was rebuilt (Powered Coated even I know hard to believe that Thomas would powder coat something!

 

[Sick Puppy]

Many, many years ago I flew for a small commuter airline and one of our captain's parents lived on a farm out in the country very near the airport. Sometimes we would depart empty at 05:30 while it was still dark outside. He'd keep the aircraft low at around 1,500' for a mile after departure and fly toward their house and put the props out of sync a little. It made a very distinctive noise when he did that and we'd see the front porch light flash on and off a couple of times and they knew their son was on his way. Way back then flying had a charm all it's own that's long been lost. It was a different era all together.

Thomas

Hi Thomas, Sick Puppy signing back in - as you can see, it's been a while, although I'm sure you can appreciate that around this time last year, I had other matters to attend to! lol

Just looking at this post, and I can imagine what you mean - I authorities and passengers nowadays would frown (or rather panic! lol) at their plane's jet engines being all out of sync like, might give them the wrong idea.

If anyone needs me, I'll be catching up! Just another fifty pages or so til I get current...

 

[SkywalkerCR]

Hi Thomas,

I have been lurking for the last ten pages or so.......and I am curious about something.

Do you know what the history was of Mr. Johnson in his younger pre-family years?

> Where was he born?
> What did his Dad do for a living?
> Did he have any siblings who are still living today?

Just curious.....it is natural for all us to want to understand more about our roots......I was wondering about his.

Thanks Clark

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

With all of you conspiring about future expansions, we'll just need some sort of motel or something to accommodate the car club tours or tool junkies either driving in or flying in for the "experience". Oh, I can see my second (well, maybe third or fourth) career right now! Thanks for all the help... (there's no emoticon for the tone of voice just expressed..). Just wait... your turn is coming...

Chris

Chris,

Please understand Miss Chris, this would not be a simple leisure pool. Industrious Thomas would not be so idle. At the very least, this would be the: aquatic reserve for fire suppression to facilitate lower property insurance premiums for the future homestead. That it would also provide fire protection for the garage & shop would be mere happenstance. The coincidence would be that it could do extra duty as a landing area for the PanAm Clipper that Thomas would REALLY like to Powder Coat.

P.S. Thanks for taking such a ribbing with your usual charm. I hope that you enjoyed your chocolates.

 

[BB767]

Another little Nova popped up in my inbox, Thomas. Remember this little Saturday night cruiser and what it would do in the straight line? Ummm, I can still smell the fumes.

John.

Thanks John for thinking of me. A guy around here ran one, a 396/375 4 speed Nova "back in the day." It was a non SS, had steel wheels with dog dish hub caps and he replaced the 396 engine callouts on the front fenders with a 350 ones instead. A real sleeper.......for about 2 days and then word got out to stay away from him. Nothing sounds as good as an L78...

...especially when that sound is echoing off Mr Johnson's old shop walls!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Huge flashback to my military years, and the infamous "**** can"!

I love this thread. My fater owned service stations from the 50s to the 70s. I practically grew up in them.

Jim

Hello Jim and thanks for checking in. Now that you mention it my safety can is very similar to the ones we had out at the airport just outside the hangers for cigarettes butts. I never thought of it till you reminded me of it and you're right!

Having grown up around all this auto repair/service station "stuff" it really becomes a part of you doesn't it? From the the sound of the service bell when a car ran over the airline by the pumps, to the whine and hiss of the lift going up or down to the distinctive smells of old grease or new rubber tires it's just unforgettable. Good times!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

That rag can...

Needs paint!

John it must be like finger nails down a chalk board very time you see that can unpersonalized. I've seen your work and it's terrific.........but still...........

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Do they still make these? So cool.....

Jagmandave no unfortunately these aren't made anymore but somebody out there is reproducing non-working display ones. This one was made in 1953 and I did the restoration on it about 1 1/2 years ago.

I too think it's very cool...

...even at night.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I do not know if they are still made, but if you go back, WAY BACK, in this thread you can see that this is an old one that was rebuilt (Powered Coated even I know hard to believe that Thomas would powder coat something!

And donnie speaking of powder coating, I've got an upcoming project that does involve more powder coating. Stay tuned.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hi Thomas, Sick Puppy signing back in - as you can see, it's been a while, although I'm sure you can appreciate that around this time last year, I had other matters to attend to! lol

Just looking at this post, and I can imagine what you mean - I authorities and passengers nowadays would frown (or rather panic! lol) at their plane's jet engines being all out of sync like, might give them the wrong idea.

If anyone needs me, I'll be catching up! Just another fifty pages or so til I get current...

Well there you are Sick Puppy, Chris and I were beginning to wonder about you. I hope you're slowly getting back to normal from the earthquake down there. It takes time doesn't it?

Now a days you can't even remotely do something like the flyby, even though we never did it with passengers on board and always stayed at least 1,500' high and it was all over farm ground. Somehow it'd be on CNN that same night, I'd be "pursuing other interests" right now if we did it today. While it was completely and totally harmless, it's a whole different world out there now.

Welcome back and yah, you have a bunch of catching up to do, just in time before the test! Chris was waiting for you.

Thomas

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

Thomas,

Love the "new" avatar, that is great!

 

[M1903a4]

Some of the old shop equipment are works of art don't you think. All I'm doing is bring out what's already there. Back then effort went into the visual appearance of the object as well as it's function.
Thomas

Yeah, back in the "old" days they had real industrial designers like Ray Loewy who not only made things functional, but also made them beautiful to look at:

http://www.raymondloewy.org/gallery.html

(yeah, I know I'm replying to a year old message. I'm still catching up.)

 

[M1903a4]

OK, we don't often stray too far from the subject of the old restored shop, the items there in or the property in general but.....here are a few pictures involving race cars and, by request, my driving "experience" last week at Willow Springs Raceway.
<snip>

Car Craft Tech Editor, Jeff Smith, author of the May issue "This Guy's Garage" article about the shop came out to see my driving premiere and give me some more driving advice...."It's just like drag racing, steer with your left hand and shift with your right. It's easy, even a pilot could do it!"
<snip>
Thomas

Long ago, in a galaxy far away (just before the meteor killed the diinosaurs) I had a Lotus 18 Formula Jr. / SCCA Formula C.
Being British, it was steer with your right and shift with your left.

Mike

 

[landroversforever]

Long ago, in a galaxy far away (just before the meteor killed the diinosaurs) I had a Lotus 18 Formula Jr. / SCCA Formula C.
Being British, it was steer with your right and shift with your left.

Mike

Its how all cars should be, Thomas, its the only obvious fault with your cars. And, only one of very few faults with your switch panel work.

 

[slow chevy]

if a somewhat local Garage Journal member wanted to check out the garage and do a photoshoot there, would that be possible?

 

[BB767]

Thomas,

Love the "new" avatar, that is great!

Why thank you Bill. Obviously I really get "into my work" out there as you well know from personal experience.

(BTW, Chris is savoring the chocolates and they are ever so slowly disappearing. So very nice of you to think of her!)

Thomas

 

[M1903a4]

Thomas

I've been thinking (which my wife will tell you is often not a good thing). Now that the lawn design is firming up as about 60 x 3000 feet, and you have this gigantic barn with a ton of extra space, have you thought about using part of it as a hanger?

Back in the 70s one of my neighbors was an ATP like you. He managed to build a Bushby Mustang II and restore a WACO in his little walk-out basement. Just think of what you could do with all your space and talent.

(he also had the fuselage of a Ryan M1 in the backyard)

cheers

Mike

 

[BB767]

Yeah, back in the "old" days they had real industrial designers like Ray Loewy who not only made things functional, but also made them beautiful to look at:

http://www.raymondloewy.org/gallery.html

(yeah, I know I'm replying to a year old message. I'm still catching up.)

Oh no worries there M1903a4, take your time and savor the read, much as you would a fine box of chocolates.

Raymond Loewy is mentioned here on more than one occasion. My son and I were just this afternoon going through some of the old family hand tools dating from 80 -100 years old now. He was remarking not only how handsome they looked, but how well finished even the smallest of details were. That was when manufacturers really took pride in what they produced and were not so "bottom line" obsessed. Fortunately he has a great eye for detail and appreciates and values those qualities much as my grandfather, father and myself do. There's hope for the younger generation yet!

Welcome to the thread that never seems to end and take some time off and get some sleep.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Long ago, in a galaxy far away (just before the meteor killed the diinosaurs) I had a Lotus 18 Formula Jr. / SCCA Formula C.
Being British, it was steer with your right and shift with your left.

Mike

Its how all cars should be, Thomas, its the only obvious fault with your cars. And, only one of very few faults with your switch panel work.

Next thing you know you'll be rationalizing "shooting brakes" and anti-clockwise engine rotations. You will be proud to know I have finally, over time, learned which way to look before stepping off a curb while crossing a street over there.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas

I've been thinking (which my wife will tell you is often not a good thing). Now that the lawn design is firming up as about 60 x 3000 feet, and you have this gigantic barn with a ton of extra space, have you thought about using part of it as a hanger?

Back in the 70s one of my neighbors was an ATP like you. He managed to build a Bushby Mustang II and restore a WACO in his little walk-out basement. Just think of what you could do with all your space and talent.

(he also had the fuselage of a Ryan M1 in the backyard)

cheers

Mike

Mike is this something like...

..what you had in mind? I mean it is a big barn after all I'll admit.

Cheers, Thomas

 

[BB767]

if a somewhat local Garage Journal member wanted to check out the garage and do a photoshoot there, would that be possible?

slow chevy, I've even had not so local Garage Journal members come for a visit (ask Sweet Old Bill how many hours drive that was). It's not only possible, but Chris I truly enjoy sharing with others, even if you don't bribe Chris with chocolates! Seriously, send me a Private Message (PM)and scheduling permitting we'll try to make that happen.

Thomas

 

[M1903a4]

Mike is this something like...

..what you had in mind? I mean it is a big barn after all I'll admit.

Cheers, Thomas

Uh, the BUFF might not squeeze in the barn. Plus, it would be harder to convince Chris that the 10,000 foot slab of concrete was a lawn ornament.

I was thinking more like a Mooney 201 to commute to work and some other toy for fun. Of course, I'm a humble private pilot with limited aspirations.

Mike

 

[slow chevy]

slow chevy, I've even had not so local Garage Journal members come for a visit (ask Sweet Old Bill how many hours drive that was). It's not only possible, but Chris I truly enjoy sharing with others, even if you don't bribe Chris with chocolates! Seriously, send me a Private Message (PM)and scheduling permitting we'll try to make that happen.

Thomas

Will do. I'll probably drop a message in a week or two once my car ia back up and running

 

[GT-TX]

Thomas & Chris:
I have been lurking and following your GJ postings for quite a while; congrats on the quality of your restoration(s) and reaching the 5000th posting - that finally made me move from a lurker to a poster!

What can we powder coat next?

 

[JC23]

Thomas & Chris:

What can we powder coat next?

I don't think he needs any help, there...