Industrial Metal Desks

[osburn383]

Probably a one time thing lol.
They only advertised the auction 1 day in advance so not to many people showed up. Poor planning on their part but make it a win for me.

 

[ADSR]

That is the real win there!!!!!

No kidding!! That's great!

 

[bazzateer]

YOU ALL ****!!! Those desks etc cost hundreds over here.

 

[ibuiltmine]

I mentioned to the wife that I would like to have a desk, because Im an apprentice IBEW eletrician and I have TONS of homework! So she found this on the local Facebook buy, sell, trade for $20 bucks!

far as I can tell its a 1938 Steel Office Furniture Institute with the faux wood paint. It has State of Wyoming inventory stickers dating back to the early 40's on the inside of it. Sucker weighs probably 350lbs because Im no slouch, and I can barely budge it.

The mother in Law came to town and took the wife and kids out costume shopping for Halloween, and an impending rain/snow storm made me have to get out of the truck and into the house myself! i barely got it out of the back of the truck alone, so I had to devise a plan to get it to my steps, up the steps and then through my house to the room its going into. So, i walked down my alley behind the old safeway and wheeld home a shopping cart that had gotten backed into or soemthing. Bandsawed off everything but the wheels, and yanked that heavy ******* up on it! Worked like a charm!

 

[Nowater]

Good luck on the schooling. I did the same thing about 40 years ago. Three hours of school after a day's work. Homework the next night. Repeat and then comes the weekend. I no longer work in that trade, but still consider it one of the best.

 

[Val_C]

My $35 baby tanker desk (sorry for the image quality):

 

[BFBOB]

Tanker Trasher?
I came across this beauty and couldn't resist. Wouldn't it be the perfect companion to one of these old desks? Too bad I don't have one. It's pretty solidly made, only 13" tall, but weighs close to 5 lbs. No idea what brand it is. I looked carefully, but couldn't find any stampings or labels.

 

[nine4gmc]

That lil trash can is ultimate cool!!

 

[Blackie94Gt]

Here is a chair I picked up for free. It's a Hamilton Cosco made in Columbus, Indiana. I think it is the Model 15-S secretarial chair made in the late 1950's.

 

[BellyUpFish]

My tanker..

 

[nine4gmc]

How did you finish the top? Looks great

 

[BellyUpFish]

Just stripped the Velvoleum off, hit it with a DA with 80 then 220 grit, sealed with Penetrol.

 

[ADSR]

My tanker..

I've been waiting for this!!

It looks great, buddy!

Nice work!

 

[BellyUpFish]

Thanks..

I need to get a piece of glass cut to fit down into the top and I'll be set..

 

[thoraudio]

http://bham.craigslist.org/fuo/4178035410.html

did Lista or Vidmar make desks? This one looks like those styles.

 

[ADSR]

http://bham.craigslist.org/fuo/4178035410.html

did Lista or Vidmar make desks? This one looks like those styles.

I don't know, but it's damn good looking!

 

[bazzateer]

I don't know, but it's damn good looking!

...........and cheap!

 

[SteveJohnston]

My tanker..

General Fireproofing model 1660 F (if the top measures 60" x 34", if it is 60" x 30", it is a 1460 F). My "dream" tanker desk. I just picked one up today. The one I scored needs to be re-done badly. But only from an aesthetic viewpoint. No significant dents. All drawers work like new. Everything accounted for including the file compressor, the coin tray and 4 drawers separators. The punch-outs are still intact.

The velvoleum is trashed as well...will replace that.

I can not wait to get it re-finished into use.

 

[58Yeoman]

At least five of these style desks will be trashed at work this week. A new company bought us, and they want all new desks, etc. I have no room to store them, so I won't be getting any.

 

[Kevin54]

At least five of these style desks will be trashed at work this week. A new company bought us, and they want all new desks, etc. I have no room to store them, so I won't be getting any.

Damn...I wish I were closer or you were closer. Who would have thought that a thread on GJ has turned into a collection thread for "Tankers" And to think how many of those went to the scrap heap years back. I think I'm now going to have to keep my eye out for one. I did like the one above that is the yellow Credenza and really like the one converted into the rear of the old Ford.

 

[SteveJohnston]

At least five of these style desks will be trashed at work this week. A new company bought us, and they want all new desks, etc. I have no room to store them, so I won't be getting any.

Do you mean tanker desks in general or specifically the General Fireproofing ones. If they are General Fireproofing, they are made to be disassembled. They are made largely with bolts. You can find the diagrams on pastpresentfuture.net. And it would be very worthwhile to part them out. Especially if they have items like lock and/or keys, drawer dividers, file compressors...pencil trays. But any of the parts are worthwhile.

Damn...I wish I were closer or you were closer. Who would have thought that a thread on GJ has turned into a collection thread for "Tankers" And to think how many of those went to the scrap heap years back. I think I'm now going to have to keep my eye out for one. I did like the one above that is the yellow Credenza and really like the one converted into the rear of the old Ford.

LOL...I stumbled across this forum and information while I was looking for one of these desks. Now I am really looking forward to getting my shop completed so that I can share that as well.

 

[nine4gmc]

I picked up a few desks and things today from the auction Saturday. I have another almond color tanker like the green Globe Wernicke in front that's not shown(lil banged up, Ill try saving it).

Steelcase left, Globe Wernicke right

Globe Wernicke left, Cramer Co right

Square metal tanker trash cans left, round metal tanker trash cans right

 

[Squashfest81]

And a smaller sized flat file in the middle.

 

[ADSR]

I picked up a few desks and things today from the auction Saturday. I have another almond color tanker like the green Globe Wernicke in front that's not shown(lil banged up, Ill try saving it).

Steelcase left, Globe Wernicke right

Globe Wernicke left, Cramer Co right

Square metal tanker trash cans left, round metal tanker trash cans right

Holy hell you ****!!!

Nice scores!!!

 

[BellyUpFish]

I need a chair like one of those to complete my office.

 

[smedly]

I picked up a few desks and things today from the auction Saturday. I have another almond color tanker like the green Globe Wernicke in front that's not shown(lil banged up, Ill try saving it).

Cool. I picked up that exact file cabinet a few weeks ago for my office. A quick sanding and some rolled on rustoleum and it looks great. Mine was missing the tag, what brand is it?

 

[58Yeoman]

I checked the space yesterday, and all the desks are gone. They must've moved them out on the weekend.

 

[Val_C]

nine4gmc - nice score. Love the chairs. What are the plans for the desks?

 

[kavisiegel]

I had one of these in my basement, and I scrapped it for $20 a few weeks ago. I even put it on craigslist for free and nobody wanted it. Sigh. If only I had known better at the time. I still have the top, though.. I'm not sure what I'm planing to do with it.

 

[nine4gmc]

Holy hell you ****!!!

Nice scores!!!

Thank You!

I need a chair like one of those to complete my office.

I run in to them often but these are not for sale. Keep an eye on my ebay listings and if you see one you like, hit me up here for a discount.

Cool. I picked up that exact file cabinet a few weeks ago for my office. A quick sanding and some rolled on rustoleum and it looks great. Mine was missing the tag, what brand is it?

Oval tag up top? Cole Steel Company

nine4gmc - nice score. Love the chairs. What are the plans for the desks?

Thanks! I bought the green Globe Wernicke to swap out an old Steelcase I had been using, it was poorly repainted(prior to purchase) and a few dings when I saw this matching set of GW come up for sale. I will probably try to sell the green/chrome desk behind it alond with a matching side table and garbage can as a set. The almond color GW I will try to save, it has a couple banged up drawers and missing the skirt cover in front but I can find one off another desk eventually.
If anyone is interested in a banged up, dirty garbage can, let me know. They are heavy and stout but well used looking.

 

[89GLH]

I just picked one of these up from my grandfather (RIP). This thing is a TANK...no pun intended. Might just prime and wrap it. If you can get your hands on one, I highly recommend it. Better than anything sold today.

Probably going the 3M 1080 gloss black vinyl. With polished hardware this thing will look sharp.

 

[nine4gmc]

Please don't wrap one of these desks in cheesy vinyl, real steel deserves real paint imo...

 

[Kevin54]

I just picked one of these up from my grandfather (RIP). This thing is a TANK...no pun intended. Might just prime and wrap it. If you can get your hands on one, I highly recommend it. Better than anything sold today.

Probably going the 3M 1080 gloss black vinyl. With polished hardware this thing will look sharp.

Please don't wrap one of these desks in cheesy vinyl, real steel deserves real paint imo...

I don't know.....I'd like to have one and have it wrapped in Carbon Fiber with some polished handles

 

[mercman86]

I just picked one up at an estate sale for 5 bucks. I'll post some pictures Friday or Saturday when I get it out of my truck. Its in real good condition. Its currently battleship gray, but when I turned it upside down to load it up, the underside is olive drab green. Whoever painted it did a great job.

 

[Fyrme]

Pick up my first Tanker today. It will need to be stripped down and repainted. I'm pretty sure the drawer pulls are aluminum that have been painted. I hope to strip the paint and polish the handles up. Not sure on color yet, but I'm thinkin loud.

 

[mercman86]

Well here's my new desk. I cleaned it up a bit, lubed the slides and put it in my basement workshop. Looks great. The tops a bit beat up but I don't mind. Lots of storage now. Im not sure what brand it is. I looks like it had a tag riveted on the middle drawer, but that's long gone. There's a sticker inside the drawer but its been painted over. It looks like a steel case.

 

[nine4gmc]

Well here's my new desk. I cleaned it up a bit, lubed the slides and put it in my basement workshop. Looks great. The tops a bit beat up but I don't mind. Lots of storage now. Im not sure what brand it is. I looks like it had a tag riveted on the middle drawer, but that's long gone. There's a sticker inside the drawer but its been painted over. It looks like a steel case.

Judging by the handles, it looks just like my Globe Wernicke. Rounded pull on the note tray, line design in the drawer pulls, rounded drawer cabinets, etc. I may have a tag for you too.

 

[mercman86]

nine4gmc:

Thanks for the information! I think you are right. The handles are slightly different, but I looked close on the lock tumbler (I don't have the key) and the first 2 letters were "GW." Here's a couple pics. I know you probably cant see the GW, but the holes are in the same spots as yours.

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Great thread! Keep it going!

 

[SteveJohnston]

Picked this up a couple of weeks ago. I am thoroughly stoked with it. Everything works almost like new. Very few and very small dents. It even still has the drawer dividers, pencil tray, and the file compressor.