Vintage barber pole restoration

[coljar]

First of all, I'm not a barber, never have been, and know of none in the family. I guess you can say I just like things Americana. My British, German, and Japanese cars don't reflect that. I've never thought about that, but when I recently got rid of my Ford diesel pick-up, it's the first time in my life I haven't owned an American made vehicle. Anyway, I'm at the point that I'm getting more of my garage done on the inside and want to start putting some of the stuff I've had stashed in the basement for years. I've had some of the signs up for some time, but I have everything from steam locomotive headlights, to traffic lights, to service station stuff.....................and then there's this barber pole. I bought it in a McDonald's parking lot in Wellston, Ohio 4 years ago from a guy that was selling it on Craigslist. Apparently it was from his wife's side of the family and they were selling the building where it had been attached. I was on a week's vacation during this past Christmas and I needed a break from working on the garage interior. The barber pole was just the ticket because I knew it wouldn't be something that was long and drawn out.

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[Toolfool]

Cool.

 

[coljar]

It is a Koken model no. 5162 and was built between 1946 and 1948, nearest I can tell. Koken was known more for their barber chairs. I disassembled and assemble it in the basement workshop and sandblasted and painted it in the garage. I didn't do much to the inside except cleaned it, put new rubber on the motor mounts and completely rewired it. More on the reason later.

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[zkdiesel]

Slick

 

[rburke65]

Tell us about the stripes on the glass.

 

[PFSard]

Now I realize what my house is missing. Great idea.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've always wanted one of these. The few times I've looked they were very pricey even for a very poor condition. Looking forward to watching this restoration.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The Marvy company in St. Paul, MN builds most poles these days. They do sell replacement parts for other brands, including Koken. They also have an ID guide that includes Koken poles. http://www.wmmarvyco.com/barber_poles.html

 

[coljar]

The inside cylinder is made of heavy paper, but poles today come with plastic cylinders which probably last longer. Fortunately, you can buy paper or plastic and they are about the same price, around $50-60. Even though the red has faded on the old cylinder this one came with, I think it's cool and will probably use it until it falls apart and I have to get a new one. The top "bearing" for the inner cylinder looks to be made out of a bakelite(plastic) type material and uses the electrical conduit to the light as an inner bearing race. All barber poles turn at 30 rpm's and don't forget this when you want to quote a piece of useless trivia. For the light, I replaced the tubular light with an LED bulb which I'm trying to do with all my lights inside the garage and out. I shot this picture down the glass part of the cylinder where the light bulb would be, to the motor. The inner cylinder just sets on the motor "T" shaft at the bottom.

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[coljar]

Tell us about the stripes on the glass.

Rburke, I hope the above explanation answers your question.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Waiting to see it rebuilt and working

 

[coljar]

My son in law was aching to use my 960 **** blast cabinet, so I turned him loose on the 3 cast iron pieces. My lower back was bothering me and I had other things I could be working on, anyhow. The base that attaches to the wall looked like it had it's original wrinkle paint, so a week or so before we started, I set out to find a spray can of black wrinkle paint. No one in the Mid Ohio valley had any in stock and I'm talking auto paint stores and a couple of old hardwares. Yeah, I know I could of got it on Amazon, but I ordered it cheaper from one of the local auto paint stores. A friend that had wrinkle paint experience told me to use a heat gun after the paint was applied and it turned out great.

 

[coljar]

I've always wanted one of these. The few times I've looked they were very pricey even for a very poor condition. Looking forward to watching this restoration.

Mine was actually in running condition when I bought it, but the wiring was scary. He was asking $200 for it, but I got it for $150.

 

[countryroad82]

Very cool project! Now you need a cool old barber chair to match!

 

[sndwks]

Not a vintage pole but here's mine.https://scontent-iad3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11260709_10205842898104003_6358178109043850262_n.jpg?oh=f19e70b426938346660649d96e4cc3f1&oe=572F7D54

 

[ScottsGT]

Saw an episode of "How its Made" about these. Pretty neat show. I'd love to find one myself one day.

 

[coljar]

Not a vintage pole but here's mine.https://scontent-iad3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11260709_10205842898104003_6358178109043850262_n.jpg?oh=f19e70b426938346660649d96e4cc3f1&oe=572F7D54

That looks great. Tell us about it.

 

[coljar]

Very cool project! Now you need a cool old barber chair to match!

Ha Ha, That is funny you would say that. I've wanted one for years and I think my wife's biggest fear is that I'd want to put it in the family room in front of the TV. From what I've learned, it's best to have one of those in good condition or already restored with none of the parts missing, because they are really expensive to redo.

 

[sndwks]

Mine is an ebay pick, they offer them in many different sizes and styles. I think I gave 60 bucks. It's all plastic and made for indoor use, lights up and rotates, looks real from a distance. I've got mine under the carport in front of the garage. Has been a big conversation piece as well.

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Wife said no to mounting it inside the house.

 

[rburke65]

collar, yes.....you did good. Thanks. I learn something new very day here.

 

[manwithtools]

That's pretty cool. I'm a barber, not by trade, but it's my last name. Do you know that in past centuries, barbers were also surgeons, or properly termed back then "blood letters"?

See the following from the History Channel:

"The look of the barber pole is linked to bloodletting, with red representing blood and white representing the bandages used to stem the bleeding. The pole itself is said to symbolize the stick that a patient squeezed to make the veins in his arm stand out more prominently for the procedure. In Europe, barber poles traditionally are red and white, while in America, the poles are red, white and blue. One theory holds that blue is symbolic of the veins cut during bloodletting, while another interpretation suggests blue was added to the pole as a show of patriotism and a nod to the nation’s flag."

I sure wish I could find a pole and chair in good condition for reasonable cost. I'd be all over it.

 

[coljar]

One of the main reasons I didn't do anything to the inside of the pole except clean it up and re-wire it is because there are many cases where something shouldn't be over restored. If you look closely at the picture in post #9, I think it was the original owner that took a small paint brush and put his name, his city, and the date. It says, Carl Miller, Oakhill(Ohio) 11-48. I remembered that the guy I bought it from said it was from Oakhill, Ohio after I opened it up and seen the writing. I have to be careful, because the area I mounted it in the garage is still under construction.

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The picture above is taken with the top chrome dome off. The electrical plug is there so you can unplug the cord and lift the light assembly out and change a burnt out bulb.

 

[coljar]

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Here is the final result. When I get this part of the garage done, I think it will make a nice center piece in the lounge area. I think I've finally broke my wife from calling it the man cave.

 

[coljar]

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I liked the results of the barber pole so well that I think I need to do a long over due project and put it in the garage soon. I got this in 1984 from the man that actually removed it from the B&O P-5 Pacific locomotive as it set in the dead line in Benwood, WV. in the 50's. I will add that he did not steal it, but was given permission from a railroad official friend of his. It has been stored and covered up in my basement all these years. It will only get cleaned up and rewired, because that is the paint it was in when he removed it. Oh well, another thread..................

 

[rburke65]

This ad on Craigslist from the Sharon, Pa. area. 2 barber chairs that look like they are in great shape. Just thought you might be interested. [email protected]

 

[coljar]

This ad on Craigslist from the Sharon, Pa. area. 2 barber chairs that look like they are in great shape. Just thought you might be interested. [email protected]

Thanks rburke!
I wasn't able to open the link, though.

 

[swharris]

First of all, I'm not a barber, never have been, and know of none in the family. I guess you can say I just like things Americana. My British, German, and Japanese cars don't reflect that. I've never thought about that, but when I recently got rid of my Ford diesel pick-up, it's the first time in my life I haven't owned an American made vehicle. Anyway, I'm at the point that I'm getting more of my garage done on the inside and want to start putting some of the stuff I've had stashed in the basement for years. I've had some of the signs up for some time, but I have everything from steam locomotive headlights, to traffic lights, to service station stuff.....................and then there's this barber pole. I bought it in a McDonald's parking lot in Wellston, Ohio 4 years ago from a guy that was selling it on Craigslist. Apparently it was from his wife's side of the family and they were selling the building where it had been attached. I was on a week's vacation during this past Christmas and I needed a break from working on the garage interior. The barber pole was just the ticket because I knew it wouldn't be something that was long and drawn out.

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Sadly, you just polished the value right out of that thing. Pretty though.

 

[coljar]

Sadly, you just polished the value right out of that thing. Pretty though.

No, not when it comes to barber poles. I contacted the Marvy people before I started and they assured me it was worth a lot more with a good restoration, than without. Being the world's number one authority on the subject, I'll trust 'em. They also stated that leaving the personal history I discovered on the inside added to the value and only cleaning that part is a good choice.

With that said, I don't buy into this patina thing, anyway. Some things look good left alone and some don't. I never buy anything to resale.

 

[don long]

I can't tell you how many times I've said that
So if I restore something that I like then the value is improved for me not someone else.

 

[geologist]

I bought it in a McDonald's parking lot in Wellston, Ohio

That's not all that far from me. ~50 miles. Mainly because it's not a straight shot.

 

[MBfreak]

I love the Barber Pole and your way of keeping old things alive.

Keep at it. That loco lamp looks fantastic.

Ola

 

[rburke65]

coljar.....you can just do a search on Clist for the barber chairs, and my brother lives near Oakhill, on Jackson Lake!

 

[coljar]

I can't tell you how many times I've said that
So if I restore something that I like then the value is improved for me not someone else.

Don, I admire your work and use it as an inspiration in my garage.

That's not all that far from me. ~50 miles. Mainly because it's not a straight shot.

We were down your way in one of our fall British car drives in October.

I love the Barber Pole and your way of keeping old things alive.



Keep at it. That loco lamp looks fantastic.

Ola

Thanks MB, I really appreciate that.

coljar.....you can just do a search on Clist for the barber chairs, and my brother lives near Oakhill, on Jackson Lake!

Thanks rburke. My wife's sister lives down that way and have heard her speak of Jackson Lake.

 

[Bob Hall]

Looks great! I'll drop by Saturday for a cut.......

 

[Chaz]

Nice! I want one of those!

 

[[email protected]]

Hello,
I have the same model koken pole. Cant figure out the rewire. Could anyone help me with this? Thanks.

 

[coljar]

You can see in post #22 how I have the light, which mounts in the top, wired with a female plug so you can unplug the light assem. to change the bulb. The wires from this female plug terminate in the back of the barber pole with the motor wires, along with the cord that runs to the receptacle. Wire nuts work best for this and it's all pretty straightforward. Some were wired to run the motor independent of the light for daytime operation, but I wouldn't recommend doing that. I used an LED bulb as I try to do with most of the sign lights I have.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks, is there anyway you can show how you terminated the female plug with the motor wires and how they connect to the power plug. I guess just an interior picture of the wiring. Thanks again

 

[[email protected]]

I also wonder do you have it set up so you can have it work without the light on?

 

[-Brent-]

I like it! Nice work.