Bobby B.
Well-known member
I think you did a great job. I would love to be able to find a place like that and be able to do half as nice a job.
Just looks like a great place to be overall.
Just looks like a great place to be overall.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
Bevis
Well-known member
been catching up on alot of posts. I like this one too and will mark it, keep up the work and pics coming our way. 
Sorry again that I've been jumping around a little on the pictures. In a perfect world I'd have had them all organized and displayed in order from the very first moment I opened the shop door 4 years ago, running sequentially to when the shop was finished. But nooooo such is not the case so you'll just have to bear with me, gnash your teeth and mutter to yourself, why didn't that picture get shown 3 days ago?! See, the reason is, as I'm going back through my files I'm finding photographs, the kind printed on paper, not digital " images " that maybe should be seen even though that makes them out of order in this post. So I scan them into my computer and post them hoping it will be OK. As they say, " work with me here "! All that said, these should have been among the first if not THE first pictures posted.
One of the advantages of growing up in a small town is that you really get to know people. After I bought the property I let it be known that I really did intend to restore it. As such I wanted any and all pictures the family came across of the shop and homestead back "in the day". They have been terrific and here are a few they came up with.
Well here is that original shop I've been yammering on about in this post and the family homestead next to it. As you can see it truly was in the country back then but it's now on the southern edge of town. There's no date on it but they guessed it to be taken in the late '30's to early 40's.
Here's a close up of that pesky " original " shop. For those of you who've stuck with me up to now hope it's not a let down. Not a huge, impressive building but you can see it does indeed have a Rotary Lift situated outside to the right of the shop. I know right now you're also looking for the Terraplane and that tree as a sapling before it grew through the steering wheel, but it's not there yet. I know that's one of the first things I looked for when I first saw this picture!
Next are pictures showing the 3 walls being built around the lift so they didn't have to work outside in the weather anymore. This is the front of the lift room, overhead doorway opening.You can make out one of the ramps by the stack of blocks. I didn't crop out the pictures date, April 1962.
This shows it a little clearer. Three new block walls and the outer clapboard wood wall of the shop making up the fourth. A lift ramp can be seen inside the space to the left by the saw horse. All that smoke coming out the chimney tells me that the forge was in use here. They still have not cut in the second doorway into the fab room. It will be placed between the two windows. The doorway by the lift control cabinet is there toward the back.
The back wall. This shows where the 1958 addition was attached to the back of the original shop. Note where the wood wall stops and the block wall starts. Also and the roof shingles are also not as faded as the ones on the front shop. I have pictures like this of that addition being built also. I'll get to it in another thread later.
The side and back wall. That doorway is the one I closed up when I redid the lift room. It faced north and figured it would just leak a lot of cold air. Also gave me more wall space in the lift room with it gone.
Finished. That door is just waiting for me to remove it 43 years later. The lift room had two skylights, just translucent panels, which you can see on the roof. No ceiling inside there so it was open all the way to the roof. I removed them as well.
It really looks nice doesn't it? See all the glass on the overhead door. They didn't have good inside lighting and that really helped flood the space with natural light. Summers they worked with the door open.
They also worked on small engines. They got a contract around 1965 to rebuild a couple dozen Wisconsin single cylinder engines. This is the first batch done and sitting on the lift. They improvised and turned one of the lift ramps into a work bench. Probably the only clear spot in the whole shop! See that metal pipe propped under the lift. That kept the lift from settling down while they worked since this took several days. There's the "CASH" sign up front and part of the Pepsi machine seen through the door.
This is the shop work truck and I'm pretty sure it's vehicle the Willy's engine sitting on the north room floor came from. You guys tell me the year, early to mid 50's I think? If that had been still sitting around for sure I would have restored it. Just might try to find another one and restore it to look like this. I've been know to do such foolish things!!
Thomas
One of the advantages of growing up in a small town is that you really get to know people. After I bought the property I let it be known that I really did intend to restore it. As such I wanted any and all pictures the family came across of the shop and homestead back "in the day". They have been terrific and here are a few they came up with.
Well here is that original shop I've been yammering on about in this post and the family homestead next to it. As you can see it truly was in the country back then but it's now on the southern edge of town. There's no date on it but they guessed it to be taken in the late '30's to early 40's.
Here's a close up of that pesky " original " shop. For those of you who've stuck with me up to now hope it's not a let down. Not a huge, impressive building but you can see it does indeed have a Rotary Lift situated outside to the right of the shop. I know right now you're also looking for the Terraplane and that tree as a sapling before it grew through the steering wheel, but it's not there yet. I know that's one of the first things I looked for when I first saw this picture!
Next are pictures showing the 3 walls being built around the lift so they didn't have to work outside in the weather anymore. This is the front of the lift room, overhead doorway opening.You can make out one of the ramps by the stack of blocks. I didn't crop out the pictures date, April 1962.
This shows it a little clearer. Three new block walls and the outer clapboard wood wall of the shop making up the fourth. A lift ramp can be seen inside the space to the left by the saw horse. All that smoke coming out the chimney tells me that the forge was in use here. They still have not cut in the second doorway into the fab room. It will be placed between the two windows. The doorway by the lift control cabinet is there toward the back.
The back wall. This shows where the 1958 addition was attached to the back of the original shop. Note where the wood wall stops and the block wall starts. Also and the roof shingles are also not as faded as the ones on the front shop. I have pictures like this of that addition being built also. I'll get to it in another thread later.
The side and back wall. That doorway is the one I closed up when I redid the lift room. It faced north and figured it would just leak a lot of cold air. Also gave me more wall space in the lift room with it gone.
Finished. That door is just waiting for me to remove it 43 years later. The lift room had two skylights, just translucent panels, which you can see on the roof. No ceiling inside there so it was open all the way to the roof. I removed them as well.
It really looks nice doesn't it? See all the glass on the overhead door. They didn't have good inside lighting and that really helped flood the space with natural light. Summers they worked with the door open.
They also worked on small engines. They got a contract around 1965 to rebuild a couple dozen Wisconsin single cylinder engines. This is the first batch done and sitting on the lift. They improvised and turned one of the lift ramps into a work bench. Probably the only clear spot in the whole shop! See that metal pipe propped under the lift. That kept the lift from settling down while they worked since this took several days. There's the "CASH" sign up front and part of the Pepsi machine seen through the door.
This is the shop work truck and I'm pretty sure it's vehicle the Willy's engine sitting on the north room floor came from. You guys tell me the year, early to mid 50's I think? If that had been still sitting around for sure I would have restored it. Just might try to find another one and restore it to look like this. I've been know to do such foolish things!!
Thomas
blackice
Well-known member
I give you credit for not knocking it down and building new, like most would have. There is an old gas station near me in similer shape, that I would kill for if it ever comes up for sale
Bigpigdave
Well-known member
A fellow restored an old auto garage in my hometown of Camden, IN. I had actually bought several items from the garage at an auction and donated some of them back for display inside. I love old auto shops and would someday like to find one to restore.
Here is a picture:
Camden Auto Co.
Here is another:
Yet another:
I will post more info when I get some time.
Keep up the great updates, I love all of the pix and info. Great Work!!!
Here is a picture:
Camden Auto Co.
Here is another:
Yet another:
I will post more info when I get some time.
Keep up the great updates, I love all of the pix and info. Great Work!!!
jonny01blaze
Well-known member
Wow, this is fast becoming one of my favorite threads to read. The new "old" photos are great, keep em' coming!
3798j
Well-known member
Most entertaining from so many aspects - historical and otherwise. Congratulations on the restoration.
tdkkart
Well-known member
They also worked on small engines. They got a contract around 1965 to rebuild a couple dozen Wisconsin single cylinder engines. This is the first batch done and sitting on the lift. They improvised and turned one of the lift ramps into a work bench. Probably the only clear spot in the whole shop! See that metal pipe propped under the lift. That kept the lift from settling down while they worked since this took several days. There's the "CASH" sign up front and part of the Pepsi machine seen through the door.
In the mid 80's(83-85) I worked in an equipment rental shop in Columbia Heights Mn.(House of Rental for those in the area)
Our shop space was a 3 stall 30's service station. Had an air powered lift in the floor that we had covered with 3/4" plywood and used as a lift/workbench. When the lift was down it was recessed level with the floor so we could roll equipment on and then lift to work on it. Very occasionally we would put the shop truck or a car on it. I worked on my Fiat X1/9 on that hoist after hours frequently. Unique part about the building was that it had a basement, including the area under the lift, which sat on a large concrete pad on the basement floor, the floor flange was attached to the upstairs floor. Never seen one like that anywhere else.
That "metal pipe" under the lift appears to be an axle tube from a 30's Ford "banjo" rearend. Thousands of those axle tubes are being used as jackstands, grinder stands an other assorted shop tools all over the country.
Again, nice restore that's a thrill to see..........
crashbumper
Well-known member
There is so much awesome in this thread it makes my head asplode.
GREAT JOB!
GREAT JOB!
This is the shop work truck and I'm pretty sure it's vehicle the Willy's engine sitting on the north room floor came from. You guys tell me the year, early to mid 50's I think? If that had been still sitting around for sure I would have restored it. Just might try to find another one and restore it to look like this. I've been know to do such foolish things!!
Thomas
Hi - Love the pictures before and after - its truely a labor of Love!
As for your shop truck From 1946 until 1949 the grill was relatively flat like this one you pictured, in April 1950 it changed to a sharper peak in the center. Visit http://www.public.asu.edu/~grover/willys/ for some good images and info.
67pete300
Well-known member
Awesome thread. Fantastic project. I'm checking every day for your updates.
I think it is a given you have to recreate that Willy's shop truck. As far as you've gone with the shop, that should be a piece of cake!
I think it is a given you have to recreate that Willy's shop truck. As far as you've gone with the shop, that should be a piece of cake!
I owned a 1949 Willy's Jeepster for about 20 years. The grill and bumper on it were almost a dead ringer to the one on that truck but didn't know about Willy's trucks. In 1950 they put horizontal bars in the Jeepster grill giving it an egg crate look. I always preferred the clean look of just the vertical bars only. Thanks for the link!
Thomas
There wasn't much if any blacksmith work going on from the 1970's onward. I first started hanging around there in the early 1960's and never recall seeing much of that kind of work. By then I think demand for those sorts of services had diminished. The tools and machines were all there but slowly got buried behind more " stuff". As I go though the pictures I'll post what I can. As I said I still have the overhead line shaft set up, trip hammer, drill press, anvil etc. I know now I really will have no need for most of them and am figuring out how best to find them new homes.
Thomas
I am pleased that I am not losing my mind. I just knew I had seen this place in it's original form...somewhere.
Nice to know that it is in the center of the Universe, only a few miles from me.
That makes me off center I suppose.
Dave, almost anyone who had been there in the old days remembers it. In fact even today when I give directions to the shop I ask if they remember Johnson's old welding shop and a surprising number do. I just tell them that's the place where my shop is........but it's changed a little!
As for Philo being the Center of the Universe
If it's in writing it must be true, right?
Thomas
Thomas, my dad & I both love what you've done. You have done an amazing job.
if you decide to sell the blacksmith equipment, please let me know. My dad is looking for equipment, forge, anvil, tongs, etc.
AWESOME JOB DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!
blackwolf944
New member
There's one word that keeps popping up in my mind as I read this thread and that is "priceless". The history of the place itself, your history with the place, all the parts and pieces and junk and stuff and trees growing up through everything, the photos of the original property, the tools, the experience you and your family and friends have had in cleaning up and bringing the place back to life.......is
Priceless.
I've thoroughly enjoyed everything you've posted thus far and I look forward to what is to come. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Priceless.
I've thoroughly enjoyed everything you've posted thus far and I look forward to what is to come. Thank you for taking the time to share.
stage1scott
New member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2009
- Messages
- 3
words do not accurately describe what you have accomplished-the photos certainly do, though!! waht a beautiful restoration of a place from your youth!!Thank you for saving it!
How about some more "images" out of sequence but I think of interest. You let me know if I'm putting out too much coverage on any items and I'll cut it back. I've had some inquires about more details of the actual lift repair and re installation so.........
The 2 pin hole leaks I found were repaired easy enough but I wasn't happy with the overall condition of the outside of the original hydraulic lift cylinder. Since it had been installed outside for so many years and subjected to moisture it was rust pitted all over and just waiting to leak again, Murphys Law and all. As you could see I went to considerable effort to remove it and I really didn't want to have to do that again anytime soon. In point of fact I really didn't want to do it again ever, period! Replacing it was out of the question so I decide to beef it up as it were. I had a local machine shop roll 1/4" thick steel to match the outside diameter of the lift cylinder. The longest they could handle on their rollers was 4' and I needed 8' so I had 4 sections fabricated. These were initially butted and welded together giving me two halves 8' long. These halves were then placed around the lift cylinder, clamped together and welded as seen here. You can see how we used pipe clamps and wood to pull the two haves together top and bottom. My welder is a Snap On MM250 one of only two I know of rated for continuous duty.
Here you can see just to the right of the ground cable, the seam where the top and bottom of the two halves were butted and welded together. We pulled the piston out to the end of it's stop so the heat build up while welding wouldn't damage the seals.
The bottom plate is being welded on here. This is what the lift will sit on once installed.
Now if it should develop a leak in the original cylinder it is surrounded with all new metal. Notice the light surface rust on the inner piston on the left of the picture? It sat outside there for several weeks while we figured out what to do and get the material fabricated. However it is chrome so a little polish with emery cloth and it shinned up like new. Good chrome!
Very poorly composed and executed photograph. I get to say that since I'm in the picture so we all know it wasn't me taking the picture now don't we?! My son claimed it looked good to him and can't explain what happened. Still I thought it interesting enough to include. Shows how a backhoe juuust fit in the lift room and how we removed and then replaced the lift using the boom and chain. BTW, the operator of that hoe was 75 years old here and he can scratch a flee on the back of your neck with that bucket and you wouldn't feel it. I've used him for decades. He dug the footings for my new barn this last fall, age now 78. I told him he can't retire until I'm done building everything!
We poured the footings for the lift over 12" thick, elephants foot and steel re bar everywhere.
The gray pipe to the left is the safety leg. I'll show a picture of it in operation later in another post. Notice the rustproofing all over the surface of the cylinder? I'd also like to add the hole was over 9' deep and was dug and open for about 5 weeks and never once a drop of water in it. The water table on this property is extremely deep. It sits on a hill so water migrates away. When I build my house out there want to bet I'll have a dry basement?
That fitting you see is a bleed line to get air bubbles out of the system. I installed a pressure gauge and shutoff valve on it to check for leaks after it was all welded up. The original bleed line was just iron pipe. I had a stainless steel one made and used it instead. I told you, I wanted no reason to ever have to dig that thing up again. I did wait to install the stainless one until after we were all done with the installation. Didn't want to take a chance of the "good one" getting damaged at this stage. Faintly is seen to the left of the lift and across the hole is a string that we used as a reference to get the installed height correct. Turns out we didn't have to use any shims the lift just sat right on the concrete footing. You know I'd rather be lucky than good any day!!
How do you hold the thing straight while it's being back filled? Stretch a ladder over the hole and climb out and hold it.
I used sand to back fill, soaking it with water every 2 feet or so and tamping it in. See that tamper in the fore ground. Yup, I did it by hand. Just too small an area to use a power tamper.
The original floor was none too thick in there so we made the part we poured much thicker and lots of re bar.
The fluid piping is all installed as you see it going back to the pump housing. Before I poured concrete I wanted to make plenty sure there were no other leaks. This was during the testing phase. Since the lift ramps were not installed yet it took forever for the piston to move down. After cycling it up and down many, many, many times we loaded it with lots of steel scrap of which I had plenty (!!!), several hundred pounds and ran it up to the top, checked the pressure on my temporary gauge and left it over night to see if it would hold pressure. It did and that was that!! You might have noticed the plastic sheeting on the wall in the background. Anyone who has worked/cut concrete knows how that dust gets everywhere. We sealed off the rest of the shop during this whole operation to keep the mess confined to the lift room only. And so the saga continues...........
Thomas
The 2 pin hole leaks I found were repaired easy enough but I wasn't happy with the overall condition of the outside of the original hydraulic lift cylinder. Since it had been installed outside for so many years and subjected to moisture it was rust pitted all over and just waiting to leak again, Murphys Law and all. As you could see I went to considerable effort to remove it and I really didn't want to have to do that again anytime soon. In point of fact I really didn't want to do it again ever, period! Replacing it was out of the question so I decide to beef it up as it were. I had a local machine shop roll 1/4" thick steel to match the outside diameter of the lift cylinder. The longest they could handle on their rollers was 4' and I needed 8' so I had 4 sections fabricated. These were initially butted and welded together giving me two halves 8' long. These halves were then placed around the lift cylinder, clamped together and welded as seen here. You can see how we used pipe clamps and wood to pull the two haves together top and bottom. My welder is a Snap On MM250 one of only two I know of rated for continuous duty.
Here you can see just to the right of the ground cable, the seam where the top and bottom of the two halves were butted and welded together. We pulled the piston out to the end of it's stop so the heat build up while welding wouldn't damage the seals.
The bottom plate is being welded on here. This is what the lift will sit on once installed.
Now if it should develop a leak in the original cylinder it is surrounded with all new metal. Notice the light surface rust on the inner piston on the left of the picture? It sat outside there for several weeks while we figured out what to do and get the material fabricated. However it is chrome so a little polish with emery cloth and it shinned up like new. Good chrome!
Very poorly composed and executed photograph. I get to say that since I'm in the picture so we all know it wasn't me taking the picture now don't we?! My son claimed it looked good to him and can't explain what happened. Still I thought it interesting enough to include. Shows how a backhoe juuust fit in the lift room and how we removed and then replaced the lift using the boom and chain. BTW, the operator of that hoe was 75 years old here and he can scratch a flee on the back of your neck with that bucket and you wouldn't feel it. I've used him for decades. He dug the footings for my new barn this last fall, age now 78. I told him he can't retire until I'm done building everything!
We poured the footings for the lift over 12" thick, elephants foot and steel re bar everywhere.
The gray pipe to the left is the safety leg. I'll show a picture of it in operation later in another post. Notice the rustproofing all over the surface of the cylinder? I'd also like to add the hole was over 9' deep and was dug and open for about 5 weeks and never once a drop of water in it. The water table on this property is extremely deep. It sits on a hill so water migrates away. When I build my house out there want to bet I'll have a dry basement?
That fitting you see is a bleed line to get air bubbles out of the system. I installed a pressure gauge and shutoff valve on it to check for leaks after it was all welded up. The original bleed line was just iron pipe. I had a stainless steel one made and used it instead. I told you, I wanted no reason to ever have to dig that thing up again. I did wait to install the stainless one until after we were all done with the installation. Didn't want to take a chance of the "good one" getting damaged at this stage. Faintly is seen to the left of the lift and across the hole is a string that we used as a reference to get the installed height correct. Turns out we didn't have to use any shims the lift just sat right on the concrete footing. You know I'd rather be lucky than good any day!!
How do you hold the thing straight while it's being back filled? Stretch a ladder over the hole and climb out and hold it.
I used sand to back fill, soaking it with water every 2 feet or so and tamping it in. See that tamper in the fore ground. Yup, I did it by hand. Just too small an area to use a power tamper.
The original floor was none too thick in there so we made the part we poured much thicker and lots of re bar.
The fluid piping is all installed as you see it going back to the pump housing. Before I poured concrete I wanted to make plenty sure there were no other leaks. This was during the testing phase. Since the lift ramps were not installed yet it took forever for the piston to move down. After cycling it up and down many, many, many times we loaded it with lots of steel scrap of which I had plenty (!!!), several hundred pounds and ran it up to the top, checked the pressure on my temporary gauge and left it over night to see if it would hold pressure. It did and that was that!! You might have noticed the plastic sheeting on the wall in the background. Anyone who has worked/cut concrete knows how that dust gets everywhere. We sealed off the rest of the shop during this whole operation to keep the mess confined to the lift room only. And so the saga continues...........
Thomas
Last edited:
348guy
Well-known member
Simply AWESOME restoration!
robin1731
Well-known member
I think it would be impossible to put too much coverage or info on this BB767. This has been very cool to read.
I drove by that property a lot growing up in Sidney, IL and going to school at Unit 7, and I never even noticed that there was a shop back there! You've done a Fantastic job on the rebuild. Congrats on all the hard work paying off.
Daniel
Daniel
marty_p
Well-known member
RE:
You did a GREAT thing...
You did a GREAT thing...
Excellent build, and excellent thread. Very well done and congrats. It's been quite awhile since I've enjoyed reading a thread this much. I'm sure the updates will end sometime as you'll probably run out of things to share with us, but know that we will enjoy everything and anything else you post.
The history is amazing, old photos, memories, .. just awesome. It makes my new shop on a "new" piece of land kind of boring...
Thanks a lot for sharing!!
The history is amazing, old photos, memories, .. just awesome. It makes my new shop on a "new" piece of land kind of boring...
Thanks a lot for sharing!!
ct71rr
Well-known member
Awesome post and great job!! Keep the pictures coming!!!!
Here is the rest of the lift repair.
This is the original iron pipe bleed line as we were removing the lift. Its condition didn't inspire a lot of confidence. So.........
This is the new stainless steel bleed line installed with a brass plug, nothing can rust now. Confidence restored. The gray pipe on the left is the safety leg. The pipe below the bleed line is the hydraulic feed line to the lift. You can also see just a little edge of the top of the new outer metal on the cylinder. Gives you an idea how thick it really was.
Prepping for the concrete, drilling into the old slab for re bar
Started the pour by the lift cabinet. Note some re bar already in the hole and sticking out of the old slab to tie it all together.
Because of the tight quarters all the concrete was brought in by wheel barrow. The lift ramps await in the background.
In some places the concrete was bucketed in.
The end of the bleed line is just poking up on the left. Had to allow for the thickness of the VCT tile. After the concrete cured I just rolled the ramps back on 4" PVC pipe and lifted the ram up and re bolted it back together. Interesting to note the bolt heads and nuts are square. Looks really old school. You can see them in some pictures.
Thomas
This is the original iron pipe bleed line as we were removing the lift. Its condition didn't inspire a lot of confidence. So.........
This is the new stainless steel bleed line installed with a brass plug, nothing can rust now. Confidence restored. The gray pipe on the left is the safety leg. The pipe below the bleed line is the hydraulic feed line to the lift. You can also see just a little edge of the top of the new outer metal on the cylinder. Gives you an idea how thick it really was.
Prepping for the concrete, drilling into the old slab for re bar
Started the pour by the lift cabinet. Note some re bar already in the hole and sticking out of the old slab to tie it all together.
Because of the tight quarters all the concrete was brought in by wheel barrow. The lift ramps await in the background.
In some places the concrete was bucketed in.
The end of the bleed line is just poking up on the left. Had to allow for the thickness of the VCT tile. After the concrete cured I just rolled the ramps back on 4" PVC pipe and lifted the ram up and re bolted it back together. Interesting to note the bolt heads and nuts are square. Looks really old school. You can see them in some pictures.
Thomas
Last edited:
If it had leaked at that point, it would have been too late to fix it, no?
I wasn't real happy with the welding bench that was left behind and decide to build a new one. I had gobs of material to chose from.
You've seen this room in this condition before but here's some more observations and insight. You should be starting to recognize the horizontal band saw by its distinctive orange paint, on the left. Overhead in the rafters is the flywheel of the line shaft. It's kinda above the orange triangle flag thingy. The radial curved spokes on it are so very elegant. What a wonderful visual design! The trip hammer is in there just absolutely buried and it's a big machine! What I want to bring to your attention is the the large sheet of steel in the center with a corner notched out of it and 5/16 written upside down in yellow paint. That was destined to become the top on my new welding bench after I squared it up and fixed that notch.
Look at the leg closest to the camera and you'll see the notch has been fixed with new 5/16' metal. I decided to put casters with brakes on the bench. This allows the bench to be easily moved, greatly adding to its versatility. Among the items in the background is something on casters covered by a raggedy old blue blanket. Go back to the first picture in #73. Buried back to the right of the door you'll see a red engine on a home made engine stand that was left. Well that's what's under that blanket. It seems it was always in the wrong spot. I pushed that dang thing all over the shop while we were working in there. I didn't have any other place to put it at the time. It was a 1960's Mopar with a matching 4 speed transmission and Hurst pistol grip shifter. Dana rear end was outside and I expect one of the many drive shafts I found went to it.
Another angle and the repaired corner to the right.
In the background notice that the north room has now been tiled. That's my parts washer in two pieces back there. Starting to bring in the new equipment.
You get the idea on finishing the bench. Weld it up, remove rust, prime, paint, polish top to mirror finish, you know the usual. This is my welding command center. To the right of the bench is a plasma cutter and the old Lincoln sitting patiently. I mounted my vice on this bench on an oak plank, This was then secured to the top with "C" clamps. That way I can remove it quickly should I need the space on the top. The wall is covered with brushed, polished stainless steel. That's to prevent welding sparks from marking up the wall. To protect the wall from getting dented up from the bench I installed an oak rub rail. To protect the floor from welding sparks I cover it temporarily with 1/4' Masonite. I also use Masonite when I use floor jacks or roll heavy items like engines on stands. That works like a charm.
Welding supplies in the cabinet above and a 1962 Impala SS with 31,000 miles sits on the lift thorough the doorway. Driveway drive up bell over the entrance door was made in 1962 also.
I just knew you really wanted to see the car. I know I would!
Thomas
You've seen this room in this condition before but here's some more observations and insight. You should be starting to recognize the horizontal band saw by its distinctive orange paint, on the left. Overhead in the rafters is the flywheel of the line shaft. It's kinda above the orange triangle flag thingy. The radial curved spokes on it are so very elegant. What a wonderful visual design! The trip hammer is in there just absolutely buried and it's a big machine! What I want to bring to your attention is the the large sheet of steel in the center with a corner notched out of it and 5/16 written upside down in yellow paint. That was destined to become the top on my new welding bench after I squared it up and fixed that notch.
Look at the leg closest to the camera and you'll see the notch has been fixed with new 5/16' metal. I decided to put casters with brakes on the bench. This allows the bench to be easily moved, greatly adding to its versatility. Among the items in the background is something on casters covered by a raggedy old blue blanket. Go back to the first picture in #73. Buried back to the right of the door you'll see a red engine on a home made engine stand that was left. Well that's what's under that blanket. It seems it was always in the wrong spot. I pushed that dang thing all over the shop while we were working in there. I didn't have any other place to put it at the time. It was a 1960's Mopar with a matching 4 speed transmission and Hurst pistol grip shifter. Dana rear end was outside and I expect one of the many drive shafts I found went to it.
Another angle and the repaired corner to the right.
In the background notice that the north room has now been tiled. That's my parts washer in two pieces back there. Starting to bring in the new equipment.
You get the idea on finishing the bench. Weld it up, remove rust, prime, paint, polish top to mirror finish, you know the usual. This is my welding command center. To the right of the bench is a plasma cutter and the old Lincoln sitting patiently. I mounted my vice on this bench on an oak plank, This was then secured to the top with "C" clamps. That way I can remove it quickly should I need the space on the top. The wall is covered with brushed, polished stainless steel. That's to prevent welding sparks from marking up the wall. To protect the wall from getting dented up from the bench I installed an oak rub rail. To protect the floor from welding sparks I cover it temporarily with 1/4' Masonite. I also use Masonite when I use floor jacks or roll heavy items like engines on stands. That works like a charm.
Welding supplies in the cabinet above and a 1962 Impala SS with 31,000 miles sits on the lift thorough the doorway. Driveway drive up bell over the entrance door was made in 1962 also.
I just knew you really wanted to see the car. I know I would!
Thomas
Last edited:
Thanks for the question but, no, not at all. The concrete hadn't been poured yet. Just would have had to dig it up again. Busting out all that concrete with re bar in it is just a real chore. I did it in August and it was one of the nastiest, dirtiest jobs of the restoration.
Thomas
Fishwacker
Active member
My, my, my, Thomas. You are quite the inspiration, to say the least. Very, very well done indeed. I'm also very impressed with your '62 Impala. Very nice as well.
A question that remains unanswered is your profession? Which allows as much time off to be able to launch and complete such a grand project. It might be information you'd prefer to remain unknown, however I'm certain you can understand the curiosity.
Your posts & pics have given me new hope for the rehab of the 1930 single car garage that came with the vintage home I purchased several years ago. I've since had a large garage built on the rear portion of my lot and would like to restore/improve the old garage. I'll post some pics when I get some soon. I've considered tracking down previous owners to see if I could find any old photos that would show the property, house and garage back when they were in better, unmolested shape.
Thanks so much for sharing your efforts and methods of how you achieved such a great result. Best Regards.
A question that remains unanswered is your profession? Which allows as much time off to be able to launch and complete such a grand project. It might be information you'd prefer to remain unknown, however I'm certain you can understand the curiosity.
Your posts & pics have given me new hope for the rehab of the 1930 single car garage that came with the vintage home I purchased several years ago. I've since had a large garage built on the rear portion of my lot and would like to restore/improve the old garage. I'll post some pics when I get some soon. I've considered tracking down previous owners to see if I could find any old photos that would show the property, house and garage back when they were in better, unmolested shape.
Thanks so much for sharing your efforts and methods of how you achieved such a great result. Best Regards.
djd99
Well-known member
Just subscribed as these are the reason why I like this forum so much, I would much rather have a old restored shop like yours than some of these really fancy garages here. You have done a fantastic job in restoring that old building and shop equipment. That hoist brings back memory's as I had one identical to it. Unfortunately I ripped mine out for a new fancy 2 post to make mechanical work much more bearable. I used to hate doing ****** jobs on that old hoist as it was a pita. Again congrats on a very nice restoration.
ZRX61
Well-known member
The ONLY change I'd make is replace the brushed stainless around the welding area with corrugated tin.. just because it looks more retro.
I think the stainless looks *too new* (says the guy who works on old **** & has 3 stainless rollaways...)
I think the stainless looks *too new* (says the guy who works on old **** & has 3 stainless rollaways...)
Last edited:
Thank you so much Thomas for sharing with us. I just spent the last three hours going through the prior 10 pages of this post. I was hooked from the first batch of restored photos, but it has been enjoyable and entertaining to see some of the history and the restoration process. Great photo documentation and narrative!
Thanks again for taking the time to share your shop with us. Looks like a wonderful place to spend the hours surrounded by all that history and nostalgia. All of us that have spent the time to restore old houses/garages can only imagine all of the time, hard work, and $$$ you have invested. It sure looks like it was worth every bit.
Dale
Thanks again for taking the time to share your shop with us. Looks like a wonderful place to spend the hours surrounded by all that history and nostalgia. All of us that have spent the time to restore old houses/garages can only imagine all of the time, hard work, and $$$ you have invested. It sure looks like it was worth every bit.
Dale
I just had to compliment you on revitalizing the shop! Several have commented on how cool it is that you've invested your $ and time to restore and improve the place instead of knocking it down and starting over, and I couldn't agree more!!!. I especially appreciate your restoring and keeping as much of the equipment as possible.
AWESOME JOB for whatever it's worth coming from those of us that are enjoying the updates!!!!! KEEP 'EM COMING!! I can't get enough of this one!!!
AWESOME JOB for whatever it's worth coming from those of us that are enjoying the updates!!!!! KEEP 'EM COMING!! I can't get enough of this one!!!
Dave Heacock
Active member
BB767,
I will make a suggestion for you on your lift as that is what I do (lifts not suggestions). On any piping to your lift from the power unit install a dielectric union. This will isolate your lift from any potential electric charges and greatly reduce any potential damage to the underground components from electrolysis. Shop looks good!
I will make a suggestion for you on your lift as that is what I do (lifts not suggestions). On any piping to your lift from the power unit install a dielectric union. This will isolate your lift from any potential electric charges and greatly reduce any potential damage to the underground components from electrolysis. Shop looks good!
miggs
Member
one of the best threads i have read on this forum great work and dedication