Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

When you start a project like this you have in mind one thing and then because of various twists and turns you wind up with something different. You take what the property gives you as it were. I had to get it all cleaned out to see what I had to work with and then proceed from there. As for " restoring " the building some goals I started with were:

#1- without question this was to be a working shop and not a museum. I always had in mind bringing in projects, cars mostly but not exclusively. Many types of items have been fabricated out there over the years and I would be also.

#2- I like old school but some new tools and methods are much better. For example, I have a wire feed, mig/tig welder plus a plasma cutter and love the time savings they provide as well as the quality of work they can produce. But I did retain the old Lincoln arc welder and use it when needed.

#3- I never intended to do body or paint work of any kind in there which shaped how the work space would be allocated.

#4- I wanted to restore and use any old tools or machines whenever possible but they had to function not merely be display ( see #1 ).

#5- I wanted it to be visually appealing. A warm, clean, organized atmosphere promotes good quality work for me. To others it may not matter, but it does to me.


I never planned on doing any blacksmith work so I knew most of that equipment would not be retained. Additionally there was equipment to rebuild plow shares, sickle bars, sharpen reel type lawn mower blades etc. That and other equipment all fell outside of what I planned on using the shop for.

As work proceeded, how the shop emerged dictated the direction I went. Bare concrete floors were functional but not terribly appealing. I wanted to do something different. He never had any running water out there ( the house was just a few steps away ) so no bathroom. I put one in. It never had a driveway bell, ( it didn't have a concrete driveway) but I wanted to put a period correct one in. It didn't have a sound system but I love working to period music so that went in. When you "restore" projects like this there are constant compromises that need to be made. In the end I feel if the owner were to come back the shop it would be very recognizable, but different at the same time. I did the shop for myself with homage to the past. I've told the family many times it will always be their dad's shop, I am just the present caretaker. His presence is always there. The entrance door is in the same spot, his welder is just inside to the right as before, Pepsi machine in it's designated spot as well, his cast iron welders bench is within inches of where he placed it, through the doorway is the lift, his " CASH only " sign over the tool box etc. These are my memories too from my past history of being in there at a very young impressionable age. This shop may have had a bigger impact on my life than I know. It's just a very special place to me.

Thomas

 

[ZRX61]

Are you kidding me. You just fly into Willard Airport with one of those stunning machines you work on and it's a " done deal " son!! I got my commercial ticket in an Aeronca 7EC and have a few hundred hours tail dragger time. The P51 would do nicely but shoot, really anything you've got would be just fine. Now son, come take your new adopted pappy for a ride!!

Thomas

LOL!! I'm not sure who you fly for (corporate or *self loading* cargo?), but give me a shout of you ever land on 16R at VNY. I know we'll be at Chino airshow May 15/16th with the F7F (Korean War era theme this year) & probably at the Camarillo EAA/CAF show later in the year.
Not sure about Osh, but "the guys with the fat wallets" usually go. In fact your Boeing has parts on it made by the company owned by the guy who owns the F7F.... the "sticky up bits" at the end of the wings. We put a smoke system in one of his Lears last year. According to witnesses at Reno air races, the pass he made with the smoke on lead to more than a few people thinking he was doing a reenactment of the Paris/Concord deal.

 

[BB767]

I build a garage in 2003, a couple of years before I bought the old shop. One of the features I especially liked is the car port I designed and incorporated into that building. Besides sheltering the overhead doors and help keep water out, it creates work space where there was none before.

The ceiling in that car port is flat as you can see with flush can lights in it. I just love this work space, outside but sheltered at the same time.

I decided early on that I would put car ports on the old shop also. Here we are starting to lay out road pack for the driveway and figure out where the column footings will go.

Placement of the footings is now done for the masonry support columns. There was more to this than it might seem. We had to project off the front of the building where the 2 X 12 beams which would be on top these columns would fall. Then had to calculate backwards, from under these beams, the number of blocks it would take to build them up to the beam plus the space the mortar joint between each block would take. That dictated where the top of the footing had to be. And that in turn dictated how deep to make the footing. We knew how thick the car port structure would be on top of the column but everything had to match up with the existing shop roof line and still have the 2 X 12 beam level without excessive shimming on top of the column.

You can see re bar sticking up from inside one of the column bases. That's " high way mat " which is normally used in road construction. I use it whenever I lay concrete. Much better material than the lighter duty mat frequently used.

The footings are done and the first few blocks for the 4 supports have been laid. The columns were solid filled with mortar and re bar running inside the full length of the column, from the footings to the top. We tied the 2 X 12 beams to this re bar. That way they were secured, not just sitting on top of the columns. We get some pretty big winds out here in the mid west and didn't want the car port picked up and deposited somewhere else. It's tied to the footings several feet below grade.

The columns are now done, both driveways poured. This was around Feb, 2006. Weather turned warm enough to pour concrete and use insulted blankets to cover it without freezing.

You can see the 2 X 12 beams running the length under the trusses, 2 of them, bolted together side by side. These beams were then through bolted to an " L " shaped 3/8" plate and secured to the re bar in the columns. These are scissor trusses for the roof rafters.

The metal entrance doors haven't been installed yet. Plywood covering them up.

This is the car port on the north end of the building. To the right is an IH " M " tractor that was in the tool shed and was brought outside. More on it and the Case tractor in another post.

My son and I had several discussions about whether or not to use scissor trusses. Didn't know if it would look " right ". There is so much asymmetric about the building you can convince yourself they don't look all that out of place. If you look at the car port in the first, top picture of this post, the flat ceiling on it just always felt really cramped when you're working under there. I wanted to change that.

This is just one of the several comprises I had to make. It's not a perfect world so I opted to use the scissor trusses. Visually I wished that they better integrated with the older architecture, but I CAN live with it. Since the ceiling slopes I decided against can lights in it and used halogens mounted on each column. Functionally the trusses have worked out wonderfully and in the end it really opened up the space under them. You decide what is most important, appearance or function, make your decision and walk away, don't second guess yourself. Form follows function in this case.

Thomas

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Why didn't you attempt to match the existing roofline?

 

[simontudor]

Hey mate I havent been on this forum for long, but i have just taken time to go through the whole 21 pages of this thread and i have to say this is just amazing! I have always wanted to do something like this and seeing what you have done with it is really inspirational, thanks so much for sharing!
Simon

 

[Bigpigdave]

Great job on the carport, I have often thought about adding a covered "lead-in" like this for my shop. I like the extra work space it offers and find that some jobs are better completed outside (dirty work, cutting wood, etc...). Did you ever consider using rafters instead of trusses and following the existing roof peak? You have done an incredible job on the building and on the posts to this forum. Thank You!!!!

 

[oberst]

This picture really shows what a great looking restoration you have done. I love all the rooflines; IMHO, the stepped roofline and the scissor trusses are inspired. It's just enough flair to keep the shop from looking too industrial, and the block pillars show it as a work area. I could stare at this all day.

(I assume that is the original sign at the street - do you get 'customers'?)

 

[BB767]

I know you must be bombarded with questions about so many different aspects about this inspiring show & tell, but you must know, the more you show, the more you must tell. LOL Thank you Thomas for taking the time to actually do all the S & T so we can continue to learn & be amazed by what you & your family have done.
I too am having a difficult time visualizing the above mentioned detail. If you were able to take some pics of the area before it was covered with the end pieces for the stainless top, it might help us see how you did that.
Thanks again for all the info and pics. Truly amazing!!!!

When I taught at our local community college in another life years ago, I knew that if someone didn't understand there were bound to be many others with the same question. Thanks for asking the question. Hopefully these pictures will save the day for my poor explanation!!



How do you bolt the legs of the bench when you're going into the end grain of a 2 X 4? This is another bench I built 20 + years ago and in this case the end grain of the 2 X 4 is actually the stretcher on the base for the legs but it's the same construction detail. We're talking about the nut that appears to be inside the hole in the 2 X 4 here in the center of the picture.





Here the bolt is going through what would be the leg on my shop benches into the end grain of the 2 X 4. How do you secure the nut end of it?



Look at the end of the bench and the short 2 X 4's ( one on top, another on the bottom )There are 2 holes in each of these short 2 X 4.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/u288/BB767/Conduit1.jpg

Drill a 1" hole in the side of the 2 X 4. Take a piece of electrical conduit which is just 1" diameter thin wall pipe. Cut it the width of the 2 X 4 so when you insert it in the hole you just drilled it won't stick out past the sides of the 2 X 4. Take that piece of conduit and cut it in haft to make a semi-circle.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/u288/BB767/Conduit2_c99cjHN3NcLURMA1XPqjU2.jpg

See how the conduit goes just past the top and bottom of the nut, it's now a haft circle. Drill a hole in the conduit so the leg bolt can be inserted through it and then tread the nut onto the bolt. Now when you tighten up the nut it doesn't crush the nut into the end grain of the 2 X 4 and maybe splitting the 2 X 4. By placing the piece of conduit into the hole, it acts as a washer the same profile as the hole in the 2 X 4 and spreads out the surface area of the nut. You can now make that nut much tighter without possibly splitting the 2 X 4.




This is the other side of the 2 X 4. Since I didn't enclose the base of this bench I didn't bore the 1" hole in the 2 X 4 all the way through like I did on the shop benches. That's because this side is exposed in front of the bench and I didn't want the hole or nut seen. Purely for aesthetics.



I just used electrical conduit because everybody always has a short piece of it floating around their shop and it's a cheap and easy detail to fabricate and gives good results. Cheap and easy, two endearing words when it comes to building something!

Hopefully all of this will help......... but if not drop me a PM and I'll go into greater detail. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

That thing/car/hotrod/over size go kart..not sure what to call it..looks like that would of been way to much fun ! Good thing no one got hurt LMAO.. I could see me building that.

That's what happens when you turn two 14/15 year old's loose in a shop, scrounging a bunch of free parts and who think they've got it all figured out!! It was heaven and all things were possible back then. We didn't know " you can't do that ! "


Thomas

 

[BB767]

Also....did I miss the answer to the floor tile question. 1 Foot square or 2 Foot square? I know it's done but.......Thanks

When I tried out the 2' square tiles they were too large. The rooms just aren't that big. It seemed out of proportion. Diagonal didn't work either. There were too many straight edges around the rooms. Love it or hate it, the tile adds a warm dimension to the shop that bare concrete lacks. I've got more coming up on how the floors, ( some 70+ years old ) were prepped and details of the tile work.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

LOL!! I'm not sure who you fly for (corporate or *self loading* cargo?), but give me a shout of you ever land on 16R at VNY. I know we'll be at Chino airshow May 15/16th with the F7F (Korean War era theme this year) & probably at the Camarillo EAA/CAF show later in the year.
Not sure about Osh, but "the guys with the fat wallets" usually go. In fact your Boeing has parts on it made by the company owned by the guy who owns the F7F.... the "sticky up bits" at the end of the wings. We put a smoke system in one of his Lears last year. According to witnesses at Reno air races, the pass he made with the smoke on lead to more than a few people thinking he was doing a reenactment of the Paris/Concord deal.

If you find yourself going to Oshkosh and need to refuel en route, Willard Airport ( CMI ) is a mere 7 miles from the shop. It can handle just about anything short of an A 380. Air Force One has been in a few times. Give a shout and I can be there in 15 minutes!

" Self loading cargo ", never heard that before but yup, that's me.

Thomas

 

[ZRX61]

" Self loading cargo ", never heard that before but yup, that's me.

Thomas

Just don't call them that to their face..

 

[BB767]

..... I love all the rooflines; IMHO, the stepped roofline and the scissor trusses are inspired. It's just enough flair to keep the shop from looking too industrial, and the block pillars show it as a work area. I could stare at this all day.

(I assume that is the original sign at the street - do you get 'customers'?)

Yea, what he said about the trusses!!

There were two main reasons why I didn't extend the main roof line into the carports. Look at the front of the building straight on....

If you extend the main roof line out, that would move the front corner on the right, east side, so it would hang closer to vehicles going onto or out of the lift room. I felt that sooner or later it would get hit by a tall truck or something else. Pretty vulnerable out there as it is.

The other concern was that since the main roof had been redone earlier ( only by a few months but still....) I might have had a problem mating the two together. I thought you'd always see a slight bump in the roof line where the two came together and the roof shingles wouldn't quite match. As it is the car port shingles,coming from different batches are off ever so slightly but you never notice it with the roof line break.

BTW, yes that is still the original sign out front. I'll be posting a couple of pictures of it later.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Just don't call them that to their face..

OK, I can see where this could start going badly for me. Next thing you know, I'll get one of those " see me at your earliest convenience, say in the next 5 minutes " kind of notes from the Chief Pilot's office asking me why I insulted several hundred thousand of our customers calling them............ Can we all see it was just a small misunderstanding, an implication really, done in very, very poor taste. It wasn't meant in the way it might have sounded, really, honest I apologize unequivocally and without reservation. I am truly sorry if anyone might have taken offense at that characterization etc.............it's so hard to be PC these days, so hard...........


ZRX61, it's all your fault, the adoption is off!!...............and I had such a promising career too...............but now.................. I'll be lucky to fly a freighter full of rubber dog do do out of Hong Kong. ( I love that line out of Top Gun )


Humbly, Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hey mate I havent been on this forum for long, but i have just taken time to go through the whole 21 pages of this thread and i have to say this is just amazing! I have always wanted to do something like this and seeing what you have done with it is really inspirational, thanks so much for sharing!
Simon

My pleasure Simon. Thanks for the kind words.

BTW, would you be willing to tell my Chief Pilot what a professional guy I am, honest, and how I really shouldn't have to fly out of Hong Kong if the need arises?? See it all really started at an early age when I was exposed to too much welding smoke and then one thing lead to another and before you knew it ....................

Thomas

 

[ZRX61]

OK, I can see where this could start going badly for me. Next thing you know I'll get one of those " see me at your earliest convenience, say in the next 5 minutes " kind of notes from the Chief Pilot's office

In the RAF that's known as an "Interview without tea" & by the time you leave his office, the CO has a pretty good idea that he was just listened to....

 

[BB767]

In the RAF that's known as an "Interview without tea" & by the time you leave his office, the CO has a pretty good idea that he was just listened to....

Quite so.....

Thomas

 

[29bowtie]

Thank You, Very Much, for sharing this incredible adventure, in the reclamation of a hidden treasure ! I like the carport idea, as some jobs are so much better in natural light, like final detailing of a paint job or interior. Best thread on the site ever!

 

[tdkkart]

I've got more coming up on how the floors, ( some 70+ years old ) were prepped and details of the tile work.

Been wondering about the floors, as it looks like you got lucky and must have had pretty decent concrete to start with. Unfortunately many of these older buildings have floors that did not stand the ravages of time very well.
I haven't seen much new concrete poured in these pics so far.

 

[tdkkart]

There's a important point to this picture that some people need to take note of.
I have no doubt that the city fathers are nothing but happy with this veiw of what was a giant zit on the face of the community. When a project turns out like this it bodes well for not only Thomas's next project, but likely anyone else's similar project.
The next time a garage-aholic goes too the council and asks to build something a bit outside of the norm this project will be remembered and taken into favorable consideration, as opposed to a place that looks like a mini salvage yard.

 

[BB767]

When I bought the shop and homestead I realized that this could be very emotional for the family. They had a large immediate family, it had been their home for over 60+ years and now it would be leaving the family. They had all grown, gone different directions and the homestead didn't fit the current stage of their lives. Still this was the only home most of the kids had ever known. The shop was also a very integral part of the boys lives. As such, I made it quite clear that I wanted everyone to go through the shop and out buildings, to find and take whatever they wanted. I didn't want them 6 months or 1 year later to resent not having taken a cherished.....whatever. I didn't want to make any stipulations about what should be left. Most of the current, newer tools and equipment were taken and most of the old ones were left, thankfully.

Among the items that I'd remembered and was hoping would be left were the old bulk oil storage, dispensing tanks and an old Walker floor jack.




\


Not a good picture of the data plate. I'll see if I can do better once I get the clean up started. It reads:

Walker Hydraulic
Roll - A - Car
No. 784 Series E
Ser. # _ _ _ _
range 4 to 24 Cap 4 Tons

With that information can someone on the forum pin down when it was made and perhaps it's cost when new?









Surprisingly in good, solid external condition. It still functions smoothly and none of the frame parts are bent or broken. A tribute to how well built they were. You just know through the years this jack has been asked to do a lot of lifting. The lift cylinder does leak and I'm in touch with Hiball who can do the rebuild of those parts. I look forward to this joining the lift in restored, operable condition.







The original Walker blue paint can still be seen and the three ribs down the sides of the base were painted white on top. Flecks of white are still clearly visible on them.



The decades of " crud " are starting to peal off. As I was doing that I could get a whiff of the old shop smell that was so distinctive out there. The smell of old grease, oil, rusted metal, welding smoke all of that. It was most profound..........

Thomas

 

[51rider]

I look forward to seeing that jack restored-no doubt it will be to your usual exemplary standard

BTW crude is unrefined oil or a lewd comment.
What you have there is 'crud' also known as workshop debris or simply, '**** on the floor' LOL

 

[BB767]

Thank You, Very Much, for sharing this incredible adventure, in the reclamation of a hidden treasure ! I like the carport idea, as some jobs are so much better in natural light, like final detailing of a paint job or interior. Best thread on the site ever!

You are so right, especially detailing work on the paint or interior. I don't know why, but it's always easier and better when done using natural light, but not in direct sun. Plus if I'm doing especially messy work, that's my preferred spot. The car port on the south side, out in the front of the shop, works quite well in late spring and summer because the sun is so high overhead that the whole area underneath is shaded. Other times of the year when the sun is lower it angles in more. Then I just move to the car port on the north side.

Thank you for the compliment. It's that kind of encouragement that helps convince myself I'm not wasting your time with this!

BTW it was just 30 days ago today that I started this thread in December. Never would I have imagined there would be so many people interested in this project. I am flat out amazed!! I'd have done a much better job of the thread had I known. There is more on the way.


Thomas

 

[jmh21586]

I really want to see that jack get restored. Lots of pics when you're doing it please.

That thing has more class the way it is than any new jack out there.

 

[BB767]

I look forward to seeing that jack restored-no doubt it will be to your usual exemplary standard

BTW crude is unrefined oil or a lewd comment.
What you have there is 'crud' also known as workshop debris or simply, '**** on the floor' LOL

Through the power of the edit button I no longer appear to be an illiterate....... um......... er.............. airline pilot?! Across the pond you might call it debris, over here it's good 'ol " COTF " I'm counting on you to keep me honest here, thanks.

Thomas

 

[rasman57]

BTW it was just 30 days ago today that I started this thread in December. Never would I have imagined there would be so many people interested in this project. I am flat out amazed!! I'd have done a much better job of the thread had I known. There is more on the way.

Think about this Thomas; For every appreciative poster you have seen and responded to, I would bet there are several times that many who continue to watch the thread and appreciate your effort. I have! Well done.

 

[Yonnee]

Well... It's been a long read, but worth every minute.

This truly has been an inspirational undertaking, and a credit to your vision and your patience. Anyone can grab a wad of cash an build something fancy and new, but to give a new lease of life to an old girl the way that you have is something to behold, and would appeal to so many more people. Thomas, my admiration for you, and your family is beyond words...

If I ever get to the States, I would love to come and have a look around your shop in person, just to see with my own eyes what you have created.

Have you thought about having the photos of each area of the shop in their before state, enlarged, framed and hung in their now restored areas? They would be a great talking point for visitors, whom I'm sure you have many... or will have after seeing this thread. And I'm sure many a car club would hold a cruise day to have a look around too.

Thanks for sharing your story, and I... actually we all look forward to seeing more.

Regards,
Peter "Yonnee", in Australia.

 

[wpgf250]

I agree 100%. This thread has me reconsidering the tear down of an old barn on my property. Thank you for taking the time to let us be a part of your restoration. Awesome job.

 

[51rider]

Through the power of the edit button I no longer appear to be an illiterate....... um......... er.............. airline pilot?! Across the pond you might call it debris, over here it's good 'ol " COTF " I'm counting on you to keep me honest here, thanks.

Thomas

Two countries separated by a common language

Thomas, this is a fantastic thread as is your project and the other mini projects such as the benches, the lift restotre and the new one, the jack restore.

Thank you for sharing.
For me, the coolest thing is that your wife has posted in on the thread.

 

[BB767]

Here are just a few more pictures of the Walker Floor Jack.

This is with the cover plate removed. That's the part that had WALKER in raised letters on it.The original Walker blue clearly shows nicely on the pump housing.

The original decal, WALKER HYDRAULIC SERVICE JACK clearly seen with instructions below. Even the long return springs running beside the pump has nice paint on them.

The caster were held in place by these screws. I put penetrating oil on all the fasteners yesterday. After soaking all night they were all loosened up today. With a little patience and oil you can almost always free up parts like this. Closer examination shows the jack to be in excellent condition, just very dirty.......no surprise there. With the pump rebuilt, a few service items replaced and repainted I expect good results.

There were two outbuildings that are pretty full of material as well as the shop. I'll go through that material from time to time.

Thomas

 

[Grizz1963]

Not sure if it is entirely a man thing, but I just want to touch that jack.

Would love to be the one cleaning it up.

In this world where everything is so disposable, it is great to have reminders of just how good stuff was when we were young.

Thomas, please do keep feeding my addiction.

Thanks for the thread.

Rian in London.

 

[BB767]

As I mentioned there were a couple of out buildings with material in them that are still on the property.

This is behind the shop, car port to the right. In the back ground it a metal tool shed and attached on it's left is a metal lean to and on the right a 2 car garage. The tool shed had a lot of agriculture (AG) related items including an International Harvester ( IH ) " M " tractor. Both the tool shed and lean to have dirt floors and the garage has a concrete one. These structures will be removed this spring, replaced by my new barn. In front of the tool shed by the way is one of the original shop benches, lumber piled on it. A real nasty piece, top was chewed up and not too flat and oil soaked through and through. For that alone it was a safety hazard.

This is the overhead line shaft driven drill press that was removed from the shop.

I don't know much about it.

The spindle speeds were varied by the upper handle.

Large pulley on top in the rear is what powered it via a wide flat belt.

It's all cast iron. The only way I could move it was with my John Deere. Don't know how much it weighs....... oh wait I take that back, I remembered I do know how it weights. It weights a lot that's how much!!

I will not be using it, probably belongs in a museum. I suspect there is a member or two out there that can fill us in. I'll try to find the data plate which would be helpful I'm sure. More yet to come..........

Thomas

 

[BB767]

[QUOTE
Think about this Thomas; For every appreciative poster you have seen and responded to, I would bet there are several times that many who continue to watch the thread and appreciate your effort. I have! Well done.[/QUOTE]

You know until you brought that up I really hadn't given that much thought but I'll bet you're right. That's a day brightener for me, Thanks!

Thomas

 

[Sick Puppy]

BB767/ Thomas, this is a fantastic thread- thank you very much for taking the time to show it to all of us. It is things like this that drew me to this forum, and it has been an absolute pleasure watching it all progress, as well as seeing the before and after pics. I've driven people mad talking about it at work, and I hope to do so for a lot longer! Thanks again!

 

[BB767]

Well... It's been a long read, but worth every minute.

This truly has been an inspirational undertaking, and a credit to your vision and your patience. Anyone can grab a wad of cash an build something fancy and new, but to give a new lease of life to an old girl the way that you have is something to behold, and would appeal to so many more people. Thomas, my admiration for you, and your family is beyond words...

If I ever get to the States, I would love to come and have a look around your shop in person, just to see with my own eyes what you have created.

Have you thought about having the photos of each area of the shop in their before state, enlarged, framed and hung in their now restored areas? They would be a great talking point for visitors, whom I'm sure you have many... or will have after seeing this thread. And I'm sure many a car club would hold a cruise day to have a look around too.

Thanks for sharing your story, and I... actually we all look forward to seeing more.

Regards,
Peter "Yonnee", in Australia.

Peter, I've never really mentioned my own father here, but now might be a good time to rectify that since we're talking about " new life to an old girl ". He, without a doubt, instilled in me an appreciation for " old " and high quantity and when working to always do my best. Be it tools, machines, furniture, houses etc. He was a great caretaker of anything old and taught me to respect whatever it may be. He was a perfectionist of the first rank. Although his day job was in academia, he was a true renaissance man. A skilled cabinet maker, jeweler, leather craftier, metal worker, there was almost nothing he couldn't do and do it to a very, very high degree. That the shop turned out as well as it did is a tribute to him. He took great interest in the restoration project and followed it, even though by then he was in his later years. On occasion I would float an idea by him or ask his opinion about some aspect of it. He was able to walk thorough the shop one last time about 2 1/2 years into the restoration. The interior was all done by then. As I explained details and showed him around he nodded silently. Then, when we were all done, he turned to me and said " You've really done it right. I want you to know how very proud I am of you ". There is no way that shop could exist as it does without his guidance and teaching throughout my life. He passed away about 6 months after that, age 89. I just feel I can't take all the credit here. Dad is the one who made me feel there is nothing I can't do and by his example, do it to the best of my ability.

As to your other suggestion about framing and putting "before" pictures in various areas around the shop, it is a good one. I have thought of doing that as well and expect it's something you''ll see for yourself when you come for your visit. Thanks for taking the time to reply Peter.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Two countries separated by a common language

Thomas, this is a fantastic thread as is your project and the other mini projects such as the benches, the lift restotre and the new one, the jack restore.

Thank you for sharing.
For me, the coolest thing is that your wife has posted in on the thread.

She caught me off guard on that one. I was reading it and thinking who is that and then.... Hey, that's my wife!! Without question she's the best thing that's ever happen to me. It may sound corny but what can I say? How could you do a project like that in the short time I did and not have some understanding and support. I've known that little gal since I was 14 years old. She's a keeper

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Not sure if it is entirely a man thing, but I just want to touch that jack.

Would love to be the one cleaning it up.

In this world where everything is so disposable, it is great to have reminders of just how good stuff was when we were young.

Thomas, please do keep feeding my addiction.

Thanks for the thread.

Rian in London.

Rian, I would love for you to be the one cleaning it up too!! Then I could move on to other projects.

There are few places that have as many reminders of the past as the UK and how good it was then back then. It is always a treat for me when I fly there. Is there a better show anywhere than the Circuit Revival or the Festival Of Speed?

Glad you're enjoying the thread so much.

Thomas

 

[Kevin54]

Thomas...... I remember reading on one of the past pages that you are building your retirement home there? Is there not a house on the property now or are you going to build a new one? IIRC I thought I seen one pic that had a newer barn and a house to the right of that all behind your shop.

 

[markviii]

All the clean-up of these "found" tools keep things interesting. The entire project has been interesting and has taken on a life (and scope) all its own. Framed before-after pictures would be a nice touch - I can do that in our picture-framing shop that I'm reopening this spring (his father did this in his retirement and I'd like to make use of his excellent tools and shop). The ultimate goal for this property was initially having an actual car workshop (the renovated shop) and a place to keep all our cars (the new barn) and then the retirement home which will come in its own time (Thomas has his own timetable for it!). And, yes, the new house will have an attached garage as well. We had architectural drawings made about 24 years ago, but the build was put on hold when we ended up moving into his family home instead (which is 100 years old now). It's been quite the journey in our 35 married years! And I like to do surprising things once in a while (like joining this site). It's also a nice surprise to see contributors from all over the world taking a peek at our little projects. Thanks for your interest and input!

Chris

 

[wjboon]

first of all : I love wat you have done with the place
and i love the variable speed on the camelback drill press,don't get rid of it
refurbisch it ,put an motor on and place it back in your shop . you wil love it.
if you want to know more about it,ask it on practicalmachinist /antiq :
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/forumdisplay.php/antique-machinery-and-history-19.html
ps sorry for my bad englisch as i'm dutch


regards wim jan boon