Any idea for a 50's looking work bench

[robert_t_wallace]

I am looking for a work bench for my garage that has a 1950's or 1960's look about it. I have a 1950's round top coke machine and 1950's gas pump. I'm thinking that is metal and has curves about it like some of the old cabinets or fridge..

Anybody have any pics or know of something. Might not be out there, but just curious. I was trying to avoid a wood work bench or a home depot looking one..

thoughts???

 

[rickairmedic]

Robert you could hunt down some old metal kitchen cabinets from the 50's/60's . Thats what I have in my garage as well as a 1957 Gibson round top fridge . I put an add in the wanted section on craigslist 3 weeks later I had more cabinets than I could use . heres a pic of my cabinets although I am in the process of redoing everything now.

Rick

 

[Zeke]

It's really a matter of making you cabinets look "mid century." You could get some metal cabinets from Ikea to start. Edge band your top with some appropriate trim. Here's a link to some of the banding.

Your pulls will be another source of dating the cabinets.

Wherever you can use rounded shapes will also make them look 50's.

 

[BiltFordTuff]

my grandfather started his body shop in 1948 and he never had an actual workbench, just a whole bunch of iron tables. But he didn't make his shop fancy lookin, he made it where you could work and dont care if it gets dirty.

 

[robert_t_wallace]

It's really a matter of making you cabinets look "mid century." You could get some metal cabinets from Ikea to start. Edge band your top with some appropriate trim. Here's a link to some of the banding.

Your pulls will be another source of dating the cabinets.

Wherever you can use rounded shapes will also make them look 50's.

that is cool...

 

[robert_t_wallace]

Robert you could hunt down some old metal kitchen cabinets from the 50's/60's . Thats what I have in my garage as well as a 1957 Gibson round top fridge . I put an add in the wanted section on craigslist 3 weeks later I had more cabinets than I could use . heres a pic of my cabinets although I am in the process of redoing everything now.

Rick

I'll do that..

 

[James E]

I love metal cabinets. They remind me of my grandparents' houses. The noise they make when you open and close them is unmistakable.

 

[kb2tha]

Check out the interior shots (in progress) of my garage build in my album. I am using sonotube sections to round the corners on my interior walls. I will be doing something similar with a smaller radius for a work bench/cabinet that I am planning. Bought some vintage 50's door pulls off ebay and just purchased a rechromed 57 Chevy truck hood emblem that I will use for the main drawer handle.

There was a thread on here awhile ago about vintage work benches. I am somewhat patterning from those with my own twists. The cabinet will be made of wood but painted in a high gloss enamel to simulate metal. Very simple doors.

I also have a coke Vendo (would love a round top) and a 40's Coke cooler that will sit outside of my garage. 2 Tokheim 300 pumps that need work among other 50's items. I find it addicting.

Hope this is of some help.
Ken

 

[fflintstone]

Find some old 50’s steelcase desks. They are built like a brick you know what. Just put some longer legs on them.

 

[southpier]

go to the library and browse these:

http://www.tauntonstore.com/the-toolbox-book-jim-tolpin-070394.html

http://www.tauntonstore.com/the-workshop-book-scott-landis-070402.html

http://www.tauntonstore.com/the-workbench-book-scott-landis-070403.html

 

[TN_GARAGE]

Isn't there a website with government auctions? I think I saw a bunch of steel desks and cabinets on one of those auction sites before. Stuff screamed post WWII government architecture.

 

[robert_t_wallace]

If you find that auction site, please let me know.

 

[Boyd Who]

I'm not sure of the age of this one, but I love it! I found it at a farm auction this past summer. It's made by "Beach".