Brown & Sharpe workbench legs

[Orijohnal]

I scavanged these legs and thanks to this forum id'd them. I didn't need a bench, but found a spot to honour their heritage. Top and shelving is salvaged 10/4 old growth fir from distillery built in 1860. Photos attached.

 

[nadogail]

Can't see your photos.

 

[nadogail]

I scavanged these legs and thanks to this forum id'd them. I didn't need a bench, but found a spot to honour their heritage. Top and shelving is salvaged 10/4 old growth fir from distillery built in 1860. Photos attached.

Welcome to the Forum

 

[Orijohnal]

Photo upload generated an "Oops..." message. Photos are at:

2 new items by John Wright

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[The Cobbler]

nice!

 

[vwpieces]

Here are the pics, you can link them to the top post by opening in new window and copying the URL.
If you wish that is...

 

[vwpieces]

Nice score and woodwork.
And welcome to GJ!
Not sure when a New member can posts pics. 10 posts? I forget.

 

[1982fxr]

Very nice

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Yea, that is good work. And welcome, welcome, welcome.

 

[LXCam]

Looks good OP

 

[LOW1]

Splendid! Any illustrations etc showing how they were originally used?

 

[BlackVersa2]

From 1902 B&S catalog on archive .org

 

[Tarnished]

Welcome Orijohnal.
I have been looking for a set of CI workbench legs for years with zero success. Nice to see a set so nicely restored. Thanks for posting.

 

[LOW1]

From 1902 B&S catalog on archive .org

Very informative, thanks. They do not make them like they used to.

I assume the gas was for a worklite?

Glad to see the OP repurpose them in such a nice but yet useful way.

 

[CarBikeGuy70]

Just beautiful. I am on the lookout from this point on for the same workbench. Your attention to detail is shown and very much appreciated. I wonder how many thousands were in factories years ago. Love the dog keeping an eye on things!!!!!!

 

[Jayman17]

Great job, those are some awesome legs! Would love to get a pair of those

 

[Orijohnal]

Thanks for the kind comments. By way of background; before scrapping then for a renovation, a builder friend offered the legs to me. Google Lens located a 2019 post here with the B & S 1906 Catalogue page referenced above by BlackVersa2. The description there affirmed my interest and clarified some details that weren't obvious to me.

For the top, I visited Sawmill Sid here in Toronto, intending to pick up a piece of live edge maple. He had a stack of 10/4 fir salvaged from the Gooderham & Worts distillery (built ~1860). The pieces were only about 72" long by 6" wide. The edges were rabbeted for floating splines, some of which were still hanging on. The material was in rough shape with serious water damage on the upper face and edges. There were quite a few 1/4" spikes and other forged nails. My metal detector earned its keep on this project! The legs demanded a beefy top so I stopped planing at 1-3/4" even though that left some punky stuff on a couple of pieces. Despite its age, the fir was very oily and the milling liberated a fantastic aroma. Fir is a bit soft for a working bench top but this is not going to be pressed into service & I love that its vintage complements the cast iron legs.

 

[The Cobbler]

assume the gas was for a worklite?

probably an acetylene lamp

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Thanks for the kind comments. By way of background; before scrapping then for a renovation, a builder friend offered the legs to me. Google Lens located a 2019 post here with the B & S 1906 Catalogue page referenced above by BlackVersa2. The description there affirmed my interest and clarified some details that weren't obvious to me.

For the top, I visited Sawmill Sid here in Toronto, intending to pick up a piece of live edge maple. He had a stack of 10/4 fir salvaged from the Gooderham & Worts distillery (built ~1860). The pieces were only about 72" long by 6" wide. The edges were rabbeted for floating splines, some of which were still hanging on. The material was in rough shape with serious water damage on the upper face and edges. There were quite a few 1/4" spikes and other forged nails. My metal detector earned its keep on this project! The legs demanded a beefy top so I stopped planing at 1-3/4" even though that left some punky stuff on a couple of pieces. Despite its age, the fir was very oily and the milling liberated a fantastic aroma. Fir is a bit soft for a working bench top but this is not going to be pressed into service & I love that its vintage complements the cast iron legs.

Love the history. I think it is about priceless. So its got to be handed down.