I visited my folks today, and spent some time getting the Yawman and Erbe ready to be moved. I cleaned all the **** off the top of it, and then removed the drawers. The next fun step will be clearing a wide enough path from where the desk is, all the way across to where the bulkhead is. That basement is...messy!
Industrial Metal Desks
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
Vinko
Well-known member
I have about 10 of these that we use in our shop. You can still get for a good price.
Can't even make that kind of quality anymore, can we? It's all **** from Ikea. Unless you pay a lot of money.
Can't even make that kind of quality anymore, can we? It's all **** from Ikea. Unless you pay a lot of money.
metal1313
Well-known member
those old desks are kinda cool but i have no use for one, and i generally find them too low to use as a work table. however they will never die. i moved one at my old school and as we were cleaning it out i realized that every spec of metal had been painted..well painted too.
as of ikea, its great for temp furniture or for people like me... in college that said i've never had a problem with putting it together, but i do tend to get the better stuff they have because some really is meant for cheap cheap people.
o and you can get glass table tops there cheap
as of ikea, its great for temp furniture or for people like me... in college that said i've never had a problem with putting it together, but i do tend to get the better stuff they have because some really is meant for cheap cheap people.
o and you can get glass table tops there cheap
One of these chairs would be great to go with the desk, too:
that desk is screaming for a 5 line key system phone (the old school ones with buttons across the bottom that have actual light bulbs in them to light them up) an ashtray, and a bottle of whiskey in the bottom drawer
bimmer1980
Well-known member
If the desks feel too low, you could always put a 4x4 or 6x6 under the legs...that'd make it a better height for working at.
If you are working alone, do not be afraid to turn it over and unbolt the top.
It make it a lot easier to move the peices around.
It shouldn't take more than 15 min.
And you can see how to mod it if you want.
I have taken them apart alongside the road before the trashman gets there just to get the 1 side I use.
It make it a lot easier to move the peices around.
It shouldn't take more than 15 min.
And you can see how to mod it if you want.
I have taken them apart alongside the road before the trashman gets there just to get the 1 side I use.
I guess the pace of my projects need to be recorded in geologic time. I started this thread when my wife was pregnant, and our child just turned 19 months yesterday. 
My brother was in town, so I enlisted his help in dragging this old Yawman and Erbe out of my folks' basement and over to my barn. I won't underwhelm you with the boring details of my plans for it at the moment, but will post a picture once it is done. Really, it's little more than a thorough cleaning.
I am picking another tanker desk up this weekend for $50. Sounds like it is in nice condition, with a similar layout to this one. Not sure of the brand. It's coming from an older gentleman who used it at work in the 1960s, as far as he can recall.
I don't think they are a good idea for everyone, but I decided that they will serve a purpose in my space. And for $50 for the second one, I can't go wrong.
My brother was in town, so I enlisted his help in dragging this old Yawman and Erbe out of my folks' basement and over to my barn. I won't underwhelm you with the boring details of my plans for it at the moment, but will post a picture once it is done. Really, it's little more than a thorough cleaning.
I am picking another tanker desk up this weekend for $50. Sounds like it is in nice condition, with a similar layout to this one. Not sure of the brand. It's coming from an older gentleman who used it at work in the 1960s, as far as he can recall.
I don't think they are a good idea for everyone, but I decided that they will serve a purpose in my space. And for $50 for the second one, I can't go wrong.
Malaga
Well-known member
Very cool. Let's see those tanker desks.
c39er
Well-known member
I use to electrostatically paint office furniture on site in the 70's and early 80's. Painted /moved thousands of those old Steelcase desks and filing cabinets/lateral cabinets ect. The 30's and 40's ones even had wood grain on them! Very well built compared to the light weight **** of today. The rubber type tops as I recall were called venolium capped. Most regular desks were 30X60". Still have one green double ped desk.
Hey, neat story! Can you post pics of your desk? This thread does not have enough pics of these old tanks.
The Yawman and Erbe pictured is 30x60, as is the one I am picking up this weekend.
I am progressively more upset that I let the scrap metal guy haul away the one that I used to have here, years ago. I'd like to go back in time and b-slap myself for it!
The Yawman and Erbe pictured is 30x60, as is the one I am picking up this weekend.
I am progressively more upset that I let the scrap metal guy haul away the one that I used to have here, years ago. I'd like to go back in time and b-slap myself for it!
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
That one is a typewriter desk, it is the more desirable rounded shape. Does the right side have the mechanism for a typewriter is it?
Candy tangerine with some lime ghost flames would look great on that thing!
Steve
Candy tangerine with some lime ghost flames would look great on that thing!
Steve
Cool deal on the more desirable part. My brother said it was "ugly"so it's good to know I'm not the only screwball who likes this thing.
The right side of the desk has drawers, and the left side, behind that door, has the platform that springs up and then locks in place for the typewriter. I have another idea for it, though.
I think the one I am getting this weekend is newer and therefore not the rounded style. However, it also has the typewriter platform on the left side.
Ign
Well-known member
Presently typing on a Globe Wernicke Streamliner. Dunno how old it is, possibly '58 from one sticker I found. It's ridiculously heavy tho. Love it.
DanCo
Well-known member
I saw one just like that on Wednesday after mass @ my old elementary school next door. The top was trashed, but I think it belonged to my third grade teacher.
Oh man, I'd forgotten about these. I need one! Bull, you should find a matching file cabinet of the era. I've seen a lot of solid wood cabinets painted machine grey that would go perfect next to that. We have a 1940's oak cabinet out of a library ourselves, paid around $200.00 for it and it needs some work but boy do I hate the new ones. They have no character.
49tandc
Well-known member
Those old desks make GREAT reloading benches....
49T&C
49T&C
NASTYZEN
Well-known member
GarageEnvy
Well-known member
Since I really don't have a need for one of these I didn't give it a second look but I did happen to notice a stockpile of these old metal desks at my local scrap yard. If anyone in central California is looking for one, try Western Metals. The last time I was there (about a month ago) they had over 50 (guesstimate). I couldn't tell you if they were a popular brand.
Richball
Active member
We surplus these out of our department quite often. If your looking for one and live near a university, check with the property surplus and transportation units. Many universities sell surplus to the public. Most states also sell off agency surplus to the public.
Rich
Rich
HSpencer
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Spent 30 years in the US Army. These steel desks were everywhere.
Mid Century good stuff. Nice desks too, with pop out typewriter shelves. All office equipment in those days was high quality. About the mid to late 70's, everybody suddenly became an "executive" and wanted the streamlined wood desks, credenzas, book cases, and swivel high back wood executive chairs. So the gubbermint spent a quadrillion on that stuff for all their offices. So these good steel furniture was scrapped and shipped off here and there. Man you could get all you could haul for free or a little bit of money. I have had them, but we seemed to think in those days that they were too out of style. I still have the steelcase bookcases and a few other things. The good quality mobile typewriter stands make "excellent" stands for table saws, sanders, and miter saws. They came with the neatest caster systems, one lever and its down and up to roll. Anything mid century in this area is superior in everyway. I also have a couple of bedside tables from the old VA Hospital. You can repaint those and plop a four drawer tool box on top and it's everybit as good as having a roll around tool chest.
I liked this thread. I can't say enough good stuff about this steel furniture from the 50's. Wouldn't it be great to be shot back in time for long enough to cobble up a few of these items and bring them forward?
Mid Century good stuff. Nice desks too, with pop out typewriter shelves. All office equipment in those days was high quality. About the mid to late 70's, everybody suddenly became an "executive" and wanted the streamlined wood desks, credenzas, book cases, and swivel high back wood executive chairs. So the gubbermint spent a quadrillion on that stuff for all their offices. So these good steel furniture was scrapped and shipped off here and there. Man you could get all you could haul for free or a little bit of money. I have had them, but we seemed to think in those days that they were too out of style. I still have the steelcase bookcases and a few other things. The good quality mobile typewriter stands make "excellent" stands for table saws, sanders, and miter saws. They came with the neatest caster systems, one lever and its down and up to roll. Anything mid century in this area is superior in everyway. I also have a couple of bedside tables from the old VA Hospital. You can repaint those and plop a four drawer tool box on top and it's everybit as good as having a roll around tool chest.
I liked this thread. I can't say enough good stuff about this steel furniture from the 50's. Wouldn't it be great to be shot back in time for long enough to cobble up a few of these items and bring them forward?
cowboy73
Well-known member
I have one in my garage. Heavy as hell! Picked it up at the thrift store for $5. They couldn't find anybody that wanted the heavy thing. My dad picked up 6 of them from a government auction in a lot during a base closure. Got those and a bunch of tall lockers for around $20. Ya gotta love the wasteful government!!!
KCarGuy
Well-known member
If anyone is looking for one in the Chicagoland area...
There is a lady in the Western burbs selling 2 of them for $150 each
I can send you her Name and Number.
They are Heavy, I love mine...its in my garage, its heavy duty, and Deep!
Here are the 2 AllSteel Desks that she has got for Sale...
There is a lady in the Western burbs selling 2 of them for $150 each
I can send you her Name and Number.
They are Heavy, I love mine...its in my garage, its heavy duty, and Deep!
Here are the 2 AllSteel Desks that she has got for Sale...
Attachments
$150.00 is way out of line when you can get them at the curb for free.
I take them apart and use the drawer as pedestals for various power tools.
I don’t have much use for the big file drawer so that side is often recycled.
But the 3 drawer side, with casters, makes a nice drill press stand.
3 of them, held together with a common top and bottom, make a good table saw table.
(One of those 3 does have the file drawer. That is where the Skillsaw lives.)
I take them apart and use the drawer as pedestals for various power tools.
I don’t have much use for the big file drawer so that side is often recycled.
But the 3 drawer side, with casters, makes a nice drill press stand.
3 of them, held together with a common top and bottom, make a good table saw table.
(One of those 3 does have the file drawer. That is where the Skillsaw lives.)
str8axle55
Well-known member
I`m also looking to pick up one of these for the basement work area. My dad used to have on at his garage, I remember sitting at it as a kid. I think he may have one in his basement, along with file cabinets.
There is at least one in RI on Craigslist. What part of MA are you in?
rieferman
Well-known member
This thread got me thinking about the desk I did all my homework on as a kid. It turns out it's a 1970 Sears steel desk. The top is formica. My folks had given it to my cousin, who can no longer use it, so it will become my assembly table in a few weeks. I'll post a pic then.
Ign
Well-known member
Maybe. Depends upon your area. Steel prices are climbing now. Scrap prices won't be far behind. If one needs something like this they're arguably worth $150 and bonus if it keeps it out of the scrap pile.
garageking
Well-known member
Is Steelcase the brand?
This one looks quite a bit like the one I threw out, except the top is different:
this is the exact one i have in my garage with a matching chair,i use a floor jack and a 2x10 if i have to move it,soooo heavey but nice to work on it
38Chevy454
Well-known member
I have one like yours Bull, with the rounded top, but mine has drawers on each side. Battleship grey paint and grey hard rubber top. Have a chair kind of like mrb's picture. The desk is covered in boxes now while I am working to get everything put away, it certainly is very strong! I stand on it without any concern. A friend gave the desk and chair to me free. His wife said I had to take the chair "He can't have a desk without a chair"
I'm glad that this thread has picked up some momentum. I enjoy reading about and ideally looking at other folks' tanker desks.
Moving mine will be a cinch. It's going on a lag bolted 4x4 frame with OSB top, mounted on some casters with total locks for the wheel and swivel. My whole back bay of the garage is going to be on casters, baby. I'll post pics when I've made enough progress to keep you from falling asleep.
Moving mine will be a cinch. It's going on a lag bolted 4x4 frame with OSB top, mounted on some casters with total locks for the wheel and swivel. My whole back bay of the garage is going to be on casters, baby. I'll post pics when I've made enough progress to keep you from falling asleep.
6768rogues
Banned
I had one of those desks and I crushed it with my Bobcat and scrapped it. When I worked for the county government, they had an auction with many of those desks. No one would give $1 for them and they got scrapped. Today offices use landscape furniture and the old desks are generally not wanted.
Call me the Breeze
Well-known member
Bull... What a canvas for Roth Style MONSTERS painted all the way around it!!!
JustBob
Well-known member
Thanks a lot Bull...
I had forgot about my desk in storage till you resurrected this thread! I have a Steelcase desk like this one in storage.
I have been waiting till I build a new shop before I brought it home, but now I'm not so sure about waiting, as it would be very useful! Mine has the 6 drawers and the glass top, although it could use some paint. I had to go to the storage building today anyway, so I took a look at it while I was there(forgot the camera and spent way to long gawking) then i noticed the bottom left drawer is missing somehow and I spent another hour looking for it.
... anyone have a Steelcase drawer they would sell?
You are so right...I'll expect you here this weekend with your supplies
Thanks a lot Bull...
I had forgot about my desk in storage till you resurrected this thread! I have a Steelcase desk like this one in storage.
I have been waiting till I build a new shop before I brought it home, but now I'm not so sure about waiting, as it would be very useful! Mine has the 6 drawers and the glass top, although it could use some paint. I had to go to the storage building today anyway, so I took a look at it while I was there(forgot the camera and spent way to long gawking) then i noticed the bottom left drawer is missing somehow and I spent another hour looking for it.
... anyone have a Steelcase drawer they would sell?
Glad to provide some inspiration, Bob. Git 'er out of storage and setup, and then post up some pics of the old tank!
rieferman
Well-known member
Hey Bull, tell me about these casters/frame setup you speak of.. or post a link (if not built yet, I'd be interested in a link of the casters that you like best).. Since I'll be using my desk with caster as an assembly table, being able to lock it securely will be a must.
Call me the Breeze
Well-known member
You are so right...I'll expect you here this weekend with your supplies
You know I would be, if it wern't so far away!