Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[Sweet Old Bill]

Miss Chris,

Ever in the spirit of Delaying the Dreaded Test (DDT), I could donate one of Brian's books to your local library. The book could either be a simple donation for the library's shelf or it could be auctioned off, with the author to sign & mail to the successful bidder, Board's choice. Send me an e-mail, when you decide.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Cool

 

[R1chy]

Hey! Where did everyone go? I had to go all the way back to page six to find this thread! ...
Jim C.

Jim - if you subscribe to this thread you won't have to hunt for it, it will show up under your User CP tab.

R1chy

 

[hemifalcon]

Very nice job fixing up that old bench on Page 330.... Not that I would expect anything different based on this entire thread...

 

[BigDaddyUSMC]

Hay thomas
Been a while since I hit this thread, Just wanted to stop by & show you our latest hot rod history find , A vintage PARADISE MESA TROPHY. The home track for Al Jeraud when he went Drag Racing...

Jacob & I are getting ready for the SALT. You going to make it for 2013 SPEEDWEEK

 

[BB767]

Hey! Where did everyone go? I had to go all the way back to page six to find this thread! I hope all is good with everyone.

Well instead of just being a greedy reader, I guess I'll post some content. It's not auto related, but a couple months back, Thomas was kind enough to post a some pictures of his woodworking machinery, and we've also admired his woodworking projects. So, in honor of his affinity for old original Delta machinery, I figured I'd post a couple pictures my favorite Delta.

This is a 1952 Delta Heavy Duty Shaper. I found it a few years ago and knew as soon as I saw it, I was going to buy it. All the finishes are factory original Delta. I totally disassembled the shaper down to the last nuts and bolts, cleaned everything, mechanically overhauled it, and put it back together. I'm currently using it on a window sash project at my house.

Again, I hope all is well in the Center of the Universe!

Jim C.

Jim, I'm still here, just covered up with projects is all. Nice shaper you've got there, here's the "modern" version of the same machine...

Hasn't changed all that much has it? Mine is from the late 1960's to early 1970's not sure exactly.

It's 2 H/P, 3 phase, 230V. This is the dust collection hood that was fabricated for it...

...with a blast gate above. It does a nice job of containing a good share of the sawdust.

This is the main service panel with the 3 phase in-feed on the left and...

..this is the sub-panel to step up the 3 phase, 220V to 440/480V. Those are single phase Jefferson transformers...

...that are on each leg of the 3 phase to get 3 phase 440/480V. Works like a champ.

This might have been one of the longest stretches that I've not posted in and for that I apologize. Truthfully when my day is done lately I've been beat. Rather than embarrass myself and post something incoherent when I'm so tired, I've just waited till I was better rested. I've got this restoration project going on right now that's frustrating me. I'm slowly gaining ground on it but gee whiz it's slow going. It has to do with hand bending hydraulic lines. Move it one place and it changes all the other angles etc............................!

I've got more in store. Thanks again everyone for your patience.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Very nice job fixing up that old bench on Page 330.... Not that I would expect anything different based on this entire thread...

Hello hemifalcon and thanks. The point of that exercise was to see how much I could improve the appearance of the bench with minimal effort and I am quite happy with the results. I've been wanting to do that for several years.

It's the perfect size for the space. I've got 3 shelf units to the left of it and it doesn't cover up the lower electrical outlets behind it.

Next I'm fabricating some more shelf brackets like those over the BB to install a shelf above it.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hay thomas
Been a while since I hit this thread, Just wanted to stop by & show you our latest hot rod history find , A vintage PARADISE MESA TROPHY. The home track for Al Jeraud when he went Drag Racing...

Jacob & I are getting ready for the SALT. You going to make it for 2013 SPEEDWEEK

Way cool trophy Randy. Say, now that I look at it, It would look very much at home in the old shop don't you think? Lou and I are already making plans for this years Bonneville spectacular, wouldn't miss it! See both you and Jacob there!

Thomas

 

[Jim C.]

No problem Thomas. I was just wondering if everything was okay with you. I'm glad to hear that it is. I like your shaper. That's a nice looking machine with a great dust collection and three phase set up. I hope you'll post more of your woodworking machines in the future. If you can post the serial number of your shaper, I could possibly tell you the year that it was manufactured. Good luck with your current restoration project, I'm sure it will be top notch when you're done with it.

Jim C.

 

[BB767]

So this was last Friday, March 22 next door at the farm...

...got my alfalfa seed planted. Using an IH Farmall Super M...

..to pull the planter I thought would be appropriate. I'm very sure Mr. Johnson would have approved.

He definitely would have recognized the sound of that tractor working next door to the shop.

After it was planted we rolled the field to get better seed contact with the soil.

Then, just two days after it was planted...

...we got 8" (20 cm) of snow, a perfect cover blanket for my new seed! When it melts it'll water in the new seed. By this Friday, a week after it was planted, it's suppose to be 50+ degrees (10 C) outside and getting warmer everyday now. I'd rather be lucky than good!

Of course all that snow...

...had to be removed from my lane to the barn. Note the drifts here are over 4' (1.2 m) deep. It's obscuring the wainscoting on the bottom of the barn. I used the snow blower on the John Deere...

... and those wide feet I made for the bottom of it a couple of years ago worked to keep it from plowing up and blowing all the gravel in the lane into the yard.

This is the view out of the barn. In just a few days this will all be gone, but until then it sure is nice to see.

Thomas

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

Your timing was great in drilling the alfalfa seed just before the snow hit. You should get a good start, just hope the spring rains keeps it growing.

 

[SiGmA_X]

That is some crazy March weather! What brand of seed do you plant?

 

[Amitygravel]

Hello Thomas !
Seeing that M brings back a lot of memories !
Dad ran an M that was bored out to Super M specs by Sam Drennan in Seymour.
That tractor was used for many years until a bull gear went out in the rear end.
This weather is just crazy !
Hope to see you soon.

Craig

 

[Jim C.]

I love old USA made tractors. I don't know much about them, but I'd like to get one some day. What year is it?

 

[GGB]

According to http://www.tractordata.com/, the Farmall Super M was produced from 1952-54. TractorData.com is a great sight for information on old or new tractors.

There are still a lot of Farmall M's still in use. I spent a lot of time on Farmall and IH tractors when I was a kid. I'm actually looking at one right now (Farmall H, the next model smaller than the M) which has already been restored.

GGB

 

[charlief1]

Love the fact that you were using a Farmall to work the soil Thomas. My favorite is a SuperA since I spent many hours riding and working on one while either visiting or living with my Uncle. Wish I'd gotten it when he passed but my greedy cousins sold it for scrap rather than offer it to me.

 

[5monkeys]

Hi Thomas and Chris and everyone else,

I just spent the last couple of weeks getting up to speed and had to comment so as not to be labeled a "Lurker". I Love what you have done with the property and it has been fun reading along about all of the adventures therein.

I believe I'm also a changed person for having read this thread, as I painted the living room dining room of our home last weekend I replaced all the switch plates with clocked screws.

Enjoy the snow while it lasts...ours is already gone.

Keith

 

[BB767]

No problem Thomas.... I like your shaper. That's a nice looking machine with a great dust collection and three phase set up. I hope you'll post more of your woodworking machines in the future. If you can post the serial number of your shaper, I could possibly tell you the year that it was manufactured. Good luck with your current restoration project, I'm sure it will be top notch when you're done with it.

Jim C.

Here's the shaper from a similar angle as your picture Jim...

The serial number as I recall...

...Series No. 43-340, Serial no. EX-4791 I think shows it to be manufactured in 1972 or so but you might check that. The dust collection hood turned out surprisingly well. As you know, shapers are notorious for being difficult to contain debris. The hood is a tight fit and I've got a two stage cyclone at the heart of the dust collection. I'm a one man shop so I only use one machine at a time and with blast gates closed on all the machines except for the one I'm using I get pretty good lift from it.

You're a very patient man Jim. As you know my Dad brought me up to be fond of Delta equipment. I'll get more detailed information posted on the machines but in the meantime you might find these of interest.

They're all still in nice original paint, except for the bench drill press. That one will probably need some attention in the future. Thanks Jim for your interest. I am gaining ground on my project with rigid hydraulic lines but it is proving to be troublesome.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

... You should get a good start, just hope the spring rains keeps it growing.

That's the trick, isn't it?

That is some crazy March weather! What brand of seed do you plant?

March weather has always been unsettled around here. If you don't like the present weather just wait...it'll change. The only Round Up Ready alfalfa seed we could find was Pioneer so that's what was planted. We'll see how it turns out in a couple of months. As always I'm hopeful.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hello Thomas !
Seeing that M brings back a lot of memories !
Dad ran an M that was bored out to Super M specs by Sam Drennan in Seymour.
That tractor was used for many years until a bull gear went out in the rear end.
This weather is just crazy !
Hope to see you soon.

Craig

I bet Mr Johnson could have fixed it.

I love old USA made tractors. I don't know much about them, but I'd like to get one some day. What year is it?

It's a 1953, right in the middle of the production run as GGB points out.

According to http://www.tractordata.com/, the Farmall Super M was produced from 1952-54. TractorData.com is a great sight for information on old or new tractors.

There are still a lot of Farmall M's still in use. I spent a lot of time on Farmall and IH tractors when I was a kid. I'm actually looking at one right now (Farmall H, the next model smaller than the M) which has already been restored.

GGB

Remember it was an Farmall H...

...that was left in the tool shed when I bought the shop.

That was the last tractor Mr Johnson restored before he retired. It was his personal tractor.

Love the fact that you were using a Farmall to work the soil Thomas. My favorite is a SuperA since I spent many hours riding and working on one while either visiting or living with my Uncle. Wish I'd gotten it when he passed but my greedy cousins sold it for scrap rather than offer it to me.

To me all IH tractors from the late 1940's and 50's represent the ubiquitous American farm tractor. They were instant classics and were so simple and reliable that's why you still see them frequently around here.
Hard to believe family could act that way charlief1. What a shame.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hi Thomas and Chris and everyone else,

I just spent the last couple of weeks getting up to speed and had to comment so as not to be labeled a "Lurker". I Love what you have done with the property and it has been fun reading along about all of the adventures therein.

I believe I'm also a changed person for having read this thread, as I painted the living room dining room of our home last weekend I replaced all the switch plates with clocked screws.

Enjoy the snow while it lasts...ours is already gone.

Keith

Hello Keith and a warm welcome to The Garage Journal and The Center of the Universe! I do wonder at times what the ratio of lurkers to those who have posted really is. No matter all are welcome. Thank's for sharing such kind thoughts about our big adventure here. No doubt you'll never look at a switch plate the same again. Just remember, if you're not having fun, what's the point.

Nice family picture BTW. I suspect they are a real joy. Stick around, there's more lurking within the shop/barn/tool shed for me to post about.

Thomas

 

[JC23]

Ouuu, that tractor would look great with a big *** flame job!

But my money is you guys laying on a resto look...

 

[Jim C.]

Thomas,

Thanks for all the old Delta badge pictures!! Wow! It looks like you've got a super collection of original condition machinery. I'm always interested in seeing more. I love old Delta. Great stuff! BTW, you were right, your shaper is a 1972 model. Thanks again for taking the time to post a few photos.

Jim

 

[Jim C.]

Wow! The tractor was in the tool shed? I would have bought the place just for that alone. What a classic piece of agricultural equipment from days gone by. Just a great old machine. I like nothing more than to be driving through Midwest farm country and seeing those old timers still out in the fields. I always think that I'd like to have one, but I don't know where I'd store it, or what I'd do with it. Maybe someday........

Jim C.

 

[DynoDave]

After it was planted we rolled the field to get better seed contact with the soil.

Then, just two days after it was planted...

...we got 8" (20 cm) of snow, a perfect cover blanket for my new seed! When it melts it'll water in the new seed. By this Friday, a week after it was planted, it's suppose to be 50+ degrees (10 C) outside and getting warmer everyday now. I'd rather be lucky than good!

With that sort of luck, I hope you rushed right out and bought a lottery ticket! That's good timing.

 

[vtec?lol]

This is amazing.. I truley am inspired by this and with that being said, I look up to you. Not for just what you've done with the shop but your 37+ year marraige. Lovely couple and lovely collection! I would love to visit this place someday. Keep up the good work sir!


-Matt

 

[charlief1]

BTW Thomas. Do a search on evilbay for Thexton. There's some really nice old tools that pop up once in a while. I keep an eye on for special tools and just recently there was a chevy 6 cylinder and Buick 8 cylinder spark tester that popped up and both for less than $10 each plus shipping.

 

[Kingswood]

Hello Thomas.

Did you get to keep the Farmall or did one of the sons claim it, There is heaps of parts that can be powder coated on that.

Regards Terry

 

[SiGmA_X]

Wow! The tractor was in the tool shed? I would have bought the place just for that alone. What a classic piece of agricultural equipment from days gone by. Just a great old machine. I like nothing more than to be driving through Midwest farm country and seeing those old timers still out in the fields. I always think that I'd like to have one, but I don't know where I'd store it, or what I'd do with it. Maybe someday........

Jim C.

I see a reason to buy a farm!

 

[HOTFR8]

I see a reason to buy a farm!

I think you will find he is share farming the next door padock.

 

[SiGmA_X]

I think you will find he is share farming the next door padock.

Ah, I had never seen a house/shop thread from Jim C.

 

[HOTFR8]

Ah, I had never seen a house/shop thread from Jim C.

No idea what that means or what it has to do with Thomas share farming the paddock next to his workshop.

 

[SiGmA_X]

No idea what that means or what it has to do with Thomas share farming the paddock next to his workshop.

Sir, you quoted my post, wherein I quoted Jim C's prior post. Jim C stated "I always think that I'd like to have one, but I don't know where I'd store it, or what I'd do with it. Maybe someday........" and I said back "I see a reason to buy a farm!". I suppose maybe I should have highlighted/bolded that sentence, my apologizes.

 

[Jim C.]

I see a reason to buy a farm!

Interestingly, my mother comes from a long line of farmers. As a matter of fact, there are currently three "Centennial Farms" on her side of the family being operated by her cousins and their families. There's a couple more that are nearing centennial status within the next ten years or so. She practically grew up on those farms. When I was younger, I visited those farms once or twice per summer, and frequently took rides on the various tractors that were part of everyday life there. I seem to recall that most of them were red IH models, but one of her uncles was a green John Deere fan to the bone. Several years ago, I almost bought one of those old tractors from him, but my wife talked me out of it. Being "suburbanites" she logically asked, "Where are you going to put it, and what are you really going to do with it?" I didn't have a good answer and that was that. I really don't see a farm in my future, but I haven't totally ruled out the tractor yet. Maybe someday.........

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Ah, I had never seen a house/shop thread from Jim C.

Hey SiGmA,

Trust me, there's not much to it. After seeing what's going on at the Center of The Universe, I think you'd be extremely disappointed in what's going on in my little garage shop. It's about 500 square feet with a few old woodworking machines, a 2x4 cobbled together workbench, some miscellaneous hand tools, and that's about it. Not even remotely close to the Restored 1930s Auto Shop. If I have any content worth posting, and it's pertinent to the current conversation, I'll just post it here if it's okay with Thomas.

Jim C.

 

[charlief1]

Interestingly, my mother comes from a long line of farmers. As a matter of fact, there are currently three "Centennial Farms" on her side of the family being operated by her cousins and their families. There's a couple more that are nearing centennial status within the next ten years or so. She practically grew up on those farms. When I was younger, I visited those farms once or twice per summer, and frequently took rides on the various tractors that were part of everyday life there. I seem to recall that most of them were red IH models, but one of her uncles was a green John Deere fan to the bone. Several years ago, I almost bought one of those old tractors from him, but my wife talked me out of it. Being "suburbanites" she logically asked, "Where are you going to put it, and what are you really going to do with it?" I didn't have a good answer and that was that. I really don't see a farm in my future, but I haven't totally ruled out the tractor yet. Maybe someday.........

Jim C.

If it was one of the smaller ones like the Super A you could put it on a trailer with a bushhog and start your own business. That's what I wanted to do with my uncles. Just a few tools like the bushhog, a rake, and a bailer you could do quite a bit of hay work when someone wants some cut.

 

[Jim C.]

If it was one of the smaller ones like the Super A you could put it on a trailer with a bushhog and start your own business. That's what I wanted to do with my uncles. Just a few tools like the bushhog, a rake, and a bailer you could do quite a bit of hay work when someone wants some cut.

Charlief1,

You're just trying to get me into trouble at home aren't you? LOL! A hay baler and rake are steps in the wrong direction!! I'm still trying to figure out how to get the tractor. I personally like your idea, but big agricultural implements such as those also take up space, and I'd get the same question, "Where are you going to put that?" Although I've often seen those things just sitting outside, I don't think I could just leave them out in the elements. That would really bother me, and I think the neighbors might complain. I'd have to find some sort of enclosed storage for them, as well as the tractor. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of hay to cut in the suburbs and storage facilities in my area are extremely expensive. I'm also missing the trailer and tow vehicle part of the plan! Maybe someday........ Until then, I'll continue to live vicariously through the content posted in this thread.

Jim C.

 

[BB767]

Hello Thomas.

Did you get to keep the Farmall or did one of the sons claim it, There is heaps of parts that can be powder coated on that.

Regards Terry

Terry, one of the sons wanted it so before I even closed on the property I knew it was going to another home. That's probably why I don't have many pictures of it. It's at a home about 6 miles from the shop. There is a previous post somewhere back there giving those details. Good guess things like that will be on the "fabled thread test" so you might want to do a little review work.

BTW, I haven't forgotten your Kingswood and other pictures, trying to keep my head above water with all my work here. I did manage to finish a Corvette project today finally. I've been posting about it on another forum since it's kind of Corvette specific but I'll get some highlights of it on here that might be interesting.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

This is amazing.. I truley am inspired by this and with that being said, I look up to you. Not for just what you've done with the shop but your 37+ year marraige. Lovely couple and lovely collection! I would love to visit this place someday. Keep up the good work sir!


-Matt

Hello there Matt, I'm 5' 11" tall so if you're shorter than that I can understand the looking up to me part, otherwise not too sure.......Anyway, it's most kind of you to think good thoughts about my lovely lady. She is the true secret to my success.

The welcome mat is out, just let us know when you want to come.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

BTW Thomas. Do a search on evilbay for Thexton. There's some really nice old tools that pop up once in a while. I keep an eye on for special tools and just recently there was a chevy 6 cylinder and Buick 8 cylinder spark tester that popped up and both for less than $10 each plus shipping.

Thanks charlief1 for that heads up on that, but don't tell Chris OK? She thinks I have enough tools as it is. Women.....if they only knew...........Never enough!

Thomas