Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

Looking at these before and after pics I always have a moment of

It still is amazing what you did with the place.

Love the oil cans on the shelf.

Thanks for sharing Thomas every day again a good read

Thank you for more kind words, it is appreciated. I too am happy with the results so far.

I've got a young lady (retired and in her mid 70's) coming out to see the shop. Mr Johnson was her uncle and she well remembers visits to the shop starting in the 1940's up to the 1970's but hasn't see it since. She did remark, as she recalled, Mr Johnson never threw anything away. Of course I couldn't disagree. I think the shop will be something of a surprise to her. We'll see.

Chris and I are both following your progress. You're moving along nicely with it. Great attention to detail. Your new gas pump appears to be...



...close to the same vintage as the one outside the barn.

Thomas

 

[gordyy]

My dad had a gas station while I was growing up. I can not begin to imagine how many gallons I pumped out of 2 pumps just like that one, one a very faded red and one a very faded blue, The station had been a DX originally it became a Texaco when dad took it over. There were 2 islands one with 1960s vintage pumps at the main island and two old ones just like that at the secondary island one gas and one diesel we used those for many years well into the 1980s when it closed up. I remember the frenzy to find counters for all of those pumps when the oil embargo pushed gas up over a dollar, nothing was capable of going past 99.9 cents! After all when we started selling gas there it was all of 34.9 cents a gallon, and in North Dakota at the time it was illegal to let a customer fill their own gas LOL.

 

[vettelvr75]

Be very careful grasshopper, er, ahhh, I mean vettelvr75.

A trip to the center of the universe is a dangerous venture for a young man. You may become prematurely addicted to all things from a classic period of American hard working history just seeing the place for real.

Oh darn, I guess I'm too far gone already then. Such a shame to have already been addicted to all things classic and american. I guess I will just have to live the rest of my life with this in curable disease. Well maybe there are some upsides to it...

Ohhhhhhh, looks like the vortex has snagged another one Chris! There can be no clearer demonstration that, resistance is futile!
Hello vettelvr75 and a warm welcome to you sir. I see you too have come to the conclusion that, we are indeed The Center Of The Universe. As such you and your Dad are obligated to stop by for a visit on your way south to the National Corvette Museum

Thomas,
I truly hope that it will all work out, and we can be able to see the place.

Also, I do not feel like I could thank you enough for all of the knowledge I have gained about things that were made centuries before I was born. My grandpa lives close by to me in California however he has a 160 acre corn and soy bean farm in southern Minnesota. I always enjoy going up there in both the summer and the harvest, it gives me a refreshing experience to get out if the city lights. The reason I say this is he has a shop in town, not on anywhere close to the same land that yours is on and is only one building, maybe 100'x50', but from seeing the clutter when you first started reminds me somewhat of his shop. He doesn't have nearly as much stuff as you have recovered, because if he did he would no longer own it because I would make sure to fill my own garage with it. Anyway, just want to thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to see all of the good old things. They don't make anything like they did back then.

Forever thankful,
Trent

 

[charlief1]

Welcome aboard Trent. Since you'll be in oaklanowhere for the fall make sure to look up the Noble dragstrip. Every year for the last decade or so there's been a Buick VS Ferd race in the fall and hopefully thins year I'll be taking my T type Regal to race and break a few records.

 

[vettelvr75]

Welcome aboard Trent. Since you'll be in oaklanowhere for the fall make sure to look up the Noble dragstrip. Every year for the last decade or so there's been a Buick VS Ferd race in the fall and hopefully thins year I'll be taking my T type Regal to race and break a few records.

I will most definitely have to look it up! One of the saddest parts of me moving is that I won't be able to take the love of my life (the vette) with me when I move. My dad's whole side of the family lives out there, but there's just no room to store it and I'll be living in an apartment, so I won't have a garage. It's too bad because I will truly miss it. Guess it will just be me and my truck. But I can't complain on that end either

Anyway, I will definitely look up that race and see if I can see you pull some fords! I'm a ******** chevy/gm guy so I'm rooting for ya!

 

[GT-TX]

Welcome aboard Trent. Since you'll be in oaklanowhere for the fall make sure to look up the Noble dragstrip. Every year for the last decade or so there's been a Buick VS Ferd race in the fall and hopefully thins year I'll be taking my T type Regal to race and break a few records.

Charlie:
You have an unfair advantage with a turbo Buick.

Here's a photo of my son doing a pre-race burnout at the Texas Motorplex Speedway in his Turbocharged Buick Grand National. Don't know if you can make it out but I bought him personalized vanity license plates that say ATE A V8 - and he frequently does!

Fred

 

[charlief1]

Charlie:
You have an unfair advantage with a turbo Buick.

Here's a photo of my son doing a pre-race burnout at the Texas Motorplex Speedway in his Turbocharged Buick Grand National. Don't know if you can make it out but I bought him personalized vanity license plates that say ATE A V8 - and he frequently does!

Fred

Texas Buick Nationals are at little river academy on the 29th of this month Fred. Starts at 12 noon and goes until it's done. All makes are welcome and I've got 1 guy from SC and another from the phili area coming down. I'll be serving brisket, ribs, hotlinks, and homemade wine Friday night at the house and bringing the left overs with us for Saturday. Hope you and your son decide to come and join us. There will also be a car show for those that don't want to race.

My car's been under construction for 5 years now and still isn't done. Mines a little different than the other cars though because it's an 83 T with a draw through system that I've modified radically and when done it should be the first B4black (type of turbo system) to ever make in the 10's with a stock appearing system.

 

[vettelvr75]

So what am I supposed to do with my life now that I have reached the end? I have gone two whole days at work on my lunch break refreshing the thread frantically, desperately desiring to see another post... sometimes I cant even sleep at night....

 

[GT-TX]

Texas Buick Nationals are at little river academy on the 29th of this month Fred. Starts at 12 noon and goes until it's done. All makes are welcome and I've got 1 guy from SC and another from the phili area coming down. I'll be serving brisket, ribs, hotlinks, and homemade wine Friday night at the house and bringing the left overs with us for Saturday. Hope you and your son decide to come and join us. There will also be a car show for those that don't want to race.

My car's been under construction for 5 years now and still isn't done. Mines a little different than the other cars though because it's an 83 T with a draw through system that I've modified radically and when done it should be the first B4black (type of turbo system) to ever make in the 10's with a stock appearing system.

Charlie:
My son and I used to go to Little River Academy Raceway frequently when he was still home. I wish we could be there - it's only 34 miles north of Georgetown where I live. Unfortunately I have his Grand National stored in my barn while he and his wife have been stationed places where he couldn't take the car: 3-1/2 years in Fairbanks, Alaska followed by five years at the Pentagon in D.C. They live in a condo in Virginia with no covered parking and only have two spaces assigned (tough on a "car guy" who has no place to work on or store his toys). His wife is a Major in the Air Force and was stationed in Afghanistan for 9 months, then the Pentagon for another year followed by 9 months in the Persian Gulf (where she still is). They just got orders to be shipped to Italy for 3 years so it looks like I'll be storing his car a while longer. He was excited when he found out they were moving to Italy and said he wanted to get a job working at the Ferrari plant but found out Italy has a law prohibiting U.S. military dependents from working "off the economy" meaning taking a job that could possibly prevent an Italian from working. His only choice will be to find an "on-base" job once they get there and he isn't thrilled at the prospect of being something like a grocery sacker at the base exchange grocery store. Fortunately his engineering degree might help him find something more challenging when he gets there. This is his second Grand National and he did own a Turbo Regal that was a former FBI pursuit car - those turbos can really scream down the strip!!!
Fred

 

[markviii]

Patience is a virtue, vettelvr75. One of us will ne 'on the grid" soon. Too busy at the moment to respond in more detail. We'll have lots to share soon to add to our historical database.

Chris

 

[charlief1]

Charlie:
My son and I used to go to Little River Academy Raceway frequently when he was still home. I wish we could be there - it's only 34 miles north of Georgetown where I live. Unfortunately I have his Grand National stored in my barn while he and his wife have been stationed places where he couldn't take the car: 3-1/2 years in Fairbanks, Alaska followed by five years at the Pentagon in D.C. They live in a condo in Virginia with no covered parking and only have two spaces assigned (tough on a "car guy" who has no place to work on or store his toys). His wife is a Major in the Air Force and was stationed in Afghanistan for 9 months, then the Pentagon for another year followed by 9 months in the Persian Gulf (where she still is). They just got orders to be shipped to Italy for 3 years so it looks like I'll be storing his car a while longer. He was excited when he found out they were moving to Italy and said he wanted to get a job working at the Ferrari plant but found out Italy has a law prohibiting U.S. military dependents from working "off the economy" meaning taking a job that could possibly prevent an Italian from working. His only choice will be to find an "on-base" job once they get there and he isn't thrilled at the prospect of being something like a grocery sacker at the base exchange grocery store. Fortunately his engineering degree might help him find something more challenging when he gets there. This is his second Grand National and he did own a Turbo Regal that was a former FBI pursuit car - those turbos can really scream down the strip!!!
Fred

Come by yourself Fred, and if your son hasn't joined turbobuick.com tell him to. I use the same name over there and would be more than happy to help him get acclimated to the site. I'm a mod and tech adviser on that site and would be more than happy to have another fellow vet on the site. If you decide to join us send me a PM and I give you my number so we can meet. I'll be the one with brisket, ribs, hotlinks, and homemade wine to share until it's gone.

 

[vettelvr75]

Patience is a virtue, vettelvr75. One of us will ne 'on the grid" soon. Too busy at the moment to respond in more detail. We'll have lots to share soon to add to our historical database.

Chris

Of course I can be patient... I wasnt meaning to put any pressure on you guys. I completely understand people actually have lives and other things to do than be on the computer. Too bad it isnt easier to convey sarcasm through the internet.

 

[56vette461]

Of course I can be patient... I wasnt meaning to put any pressure on you guys. I completely understand people actually have lives and other things to do than be on the computer. Too bad it isnt easier to convey sarcasm through the internet.

You did just fine. You will find this is a great site that, as you have read, pulls in all sorts of parallel universe subjects. Thomas and Chris are wonderful hosts and they freely share with all the GJ family. On another forum out there, I think it's corvette, there is a threat about how old are you and are you still wrenching. Not sure, but the I think the average age is somewhere north of 60 years old. Thats a hint. I'm 68 and doing a resto now.

Don't let 'em ruffle your feathers. WE are all friends, some with our own crazy quirks. (me). And remember, I told you this is a strange addiction. You wait and wait and wait and then all of a sudden BAM!, a new old tool comes out of the shed, or a new project from the powder coat shop appears and we start all over again.

 

[vettelvr75]

You did just fine. You will find this is a great site that, as you have read, pulls in all sorts of parallel universe subjects. Thomas and Chris are wonderful hosts and they freely share with all the GJ family. On another forum out there, I think it's corvette

Have you ever been on digitalcorvettes.com? It is another corvette forum. Back when I first bought my 1975 vette when I was 16, I didn't know much except for the basics of cars.. My dad had tinkered around with them here and there and did basic maintenance. He did have a 1976 firebird formula during high school and college though. So he had an interest with me and my body off restoration, but on some aspects he couldn't help. I knew I would have to learn myself. I would have never been able to finish my car if it wasn't for the guys on digital corvettes. I have never had experience with the corvette forum, but I have heard from the guys on digitalcorvettes who have been/ are members of corvette forum that there are some issues over there. I'm guessing from
Your username you're restoring a 56... There are some great guys on the c1 forum at digital corvettes. If you haven't given that forum a try, I say you should. There are three or four really cool "money is no option" resto mod c1s going on currently there. Just my opinion and my experience of it. I am forever grateful for those who have helped me and I hope to pass the knowledge down as well. Same with the experience I have gained with this thread.

I can tell that the people on this forum are good people. I can't wait to start to get to know some of you guys who have been a part of this awesome thread since it originated.

Thomas, I do have to say that the other day I was watching a YouTube video of a guy working on an old 2 ton chevy truck. He rolled out a walker floor jack that was all beat up and used like what yours looked like before it hit the oven. And I ecstatically said "that's a walker!" I never would have even paid any attention to that had I not read this thread. So for that, I thank you. I can't wait to see other things I learned about in this thread and actually know what they are.

 

[MisteR Tee]

So I'm trawling through the UK NSRA website forum, looking at various things & what pops out at me but this. A guy is selling a selection of NOS cloth badges & amongst the usual speed equipment & race track stuff is this little gem & in view of the connection with this story, thought you might like to see it. Question is now, do I buy all 10 he's offering, just to get this one or not?



{img}http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=326228&stc=1&d=1394977352[/img]

 

[markviii]

We would certainly appreciate it if you would snap up all 10. Definitely!!! We'll make sure they all get to the correct place(s). PM me or BB767 (Tom) with info on posting them to us and other pertinent details. They belong in "the vortex".

Chris

 

[BB767]

So I'm trawling through the UK NSRA website forum, looking at various things & what pops out at me but this. A guy is selling a selection of NOS cloth badges & amongst the usual speed equipment & race track stuff is this little gem & in view of the connection with this story, thought you might like to see it. Question is now, do I buy all 10 he's offering, just to get this one or not?



{img}http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=326228&stc=1&d=1394977352[/img]

To show that this is even more interesting, co-incidentally Chris and I were at the San Diego Roadster Club awards banquet just last night where Al Jerauld's "Y" manifold was featured along with other member's speed equipment memorabilia aaannnnnnd Chris and I are meeting with Jacob, Al Jerauld's step son, this afternoon for lunch. He's going to be amazed not only with the discovery, but also where it was found; 1/4 of the globe away from Al's speed shop in Southern California.

Truly, the world is smaller than we know.

Many thanks MisteR Tee for thinking of us so far away.

I've got an update coming shortly, about among other things, author Cary Thomas' reaction to being cheated out of his rightful book sale royalties of Beltsville Shell.

Thomas

 

[MisteR Tee]

Ok, I'll get the ball rolling.

Just to clarify, this is the only one of these offered, the others are a Rat Fink, Clay Smith Cams, Bad to the Bone, Hot Rod Gasoline, Chevy V8 bow tie, 32 roadster, IHRA, Mr Horsepower woodpecker & Deuce Demons hot rod club.

I may hang on to a couple but the rest I'll willingly pass on.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=326316&stc=1&d=1394997961

 

[BB767]

Ok, I'll get the ball rolling.

Just to clarify, this is the only one of these offered, the others are a Rat Fink, Clay Smith Cams, Bad to the Bone, Hot Rod Gasoline, Chevy V8 bow tie, 32 roadster, IHRA, Mr Horsepower woodpecker & Deuce Demons hot rod club.

I may hang on to a couple but the rest I'll willingly pass on.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=326316&stc=1&d=1394997961

Yes, the only one that we'd like would be the Al Jerauld one.

Thanks.

Thomas

 

[harley jim]

Thomas, would you have ever imagined things like this could have happened in the beginning. lots of local history and memories but to go global! cool on you for this.

 

[MisteR Tee]

They arrived today, they are all in pristine condition & have obviously never ever been attached to a garment. Send me your mail address & I'll get it sent off straight away.

I still have to decide which ones I'll keep, I would like to put them on my firesuit but as they aren't fire-proof themselves, they would invalidate any safety provided by the suit.

 

[mucksavage]

That is simply beautiful!

 

[BB767]

In a bit of an update, Chris and I were in attendance in San Diego last Saturday evening for the annual Awards Banquet of the San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC)

http://www.sdrc.net/SDRC/Welcome_to_the_San_Diego_Roadster_Club!.html

of which I am a proud member. Among the many displays there...



...I spotted the Jerauld "Y" manifold that I had given to Jacob Bagnell. It is seen on the far left on this table where Jacob had brought it to give tribute to Bonneville and dry lakes speed pioneers; Al Jerauld among them.



I've posted a similar picture before after Jacob cleaned it up, installed a pair of Stromberg 97 carburetors and...



...mounted it on a marble display base.

And below, here it is as I found it ...



... in 2006 in the tool shed before I'd ever heard of Al Jerauld, Lou Bingham, Jacob and Randy and MisteR Tee in the UK.

The next morning after the awards banquet I saw the post about the Jerauld patch in the UK and a few hours later...



...Chris and I and Lou were spending the afternoon, evening with Jacob (far right) and Randy(far left) swapping tales about racing, Bonneville, Al Jerauld and his business partner George Barber. Jacob talked about all the legendary speed equipment pioneers that wandered through Al's shop when he worked there in the late 50's and early 60's. Among them just a few were,
Clay Smith, http://www.claysmithcams.com/history/
Ed Iskenderian, http://www.iskycams.com/history.php
David Schneider, http://schneidercams.com/nostalgia.aspx,
Dean Moon, http://www.mooneyesusa.com/product-p/mb001.htm
In fact Jacobs wife and I both agree that he should do a video and or book about his experiences in and around Al's shop during that time. It is fascinating to hear all the stories.



And that all comes back to this little lump of steel that ties me now to an ever expanding circle of friends and experiences that you are right, harley jim, I could never imagined just a few short years ago. Chris has come to the conclusion that those of us in the Restored 1930's Auto Shop vortex are not 6 degrees apart, but only 3 degrees apart - maybe less, and she might be right!

I have more on the way. Thanks everyone.

Thomas

 

[colin39]

Cool manifold, looks great.

 

[MisteR Tee]

Although not quite in the league of your "yard art" Tom & Chris, we found this today behind a shed in my daughter's new garden when we were helping her to clear it up a bit. Bless her but my wife's first comment when she unearthed it was "would these be any good for your dragster?"

It looks like the front axle from an old kids go-kart, wooden plank for an axle & probably pram wheels. Must have been buried behind there for years, which is where it will stay as I've no desire to cut the hedge trunk down to get it out or cut through the wheel rim either! The gap through the hedge beside it is a pathway for foxes & badgers, at the end of a well-worn path across her lawn from a similar hole on the other side of the garden, both of which will be sealed up in an attempt to stop the traffic!!

 

[BB767]

Although not quite in the league of your "yard art" Tom & Chris, we found this today behind a shed in my daughter's new garden when we were helping her to clear it up a bit. Bless her but my wife's first comment when she unearthed it was "would these be any good for your dragster?"

Maurice it sounds as though you married a girl after your own heart! She's a keeper for sure!!

Thanks for the picture and post.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

While getting a couple of pictures for Jacob of the Jerauld "Y" manifold I came across these 2 pictures taken in the tool shed in 2006.



Circled in the background if you look closely you can make out the "Y" manifold waiting for me to find it. It was located with a bunch of flat head engine parts.



In the lower right corner you can see part of the manifold as well. Clearly I was unaware of its significance at the time.

Thomas

 

[Homebody]

Just awesome that that manifold went from laying in a pile of stuff in Illinois to proudly being displayed at the SDRC banquet!

Think of how many people that could have bought that property and just scrapped everything.

What a really cool story!
People helping people - It's a beautiful thing!

 

[jeepinjz]

WOW looks great lots of hard work in this

 

[vettelvr75]

In a bit of an update, Chris and I were in attendance in San Diego last Saturday evening for the annual Awards Banquet of the San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC)

You were in San Diego? That's really cool. I live just less than 2 hours north of San Diego. I bet the weather was a real change compared to what you have been having in Illinois. Did you enjoy your short stay in sunny So Cal?

 

[MisteR Tee]

Maurice it sounds as though you married a girl after your own heart! She's a keeper for sure!!

Thanks for the picture and post.

Thomas

I guess you could say that Thomas, we'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day we met this 2nd May, so I'm racking my brains for a suitable way to mark the occasion!!

The badge went in the post today, let me know when it arrives.

 

[BB767]

I guess you could say that Thomas, we'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day we met this 2nd May, so I'm racking my brains for a suitable way to mark the occasion!!

The badge went in the post today, let me know when it arrives.

How to mark that occasion is easy. I have no doubt the one place she is longing to visit and experience is..........

The Restored 1930's Auto Shop!!

Heck I'll even provide a personally conducted tour. Highlights to include, but are not limited to:

1. Hear the distinctive squeak of the fabled "Tool Shed" doors as they roll open and the vast treasure that lays within is revealed for the first time!
2. See the world's "Oldest Operating Rotary Lift" (1928) in action!
3. Air up tires (tyres) with the 1953 ECO Air Meter and ring the bell!
4. Gaze upon the 1937 Terraplane with the sun glinting off the remaining visible steering wheel spokes!
5. Thrill to an actual ride in GUS, the 1948 Jeep shop truck!
6. Be amazed and delighted by numerous powder coated objects, that appear in a seemingly unending array before your very eyes!
7. Be enthralled by the vastness of the Alfalfa Field of Dreams as it sweeps before you in a sea of green, with its distinctive, heaven sent fragrance!
8. Ponder the many objects that have been created on the 1917 Hay Budden Anvil through the decades and smile in delight to its sharp, sustaining ring when struck by a hammer!
9. Be astounded with size and heft of the Walker Roll-A-Car Floor Jacks.
10. Gape in amazement and horror at the worlds most famous crooked switch plate and ponder how an airline pilot could possibly NOT install it straight!!

All this and more can be made possible for Mrs.MisteR Tee. It is yours for the asking my friend.

Taxes, titles, tips and fees are extra. Subject to weather conditions permitting and not responsible for lost luggage.

Thomas

 

[Vernmotor]

LOL your a funny man Thomas !

 

[markviii]

It's all part of the "COTU Experience", Vernmotor! Might as well do it all and do it right (especially when people are coming from so far away)! (he's getting lots of experience being a tour guide)

Chris

 

[MisteR Tee]

Ha ha, that is indeed a tempting offer, however I'm sure she would much prefer to visit Chris's craft shop & maybe order some stock for her shop.

 

[markviii]

Done, MisteR Tee! It's all part of the experience.

Chris

 

[gordyy]

Thomas if there was a like button on here as on facebook LOL that answer to MisteR Tee would have a million very nice answer you need that on a copy and paste document.
am outstanding invitation was delivered there

 

[truckin23]

Just finish reading from the beginning subscribing awesome

 

[dsquire]

Just finish reading from the beginning subscribing awesome

truckin23

Wow. You must be some kind of speed reading fool. You made the exact same post on 47 different threads in the last 2 days. Some of the threads are small but some are so large that it would take several days at a minimum to partially read. Apparently you have fooled yourself but the Garage Journal Members are not that easily fooled. I think an apology is in order.

Cheers

Don

 

[markviii]

Welcome to the vortex, truckin23. Some will tell you the COTU is an addiction, so you may regret subscribing!

Thanks, Don. How do you think he'll do on the eventual thread quiz? Deep reading and quick reading don't compare in terms of info retention. Of course, "hit-and-run" posters are always welcome, but probably won't stick around for the actual on-site tour (i.e., reading the entire thread or attempting the quiz (whenever that might pop up)). The first page of pictures tell some people "the rest of the story", not the whole story.

Chris

P.S. To be fair, truckin23 did join in 2011, so he's probably been a long-time lurker. It's all good, no matter what.