Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

How do you think these things up? That rock Boulder looks great.

donnie that gave me a laugh! She never says it, but sometimes when I reveal (confess? ) to Chris my latest plan/project/idea, I wonder if she's thinking the same thing!

How about coating the rock with BLO?

Hey there Rick, it's been a while since we've heard from you. Until you brought it up, boiled linseed oil wasn't even on my radar. I have no idea how it would react outside in that application, do you? I've got some oil based pavement enhancer that should be ideal for this. It's designed to bring out the natural color in stone pavement and seal it against moisture at the same time.

Thomas: if you dont mind sharing, about how much did you pay for that work to be done? I have a similar boulder at the end of my driveway that came out of the ground during my garage build. I have the same plan, but intended to do it myself. However, if the price is reasonable, I'd pay someone to do it..............

Oh yeah , that's a mightily fine boulder you've got there BlueBomber. Super nice and a good use of it. From start to finish it cost me $400 to get my etching done. It's all relative of course, but I was happy with that. They came a couple of weeks before the work on the numbers started and using a sling and a small crane, we rotated and moved the rock around until we had the best surface oriented toward the road. When doing the etching they had all the proper equipment and were on the job roughly 3 hours. The hardest part was grinding the space for the numbers. They spent over an hour on just that. The workmanship is very nice. The numbers are straight and evenly spaced. It looks good to my eye.

Good luck with your boulder project.

And I challenge pretty much any person to steal that numbered rock as a memento of a visit to your home.

In a way, the whole design to me also symbolize all the jobs coming together, some small, some rather big and monumental.

I like that a lot.

I'm with you Rian, nobody is going to causally walk off with my house numbers!

Your summation of the project is spot on too I think. The overall totality of this whole property/shop/house project over the last 13 years was a compilation of large and small tasks that resulted in as it stands now. Very satisfying.

Once again good use of the native materials found on the property.

Thank you rmalkow2. That's how I always try to do when I can.

Are you sure you do not want to powder coat the boulder?

I know Rick and his crew at R&B Powder Coat would do it if I get it to their shop!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Looking good Thomas! Do you still have the Terraplane yard art?

Pete

You bet I do Pete it's not going anywhere! Like my address boulder, I don't need to worry about someone walking off with it either! This coming spring/summer I'll finally get to put some plantings around it to enhance it. It's still clinking around in my head. Stand by for that project!

Thomas and Chris, it's been a couple years since we came down there and picked up bucket fulls of remnants of Johnson's Welding Shop but don't think we've forgotten about em!
As I told you then, we like to repurpose old stuff into useful stuff and planned to put it all to good use. Well, as you know life tends to get in the way sometimes and other things take priority.........



Being that there was so much giving on your end, I also gave some of the stuff to my brother in law - who is also a Johnson - and being retired has more time than me..lol He took a bunch of the 4 way tire irons that were in those buckets and made these snowflakes for our garages.
2018-11-26_03-51-15 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
2018-11-27_08-50-57 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
2018-11-27_09-24-32 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

As you know, there is still a TON of stuff left in those buckets that will be put to good use for others to enjoy!!

Thanks again, Have a Joyous Holiday Season!!

Very nice post Laine and great pictures of some of your work. I really like the snow flakes your brother-in-law fabricated...



...from these 4-way lug wrenches. It's good to know they will "live on" indefinitely and be appreciated!



Here's just a partial view of some of the other "treasures" in the back of Laine's truck from a couple years back that he decided he couldn't live without. Looking forward to more re-purposing work from you and your brother-in-law!

Thanks for the update. Very cool.

Thomas

 

[BFBOB]

ummmm.... you are aware, aren't you - snowflakes are six-pointed, not eight?

Yeah, an extra cut and two bends, but it would be right!

And you wouldn't run out of lug wrenches so soon - only 1 1/2 per snowflake instead of 2.

 

[Homebody]

Very nice post Laine and great pictures of some of your work. I really like the snow flakes your brother-in-law fabricated...

...from these 4-way lug wrenches. It's good to know they will "live on" indefinitely and be appreciated!


Here's just a partial view of some of the other "treasures" in the back of Laine's truck from a couple years back that he decided he couldn't live without. Looking forward to more re-purposing work from you and your brother-in-law!

Thanks for the update. Very cool.

Thomas

Thanks. I still have that old odd radiator that you wanted back if I couldn't find a buyer for it. Next trip that way, we'll set up another visit!

ummmm.... you are aware, aren't you - snowflakes are six-pointed, not eight?

Yeah, an extra cut and two bends, but it would be right!

And you wouldn't run out of lug wrenches so soon - only 1 1/2 per snowflake instead of 2.

Did you see all the stuff in that pic above? Ain't nobody got time for that!

 

[WHIPOLDS]

Thomas- I do not post much but have been following this thread from the beginning. This fall at the AACA meet in Hershey PA, I found a Walker Roll A Car No. 784 Series E 4 ton that looked liked yours. Thanks to all the great details that you had provided it gave me a lot of knowledge to make the purchase. I have gone back over all the posts that pertain to the jacks (there were a lot). The jack is in very good condition! It is going to need a seal kit. With all the details you provided it has given me the confidence to deal with that. Thanks so much for all that you and Chris have given doing this thread.
Rick

 

[C_F]

^^^ Nice score on the jack!

 

[BB767]

Thomas- I do not post much but have been following this thread from the beginning. This fall at the AACA meet in Hershey PA, I found a Walker Roll A Car No. 784 Series E 4 ton that looked liked yours. Thanks to all the great details that you had provided it gave me a lot of knowledge to make the purchase. I have gone back over all the posts that pertain to the jacks (there were a lot). The jack is in very good condition! It is going to need a seal kit. With all the details you provided it has given me the confidence to deal with that. Thanks so much for all that you and Chris have given doing this thread.
Rick

Hello WHIPOLDS and thank you so much for the post and picture. Your Walker is the same vintage as mine, right down to the Series E edition. It's even in much the same condition as well. It's a testament to how rugged they are, when they continue to operate even though they are not given the best of care. They take a licking and keep on ticking!

The information I posted about the Walker restoration should be a big help to you. They are simple pieces of equipment and are very straight forward. Take many pictures during the disassembly process and be patient. As you've seen, items like rear wheel bushings or any worn parts can all be remade or renewed. It's a rewarding process that you will enjoy. The best part being that once done, these jacks continue to give further pleasure with their use. Congratulations!

At present I'm deep into a few projects (surprise).





Among them is a base frame being fabricated (show upside down) for...



...my Great Grandfathers old tool box. It is filled with cabinetmakers hand tools...



...most of which date from pre-1900. That tool box is large and heavy and just plain difficult to move so...





...I'm constructing a base frame for it that will be equipped with German manufactured Blickle casters.



I'm using 1/4" (.63 cm) thick, 2 1/2" (6.35 cm) wide, angle iron. That material is thick enough that I was able to I tap treads into it and use 5/16" bolts to mount the casters on it. Mitered corners, nothing exotic but highly functional. Powder coated of course.

I'm also getting the barn organized after the house build project.





I'm mounting some wall cabinets out there and this is a mounting frame I'll use for them.

I've still got a small stash of material I've kept from the original buildings out here, think old shop, tool shed etc. As I finish up in the barn, those items left will finally find a new home.

So I'm moving along, slowly. Putting all the pieces of the puzzle together out here in my little corner of the world and sharing it with you. Thanks to all for your interest.

Thomas

 

[TR6SR650]

It would be great to see some pictures of the contents of that old tool box. I think there might be some real eye candy in that box. If you get time,,, of course.

 

[rjcsandiego]

Is the fireplace mantel finished yet? Santa is not going to be pleased if there is no place to hang the stockings!

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I would love to see the contents of that old tool chest. The stories those old tools could tell would be priceless, I'm certain. The first thing I thought of when I saw that was the studley tool chest. I'll bet there are some gems in there.

--Jeff


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BB767]

Is the fireplace mantel finished yet? Santa is not going to be pleased if there is no place to hang the stockings!

Interesting you bring that up Roland. Lou contacted me about that very subject a couple days ago warning me that St. Nick would take a dim view of no stockings hung by the chimney with care......however.......



...I'm doing my best to get it finished to my satisfaction in time and...



...I'm not there just yet.



You might recall I'm putting an oil finish on it and I'm making progress. I'm letting it thoroughly dry before sanding and applying the next coat using 400 grit sandpaper. Sanding correctly around the cove and various thin edges is slow and fussy hand work, but I very much enjoy doing it. To fill the pores in the wood grain and get a glass smooth surface you have to build up the finish.

I'm way over doing it I know, but to me it's an important piece. I don't want to rush it and then regret not having the self-discipline to see it all the way though.

That slab of wood and I go back 38 years...



...from when I cut the tree down that it came from. Even then I was envisioning it being used as a mantle in my eventual, future retirement house.



Don't forget, other parts of that same walnut tree are in my office where I get to look and touch it every day. When it's all said and done, I expect I'll get it finished and installed in time. If not, I'm confident St. Nick will understand and give me a pass.

It would be great to see some pictures of the contents of that old tool box. I think there might be some real eye candy in that box. If you get time,,, of course.

I would love to see the contents of that old tool chest. The stories those old tools could tell would be priceless, I'm certain. The first thing I thought of when I saw that was the studley tool chest. I'll bet there are some gems in there.

--Jeff

I've previously posted about some of the tools in that box.









Just some of the tools are a comprehensive set of wood bodied molding planes. I'll see what I can do about getting a better look at some of the other tools. When I place the new base under the box, to lighten it up, I'll have to almost completely empty it out, so that would be a good time to document the contents. Stand by.

Thomas

 

[oldschoolbob]

Looks to me like most of those planes should be displayed in a glass case - not in an old box.

 

[Lyndon]

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Just some of the tools are a comprehensive set of wood bodied molding planes. I'll see what I can do about getting a better look at some of the other tools. When I place the new base under the box, to lighten it up, I'll have to almost completely empty it out, so that would be a good time to document the contents. Stand by.

Thomas

Thomas

Wow - just WOW!

I don't know whether they would be better displayed under glass, or just in that magnificent old tool box, but I can just see old OCD Grandpappy using all of them creating magnificent items of furniture, or like you are doing with that fantastic mantle.

More power to you, and if I don't get time to say it between now and when old saint Nick visits - Merry Christmas to you, Chris and the family. I know I'm early, but I have to take the opportunity when it comes, as I'm busier than a one legged man in a bum kicking competition right now....

Lyndon
Enjoy a cold Christmas for me!

 

[Grizz1963]

That Walnut tree and it’s new history are just awesome.

I have a table made of Jacaranda that my dad cut a limb off a tree for from a friends garage building process, in order to save the tree which was set for removal.

It have floated up some stairs in a massive river flood, and made it back into my home when dads brother died and then from dads place into mine.

As for the tools, toolbox and what they would have made in their lifetime, priceless. But one needs to see that.

As always, a great pleasure to come in here and be awed and amazed at your progress while you and Chris live a normal life on the side.

 

[oberst]

Thomas, that mantle looks gorgeous. Thanks for sharing pictures of your progress. (I wish I had your skills and patience.)
Like others have stated, I'm looking forward to your pictorial on placing the chest on the new frame!

Hey, am I the only one who wondered what that ratty welding stool would look like powder coated and sporting Blickle casters?

Happy Holidays to you and Chris and the COTU.

 

[Brian R]

Thomas,

.I'm constructing a base frame for it that will be equipped with German manufactured Blickle casters.

Would you be able to post a source? I have a project that requires quality casters and a regular google search does not return satisfactory results.

Thanks in advance. The place and your work therein are outstanding.

Regards,
Brian

 

[BB767]

Thomas,


Would you be able to post a source? I have a project that requires quality casters and a regular google search does not return satisfactory results.

Thanks in advance. The place and your work therein are outstanding.

Regards,
Brian

Hi there Brain, many thanks you for your nice compliments. Appreciated.

Blickle manufactures what I consider to be among the finest wheels and casters going. Their online catalog is 500 pages long and the range of their products is vast. Home page is found here:

https://www.blickle.com/

It is so vast I usually call a customer care rep to help me zero in on what I'm looking for. Keonta Grant is who I've specifically worked with on a number of my projects. She's highly skilled and has been very patient, making sure I'm getting the caster that will best serve my needs. Say hi to her for me if you talk with her!

Full disclosure, I have no vested/financial interest in Blickle Räder+Rollen in any way shape or form. I pay full MSRP for any of their products. I just think they make high quality stuff and are nice people to work with.

Thomas

 

[bryceaugustine]

So i cannot see any of Thomas' pictures since page 571. I see pictures other members have shared. Am I the only one with this issue?

 

[stillp]

It's OK for me. Google Chrome on Windows 10.

Pete

 

[xtremek]

The mantle looks gorgeous.

 

[C_F]

So i cannot see any of Thomas' pictures since page 571. I see pictures other members have shared. Am I the only one with this issue?

They work for me, so it may be something to do on your end. Maybe flush your cookies?

Thomas, your mantle looks absolutely amazing!

 

[markviii]

I thought I better get this message out on the eve of Christmas Eve, otherwise I'll be too late for some of you on the other side of the planet! We do seem to get to all 7 continents and I don't want to neglect those of you in different time zones.

The year is coming to a close with holiday doings to look forward to. I've got a ton of stuff to finish tomorrow. Luckily the weather is good. Hopefully Santa will make his stop at our house despite the mantle not being up yet. The back stairway rail will have to do! Santa's always found us, even when we weren't here at home in the COTU.

We have so much to be thankful for: our health, our family, our friends near and far, and our home. We can't ask for more than that. Thanks for checking in with us through the years. We're continuing to have fun here. Sharing makes it even better!

Merry Christmas!

Chris

I thought I better get this message out on the eve of Christmas Eve, otherwise I'll be too late for some of you on the other side of the planet! We do seem to get to all 7 continents and I don't want to neglect those of you in different time zones.

The year is coming to a close with holiday doings to look forward to. I've got a ton of stuff to finish tomorrow. Luckily the weather is good. Hopefully Santa will make his stop at our house despite the mantle not being up yet. The back stairway rail will have to do! Santa's always found us, even when we weren't here at home in the COTU.

We have so much to be thankful for: our health, our family, our friends near and far, and our home. We can't ask for more than that. Thanks for checking in with us through the years. We're continuing to have fun here. Sharing makes it even better!

Merry Christmas!

Chris

 

[Grizz1963]

And a Merry Christmas right back at you and Thomas

Thank you for the entertainment this year.

Pity we did not make it to COTU this year.

 

[dpljmurphy]

Merry Christmas, or as the English say: Happy Christmas to Chris, Thomas and all of my fellow COTU followers or is it COTUites?

May 2019 be a Brilliant year for all of you and your families.

David

 

[rmalkow2]

Merry Christmas Thomas and Chris. And a Happy Hot Rodding New Year to you all.

 

[Bob Heine]

To the owners of the Center of the Center of the Universe, wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I know that one left this year but are the other eight Impalas pulling the sleigh this year?

 

[realvc]

Merry Christmas to all!!!!



Vince

 

[Joe-R]

Merry Christmas Thomas and Chris!!!

 

[9C1]

Merry Christmas to Chris & Thomas

 

[old salt racer]

" Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"----Lou----

 

[xtremek]

Happy Christmas to those at the center of the universe

 

[Boosted1]

Merry Christmas Thomas and Chris.
Your thread has given me much enjoyment.
Hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas.

 

[stonesg]

What a joy to check up on the Center of the Universe on Christmas morning.

Thanks to everyone who makes this a "place".

TG

 

[BB767]

Merry Christmas 2018

What a joy to check up on the Center of the Universe on Christmas morning.

Thanks to everyone who makes this a "place".

TG

Well said TG. I feel that checking this thread is like going somewhere to visit some really cool, old friends.

Thank you all for the good wishes and for helping make this shop thread such a welcoming place to come for almost 9 years now! Never a discouraging word around here, just positive, good vibes and wonderful fellowship. It doesn't get any better than this!

Heartfelt thanks, Thomas

 

[bluestripe67]

A belated MC & HHNY to you both. Dennis

 

[BB767]

Beltsville Shell Travel Map

Below is a link to a map that board member tkbowman aka Tim Bowman put together for all of us.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vVTbKxkmeKvUtuwg7jwZ8IoduIUEjfyE&usp=sharing

This is a map showing the travel and dates of Beltsville Shell on its various North American tours 2012 -2018. We did respect everyone's privacy, there are no actual addresses, just the name of the cities of the different readers.

You might recall a simple map posted a while back, showing the Europe/Scandinavian and Australia/New Zealand tours.

To those patently waiting for BS 1.0, now that this map is done, I can release it to start it's 4th, North American tour. The map will be updated with the new additions to the "Brotherhood of the Traveling Book" as author Cary Thomas likes to call us.

This is the current reading list as I recall. If I have someone out of order or missed someone, please let me know and I'll get it corrected. For others who may wish to get on the current list, post in here or send a PM to me and we'll sign you up!

1. - dchance

2. - Joe-R

3. - eokie1

4. - B.Cueva

5. - Ms Bowman

6. - Paul_VR6

7. - MrScott99

Once again, a BIG thank you to Tim for taking his time and effort to put the map together. A very cool and nice addition to this thread and the continuing saga of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop.

Thomas

 

[Lyndon]

Below is a link to a map that board member tkbowman aka Tim Bowman put together for all of us.

This is a map showing the travel and dates of Beltsville Shell on its various North American tours 2012 -2018. We did respect everyone's privacy, there are no actual addresses, just the name of the cities of the different readers.



You might recall a simple map posted a while back, showing the Europe/Scandinavian and Australia/New Zealand tours.



To those patently waiting for BS 1.0, now that this map is done, I can release it to start it's 4th, North American tour. The map will be updated with the new additions to the "Brotherhood of the Traveling Book" as author Cary Thomas likes to call us.



This is the current reading list as I recall. If I have someone out of order or missed someone, please let me know and I'll get it corrected. For others who may wish to get on the current list, post in here or send a PM to me and we'll sign you up!



1. - 56vette461



2. - dchance



3. - Joe-R



4. - eokie1



5. - Ms Bowman



Once again, a BIG thank you to Tim for taking his time and effort to put the map together. A very cool and nice addition to this thread and the continuing saga of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop. [emoji481]



Thomas

Thomas

Gee, I’m glad I started something there!

Lyndon
Cruising past!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[BB767]

Thomas

Gee, I’m glad I started something there!

Lyndon
Cruising past!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Oh you bet Lyndon, it was a terrific idea. It's a much better way to visualize the vast territory BS 1.0 has traveled over the years.

While I'm at it, I'd like to thank everyone who has read it so far for taking such good care of it. For a soft bound book it is still in remarkably good condition, especially when you realize the thousands of miles it's traveled in the last 6 years!

BTW, the list has already been updated with new additions.

Thomas

 

[56vette461]

Hi Thomas,
Received your PM. I have already read the B.S 1.0. I returned it to you about 3 months ago. I was last on the list. AJ

 

[jbmatth]

Thomas and Tim, the map is pretty cool to see how far it has traveled and what all areas it has been around. I do have one question though, did no one ever read the book in the center of the universe?

JB