The Lugzsonian - A Virtual Tour

[Private Lugnutz]

Like a few others here (four_cycle, where the heck are you?!), I find vintage period general hardware store catalogs such as these (see Pics 1, 2, & 3) to be an often invaluable supplement or complement to mfgr's catalogs.

And sometimes it's just nice to accentuate your collection with a good book.

This one (see Pic 4) - "Wagon-Making in the United States During the Late-19th Through Mid-20th Centuries, A Study of the Gruber Wagon Works at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania," by Paul A. Kube, with contributions by members of the Berks County Heritage Center, now hosting GWW as a National Historic Landmark, has an interesting, almost classic GJ story behind it.

GJ member tin medic sent it to me as a gift after I found the Gruber wrenches I showed a few pages ago (page 7, post #131). He visited the GWW NHLM in Berks County, PA, as a child, a year after it was established, and took his family there many years later when his kids were young. The book is from the gift shop.

I have been in contact with the Heritage Center about my wrenches, but they are still closed due to COVID-19.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I agree. Your space is fantastic! And your description and photography brings us all into your basement, if not in body, at least in spirit.

Thanks, Shiftless.

And about the Jeans with holes.. I was so pleased to get new patches on my worn Jeans, I still keep some old Levis which were patched for me years ago by a very kind and skilful farmers wife in Manitoba. A Mennonite, she wasn't going to let good clothes go to waste.

My kids start rolling their eyes when I get this particular soapbox out. If I had the time and inclination I could write a whole essay on what 'grunge' fashion says about our society.

 

[leg17]

Really enjoying this guided tour.
Thanks Lugz.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Really enjoying this guided tour.
Thanks Lugz.

Glad to hear it! My pleasure.

Looking forward to the Legsonian!

 

[gpw_42]

Part office, part workshop, and part museum, but all historical, all the time, the "reference library" is the feature that the Curator considers the most essential to the operations of the Lugzsonian.

With good reason.

And here I was thinking you'd go for the LIGHTING, so you can see the accumulated treasures! But the references are an amazing part of the collection.

I'm short on tool references, but have accumulated a few. My former battalion commander, now a close and trusted friend, has been in the market for some, shall we say, non-GJ items. He commented the other day that I have some good references in that field. Cue amazon link for the current version of that book, sent as a Christmas suggestion to his wife, who seemed glad to get it.

Back to the lighting line of operation here in the Lugzonian...Any suggestions/lessons learned for the rest of us? I noted that most of the visible lights are vintage, in keeping with the theme of the Lugzonian. How about the lights which are less visible? Thoughts for illuminating work areas?

I appreciate what you've done to show us your collection, and your space. Careful, you may get a (pre-coordinated) visitor

 

[misterbill]

I hate to be the guy that clouds over what is, by any measure, inspirational and one-of-a kind but... I'm guessing you don't have a halon system in the Lugzonian but do you at least have a couple fire extinguishers? (I know there is probably a secret door with all kinds of goodies behind it like The Kingsmen but I'm hoping the historical goodies are protected.)

Great stuff Lugz.

Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Any suggestions/lessons learned for the rest of us? I noted that most of the visible lights are vintage, in keeping with the theme of the Lugzonian. How about the lights which are less visible?

Nothing special, Steve.

Above the workbenches are vintage fluorescent lamps. All SIM-KAR. The PO must've bought dozens of them at the same time because they're all over the basement and garage. By complete accident, both of the brown portable fluorescent lamps are Art Steel Company Flex-O's, one I picked up at a government surplus sale, the other at a flea. That bare bulb overhead in the center of the room is just a plain white porcelain fixture. The only thing I added was an outdoor 70W Halogen spotlight, aimed at the pegboard. I installed it between joists, so it's unobtrusive.

I was worried about the things in the barristers, and also the shelves, and I was looking into track lighting and also battery-powered under cabinet lights, but once I had everything set up, and the spotlight plugged in, I found that it was just enough for most hours of the day during daylight. Nighttime is another matter and I might revisit some of the other options.

I'm guessing you don't have a halon system in the Lugzonian but do you at least have a couple fire extinguishers? (I know there is probably a secret door with all kinds of goodies behind it like The Kingsmen but I'm hoping the historical goodies are protected.)

Of course I have fire extinguishers! Have you been skimming?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No, seriously, as you might suspect, I emptied the CTC from those wartime Fire-Guns and the Pyrene. And yes, I have a modern FE on every floor of the house.

I have not emptied this cute little Pyro-Jet. I think the only way to do that would be to use it. I suspect it is also CTC, but I'm not sure. It is the perfect size for a little shop like mine, but I would not want to spray CTC in here!

 

[Shiftless]

You said:
“ I was worried about the things in the barristers, and also the shelves, and I was looking into track lighting and also battery-powered under cabinet lights, but once I had everything set up, and the spotlight plugged in, I found that it was just enough for most hours of the day during daylight. Nighttime is another matter and I might revisit some of the other options.”

I too needed light on the things I display down in the vise room. Like you, I have low ceilings in the basement. Only 7 feet. Here is my solution. Surface mounted EMT with octagon boxes, outdoor spotlight bulb holders, and LED floodlights.

Since you have open joists above, you could run the EMT (or flex) along the side of a joist, attach boxes to the sides of the joists, and aim the lights in the right direction.

 

[Provincial]

For lighting, consider using 12V outdoor lighting. It is easy to run the wiring (since it does not need conduit or other forms of protection), very compact, and the low voltage reduces the fire hazard. In your case, I would consider setting up all fixed lighting with low voltage LED's, while leaving the collectable lamps original.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That looks great, Shiftless. The look of the EMT and the metallic boxes fits your subjects nicely. The walls and the shelving is so clean, white, and bright that when I have seen photos prior I assumed it was an upstairs room.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for the suggestions, Jock. If I ever decide that I need additional lighting I will probably re-do everything and take your advice into consideration.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Lugz
That room has 2 windows and it’s also got a duct from the furnace. The old vises stay warm and dry.

Using low voltage lighting is a good idea. You can get LED bulbs with household style E26 screw bases from one watt and up that run off of a standard issue 12 volt landscape lighting transformer. My outside lights use those bulbs. I find that the fixtures designed to use 120 volts are durable and inexpensive compared to high end specifically designed low voltage landscape fixtures.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That room has 2 windows and it’s also got a duct from the furnace. The old vises stay warm and dry.

I thought I remembered a photo with a window in between two shelves of vises. This whole time I thought you had converted a parlor or a sitting room or something like that, which is a whole 'nother level of crazy (the good kind!) and commitment. Seriously, it's such a nice room that I've been picturing a painted lady just off Nob Hill with a Vise Room off the foyer. We need a thread in 2021. Or at least panoramics!

I find that the fixtures designed to use 120 volts are durable and inexpensive compared to high end specifically designed low voltage landscape fixtures.

Yes, there is that. My "test" solution is an unused 120V Floodlight from Christmases' Past. We no longer use it, I had it on hand, and the hinged stake was actually helpful in getting the angle just right. It's only temporarily installed and plugged into a strip with a switch sitting on a shelving unit just around the corner near an outlet inside a joist that's out of view, and it was easy to keep the cable taught overhead for now through existing harnesses. The lamp on the jeweler's desk is plugged into the same strip. I will re-do all this in 2021, especially if I add more floodlights.

 

[Shiftless]

You said:
“ I thought I remembered a photo with a window in between two shelves of vises.”

Here is the photo I think you’re referring to. The large aluminum mini blinds are covering two old wooden double hung windows.

At the far left of this view is a door to the outside. At the far right is a door going into the attached 2 car garage.

The multi tone **** carpeting was there when we bought the house back in the 80’s.
My wife wants to replace it but I admire its practicality. Hey...it’s a basement! It never shows wear or dirt. I’ve run the rental carpet cleaning machine over it a few times in the past almost 40 years and vacuum a couple of times per year with the dedicated Kirby that I grabbed off the street that was “free...please take”.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So dang cool.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks!
But yours is better. I only posted the pic because you asked. (No intended hijacking )

 

[Private Lugnutz]

(No intended hijacking )

None perceived!

 

[outofbounds]

This thermometer on your shelf is a pretty big part of what my employer does, although that one isn't of our manufacture. It very well may have been produced by the same family that spun off and created our newer company (family fallouts are common in private concerns) is that a Trerice thermometer, a company with a lineage in Detroit to 1923? Other possible names for that item would be Weksler (a NYC company which got bought up by Ashcroft/Dresser, or maybe Tel-Tru from Rochester NY, among others. Depending on how you look at it, it's either marvelous, or demoralizing that I sell instruments, the technology of which has existed for over 75 years!! (for industrial piping thermometers anyway) 100s of years otherwise.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Depending on how you look at it, it's either marvelous, or demoralizing that I sell instruments, the technology of which has existed for over 75 years!! (for industrial piping thermometers anyway) 100s of years otherwise.

Marvelous, if you ask me! But I have a thing for old instruments, including thermometers.

Well-spotted, by the way, and well-identified, at least regionally. Here's a Braun (Nitrogen) thermometer, a Gould Storage Battery hydrometer, and your correctly identified (from a picture alone, I'm impressed) Rochester, N.Y. thermometer, a Taylor. It has a 7/8” threaded stem and a 1-1/4” hex nut fitting, patented (2,272,240) in 1942 and earlier. That came out of an old machine shop filled with huge turret lathes, mills, and DPs.

 

[Garagefffreak]

Oh god. I wasn't following the thread for a day or two and so much has been posted!

The books are amazing and vintage graphics.. They just blow me away.
I always wondered how such books look like from the inside. Those old books like basics of shop work are something that will be standing in museums one day if they are not already.

Your museum already proudly presents them here

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The books are amazing...

Thanks, Fffreak.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

After the snowstorm and some subfreezing temps we're having a bit of a thaw here this week, so I dragged some winter projects into the warmer, cozier confines of the Lugzsonian from the garage. If my estimates are correct, these coils of vintage manila three-strand rope will be at least nine (9) 25-foot WWII-spec truck tow ropes with eyes spliced into both ends by March.

 

[Shiftless]

The art of rope work lives on at the Lugzonian.

Good project for your cold winter days. (My uninsulated and unheated garage hit a low of 56 last evening. Brrrr!!!

Do you then sell them on eBay or ?? to raise funds for estate sale adventures?

 

[d42jeep]

You’ve seen one amongst the clutter in my garage. It’s excellent. I requested this particular one since it starred in Lugz’ “how to” make an authentic tow rope thread.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Do you then sell them on eBay or ?? to raise funds for estate sale adventures?

Yes, for flea market cash, but I sell them on G503.com. It's a ready, automatic market. (Thanks for the props, Don! ) I also make and sell FM 5-20D spec-correct reproduction camouflage nets. I already have a backlog of orders for both. For personal reasons, and for marketing purposes, I pride myself and justify my price on the products being period-correct and made only of spec-compliant materials, which are not common. So I am only make them when I find suitable rope (3-strand 1-inch diameter manila or hemp, no tracer) and suitable fishing nets (2-inch mesh, but twine, no nylon).

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I'm always happy to see by-gone skills like ropecraft and what you're doing with the camo nets alive and well in somebody's backyard!

 

[Shelbylex]

Some of the shop books are pretty basic, and I just have them for the vintage graphics or their collectibility. This one from 1943 is interesting, historically. Most people don't realize that our entry into WWII and the massive swell of enlistments that Pearl Harbor prompted created a huge dearth of men with mechanical aptitude to work in mills and factories for the war. The War Production Board had an education program in cooperation with states, especially those with major depots and manufacturing centers. That's what this book is from.

And check out the bottom of this form (see Pics 4, 5, & especially 6) that I found inside trying to keep track of missing tool room tools. Some things never change.

This is one interesting looking book. I will try to look for it online - would be interesting to see more of the content!
Lugz, your place is a Treasury!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm always happy to see by-gone skills like ropecraft and what you're doing with the camo nets alive and well in somebody's backyard!

I learned marlinspike from my father.

Garnishing a 15' x 15' camo net (I can do any pattern, but I prefer Greek-key, ETO, and temperate) with burlap strips I picked up on my own. As you can imagine, it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it, but repetitive and tedious, and I am happy to oblige guys who don't have the time or patience!

Original nets show up from time to time in surplus, but they are getting rarer and rarer, and stupid money expensive.

Lugz, your place is a Treasury!

Thank you, sir!

This is one interesting looking book. I will try to look for it online - would be interesting to see more of the content!

If it was shorter (201 pages) I'd scan the whole thing, Shelby. Here are some more excerpts, including the intro (see Pic 1), a figure of the recommended classroom (see Pic 2), the ToC (see Pics 3, 4, & 5) - hopefully you can zoom in, and a Materials list (see Pic 6). The end of each chapter includes a bibliography for further reading, citing major related civilian books and military TM's, which is very helpful. I've included the one at the end of Chapter V, Metalworking, below (see Pic 7).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It is as the title suggests, basic, and covers the things most of us learned from our father's or a HS shop class. Some of the figures - like the brad through the paintbrush handle in this one, have brought me to nostalgic tears.

I don't know about you guys, but my dad was old school (WWII vet), it was the 60's and the 70's, and my brothers and I weren't exactly willing students all the time. Haha. I wish I could get all those years back, not roll my eyes so much, and pay closer attention. And it pains me, sometimes, because I see the same trait in my own sons. Hopefully when they are showing their sons how to carry a ladder someday, they will remember that I showed them, and that they thought it was silly that I insisted there was a right way and a wrong way!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's another book of the same type, also published in 1943, a little more focused on mechanics than general shop work, that I picked up at a flea market a few years ago, Shelby. (The thing about finding vintage books and such at a flea market is that you have to stand there going through what the vendors call 'paper' at a table, while someone else is beating you to a steel goodie pawing through a toolbox the next row over... HAHA.) If you're that interested in this genre, Googling some combination of "WWII", "Shop", and "Pre-Induction Training" may get you something online.

Sadly, most young people I know these days seem to find the idea of even having a creed, let alone a creed like this one (see Pics 2 & 3), to be mawkish. Some of that is on us. We, collectively, haven't given them enough reason to believe it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Again, I like them mainly for the figures.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The figures of the hands in the post above reminded me of a good book: The Hand by Frank. R. Wilson. This is from the library in the Curator's Quarters, not the Lugzsonian, but might as well be. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in understanding the larger, cultural, neurological why of why you like hand tools, why you like to work with your hands, in ways you probably never thought about before, including a very compelling argument for how the human hand has shaped everything about our world, physically and socially, in ways that hands don't get credit for, way beyond the mere observation that we have a uniquely opposable thumb. And if you think it might not be for you? See Pic 5!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Quick addendum: If you like reading Duke University professor and author Henry Petroski (To Engineer Is Human; Beyond Engineering; The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, and The Toothpick: Technology and Culture), you will enjoy this book, which basically argues that the hand's shape and function for using things like pencils and toothpicks (and wrenches) is peculiarly responsible for human culture. Making all of us manual people its best witting or unwitting representatives!

 

[Catfishdan]

It is as the title suggests, basic, and covers the things most of us learned from our father's or a HS shop class. Some of the figures - like the brad through the paintbrush handle in this one, have brought me to nostalgic tears.

I don't know about you guys, but my dad was old school (WWII vet), it was the 60's and the 70's, and my brothers and I weren't exactly willing students all the time. Haha. I wish I could get all those years back, not roll my eyes so much, and pay closer attention. And it pains me, sometimes, because I see the same trait in my own sons. Hopefully when they are showing their sons how to carry a ladder someday, they will remember that I showed them, and that they thought it was silly that I insisted there was a right way and a wrong way!

Now I’m nervous that I might carry a ladder the wrong way.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Lugz! I greatly appreciate it. I never saw books like this - as you mentioned, majority of us learned from parents, geandparents, great grandparents (I wish I got interested in tools earlier - I knew my great grandfather very well and even played with his tools (still remember him telling me to learn how to straighten old nails on a small anvil). I got somewhat lucky when I was a kid - not as many kids our days have exposure to basic work at the farm, learning how to provide food for the table, fishing, etc. some of my toys were even made by my grandparents: wooden swords, etc. One of my grandfathers once made me a model of the plain with the propeller that rotated when you made it fly in circles while you rotated it by a rope attached to one of the wings. We used to make our own bows and arrows, etc.
I never saw books explaining how to use tools - one day I definitely need to looks through them!

 

[bmwrd0]

Now I’m nervous that I might carry a ladder the wrong way.

When I first started with the phone company, one of the things we were taught was how to carry a ladder. I am not sure if it is the same way as the military does it, and once you were at a yard the managers would do everything to break that habit, but what we were taught certainly works for both getting it off and on the van, being able to carry it, and most importantly, putting it to work quickly.

Now, getting it set for an 18' span in the middle of the street? That is another story.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am not sure if it is the same way as the military does it,

We had a white clapboard house that needed paint every other year or so, so, like pretty much everything, we (my brothers and I) learned how to handle extension ladders from our dad by being put to work around the house.

I never saw books explaining how to use tools - one day I definitely need to look through them!

If you like pictures of old tools, military Technical Manuals are full of them.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for the tip about the book on the use of our hands by Wilson.
I found a used copy online and ordered it. The cover looks different than the one you posted but it has to be the same book. The one that’s coming to me is hardcover if that makes a difference. Is yours paperback?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes. You've got the collectible.