Raymond Loewy - Google Doodle Nov 5 2013

I'm really liking the designs this gentleman came up with especially what he did for Studebaker the locomotive industry and the boat motor Coca Cola soda fountains. I can't say much more other than check the link or surf the web for info and images of his designs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Loewy

Long Time Coming - I'm back, for now.

When I started this blog I was pumped (excited) like so many others and thought I would bust onto the scene with new and unusual items to re-purpose, refinish and sell. I have since gained a grip on reality and have realized there are a lot more people with the same ambitions and dreams that I have of making it big and probably have more time on there hands than myself who has a 9-5 (more like 6am-6:30pm) and in the process I have backed off for now and just been buying for myself. The following are some items I wish I had taken some before pics of instead of just after pics after I've refinished, regardless I love them all and am keeping for now at least.....While I am still hitting the thrift stores, scrap yards, etc I am only picking items that others are passing up due to either the labor involved in refinishing the items or they lack the vision to see the end product..........The coffee table is a full "2x"17x"48 hemlock barn board (sanded & finished) the legs are 1880 - 1930 cast iron school desk legs that have been stripped and cleared with satin finish.........the Motel chairs and kitchen stool are circa 1950's that had multiple layers of paint, plaster and other goop spilled on them that I stripped and repainted and love to death....I love all pieces and am keeping for now, there are a few other items I've picked up that I may post in the future. Enjoy the pics

                                       

The Bell Furniture Company-Oak T-Back Chairs

layer 1

layer 2

layer 3

layer 4 dry but all there leather pad

butchered leather, last chair

new fabric pattern or get new leather estimate

The Bell Furniture Company, Southampton, ON, Canada 1907-1937, Oak T-Back Chairs. I'm sure most of you have experienced how one project inevitably leads to another, well this is one of those times. I've got the antique dining table (see previous post) looking presentable with a nice finish on the top and gave the bottom a good once over cleaning of years of grime and dust but then the chairs were bothering me, what to do what to do. Repad and recover, I have fabric I like that I picked out for another project but didn't think there would be enough for that and at the same time I prayed there was leather underneath and low and behold after three layers of fabric and a whole lot of staples and gimp tacks there it was 80? year old drier than a popcorn fart leather, AWESOME! No cracks no splits just dry, I can save these. All for nought, during one of the many re-coverings someone butchered the leather on one seat pad, BALLS!!!!! I like the green patterned fabric I have but like black leather more on these chairs so I may get an estimate to have them covered. So much dust came out of the pads it got on the camera lens making the pics spotty....But wait as I look at the pics I'm seeing the wood baseboard and door trim thinking there's the next project, PAINT. UGH!! it never ends when your border line obsessive or just really bored.

Antique Oak Dining Table

 This is my girlfriends solid oak antique dining table before and after pics, to say it's seen better days is an understatement. The wood is dry, the finish is toast and it has seen way to many hot or damp bowls, dishes and mugs that destroyed what little finish was left. It shows its age and we decided we didn't want to take all of that away so the surface still has small dents and impressions left on it. I sanded the top, gave a light coat of Jacobean stain then an even lighter coat of Ebony stain then a couple coats of Minwax satin Wipe On Poly with light rub down with extra fine steel wool between coats and voila. I'm happy with the end product so far. The skirt, legs and end panels are carved and aren't in bad shape, a little stain on a rag to blend any knicks and scratches should take care of that and the chairs will get a good wash down and new seat pads (leather??) or we may sell the chairs and replace with something new.

Junk Heaven - Mr Used, Hamilton, Ontario

 I've lived in Hamilton, Ontario all my life and have always stood up for the city as others referred to it negatively and called it “the armpit of Ontario”, sure if your passing by on the Highway going from Niagara to Toronto all you see and smell is the by-product of steel manufacturing but that is a small inconvenience that isn’t noticed in most of the city. Hamilton is a city that was built on steel production and industry and that is totally reflected in the homes and buildings of the blue collar and the hierarchy who built this city, as you travel around the different neighbourhoods it is also reflected in its “JUNK”. I’ve known about a particular junk yard since they opened their doors many years ago but I’ve never ventured in until recently. WOW!! JUNK HEAVEN! I think I just had a small mental breakdown as I tried to take in the immensity and diversity this place has to offer, from Lion and Baboon taxidermy to salvaged restaurant equipment to plumbing fixtures to antiquated cast iron machinery and house hold items this place has it all and the kitchen sink. There are no price tags on anything simply because there is just so much stuff piled on top of other stuff but just ask and someone will get a price for you, some items are a little overpriced but for the most part they are right on the money. Here are a few pics that don’t even begin to break the surface of what this place has to offer.