Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I finally have a full set of long bobbins for my Singer!! Huzzah!!

10392376_1452837658308049_625904506224994019_n.jpg


10389485_1452751541649994_5504629699379462540_n.jpg


10468357_1452789991646149_1669813833602758614_n.jpg
 

Papperskatt

Practically Family
Messages
506
Location
Sweden
Really nice collection you've got there, Shangas! I've got an old treadle sewing machine that I plan on restoring. I can't really get to it right now, but it's probably either a Singer or a Husqvarna.
 

Stanley Doble

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,808
Location
Cobourg
It begs the question though: What were such tiny boxes originally used for? Their capacity is so small. What 'pills' would they have originally held?

Small ones ha ha.

They would be used for a day's supply, only a few pills at a time to be carried in a purse or waistcoat pocket.
 
Last edited:

St. Louis

Practically Family
Messages
618
Location
St. Louis, MO
I'm almost embarrassed to post this, because it really didn't take much effort to revive or repair. One of the best Christmas presents I ever received was this Bissel war-time carpet sweeper. It came to me without a handle, but that was very easy to replace. A short trip to the hardware store later, I had one that fit exactly. Imagine -- there's one standard thing that evidently hasn't been "improved" over the decades: new broomsticks fit old-time tools perfectly. I use this all the time. It's great for picking up cat hair & other lint quickly.

PICT1203_zps24a6750f.jpg
 

robrinay

One Too Many
Messages
1,490
Location
Sheffield UK
Mono ipod - iphone dock / Up cycled laboratory bench top and old gramophone horn. The sound is better when the iphone is placed inside the horn rather than embedded in a slot in the timber base and of course its much easier to build - no routing out slots and sound channels. There is good resonance from the spun aluminium horn, cast iron bend and Iroko base and as the ipod/iphone fits inside it is compatible with most smartphones.
Rob

 
Last edited:
Mono ipod - iphone dock / Up cycled laboratory bench top and old gramophone horn. The sound is better when the iphone is placed inside the horn rather than embedded in a slot in the timber base and of course its much easier to build - no routing out slots and sound channels. There is good resonance from the spun aluminium horn, cast iron bend and Iroko base and as the ipod/iphone fits inside it is compatible with most smartphones.
Rob


Very Steam Punk. :p I like it.
 

robrinay

One Too Many
Messages
1,490
Location
Sheffield UK
Thank you James, my next project is to make an English Longbow from Yew. I've asked a local Arboriculuralists to ring me when he finds a suitable yew log. It will be a long term project as the wood will need to be seasoned for a year. I love being retired!
Rob
 

Brownie

New in Town
Messages
10
Location
Charlotte, NC
My latest project, a 1943 O'Keefe and Merritt M-5 generator. It originally powered a 40MM anti-aircraft gun sighting unit for coastal defense. It's a work in progress.
Before:
P8290012.jpg
P8290013.jpg
P8290023.jpg
Currently:
1796662_10203306011270336_320642862_n.jpg
1897685_10203306010270311_1450684820_n.jpg
1904192_10203306009950303_872656549_n.jpg
1926869_10203306011070331_796247806_n.jpg
The original logbooks
PC020002.jpg
PC080029.jpg
 

Attachments

  • PC080030.jpg
    PC080030.jpg
    195.8 KB · Views: 386
Last edited:

Brownie

New in Town
Messages
10
Location
Charlotte, NC
That's a mighty impressive generator -- what voltage does it put out?

And cast iron is one of humanity's greatest inventions. You have to be a real boob to throw something like that away.

Thanks. It puts out 3 legs of 60v 60hz power, with 120V across any two phases, so it's 3 separate 120V 60HZ circuits. They're hot/hot instead of hot/neutral, similar to shipboard power, and i've tested multiple household 120V loads on it with no problems. It does have to be used as a standalone though, it can't be wired into a panel.

I find a lot of cast iron, it gets so encased in black crud over the years that people who inherit it don't want it, which is a real shame. I soak it in a strong lye solution for a few days and it comes out good as new. Of course, nobody seems to know what lye is anymore either. [huh]
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
These are considerably older than 'The Golden Era', but I restored these items nonetheless.

My three writing-slopes:

#1. Writing-slope or box-desk. Ca. 1862. Manufactured by Toulmin & Gale (1735-1876) of London.

1800205_1532024400389374_8229042855030656815_n.jpg


Sourced...

1. Inkwell-insert.
2. Ruler. Ivory.
3. Pocket dip-pen.
4. Desktop dip-pen (bone. Brass ferrule).
5. Original advertisement from the 1860s.
6. Extra 'Toulmin & Gale'-marked vesta-case.

#2. Ladies' writing-slope & crocheting box. Ca. 1880. Manufacturer unknown.

1476242_1551622981762849_8651513344197799886_n.jpg


Repairs:

1. Found operational key for the lock.
2. Repaired the broken storage compartment...

10896847_1545224732402674_914429757358366061_n.jpg


10623882_1551622951762852_718824309615846383_o.jpg


#3. Gentleman's writing-slope/box-desk. Ca. 1870. Manufacturer unknown.

10858629_1556892661235881_440616566959173920_n.jpg


Repairs:

- Cleaned & glued down loose leather.
- Lubricated lock.
- Found period-appropriate pens.
- Created firmer base for the box.
- Replaced damaged paper lining with red velvet fabric (old curtain fabric).
- Found inkwell stand-ins.

Still gotta find:

Key to properly manipulate the lock.
Ivory or bone ruler, page-turner, or letter-opener/paper-knife.
 

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
An old receiver which I revived !

a4bu3a.jpg


Lots of dusting off, rewiring & replacing tired tubes .

rkx7oj.jpg
b5gysz.jpg


And now I can hear the lovely sounds from far away with just enough
"snap, crackle & pop"...just like I remembered as a kid ! :D


2w35a3d.jpg
 

tomtom42

New in Town
Messages
34
Location
Austria
Hi everybody,

only thing I can remember "restoring" is an old Singer sewing machine (model 15, made in 1911).
It did not need much - just a good cleaning and a generous amount of light oil - these were really built to last...

br,
T°M
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,096
Messages
3,074,061
Members
54,091
Latest member
toptvsspala
Top