Dorset Finds

Doing your taxes? If you're like me, you want to have some excellent procrastination tools handy. I mix my Cost-of-Goods-Sold calculating with virtually visiting some amazing collections of cool things. Try the Dorset Finds board on Pinterest.

Perfection?

We buy old work shop and factory parts that we can make into tables or lamps. Some of our customers make tables and lamps, too, so sometimes we sell the parts to them.  These stands were designed by George S. Weinerth of Reading, PA, an inventor with many patents for textile industry machinery. He also invented spark plugs. We like that these stands are cast iron and adjustable. Clearly, they are Perfection. But what are they?

Metal Patch

I've mentioned how we give industrial sewing machine tables a new life as adjustable desks. Often, the original tops for industrial sewing machine tables were wooden butcher block made from some type of hardwood, usually maple.  Unfortunately, that top had a huge hole where the actual sewing machine sat. Useful for sewing, but not useful for the table's second life. Usually we replace that top with other wood. Sometimes, though, Keith will patch the original hole with pieces of angle iron. He uses a chisel to set in the metal so that the angle iron patch is level with the wood.  Very sweet.

Coal Chute Top

Speaking of change, here is a scroll saw table with a top that used to be part of a coal chute. Former power tool base, meet previous pipeline to power.

All Things Adjustable

People were shocked when we gave up our desk jobs and changed our lives so completely. To us, the desire to change our lives seemed so natural that it was not really a change, it was just part of our long term plan. Of course, our plan was more  "and then do something completely different." The detail about selling antiques came later.  Apparently, when faced with "what would I do if only I could make a change..," others would not choose to buy used things and try to sell them.  Go figure. 

People don't always like change, but furniture doesn't even consider it.  Most furniture is not adjustable, and wasn't designed to be. Here is a wonderful industrial sewing machine desk that grows as you grow.

Skinny and Folds

Remember when I wrote about the Brooklyn Flea and preferences for apartment furniture?  Well, this desk is skinny and it folds.  Plus when it is unfolded it is stable and sturdy. Very cool.  More photos at walkerantiques.com

Made in 1961

The other day I went to an auction and came home with this great little red bench.  I liked the color, the shape of the legs, and the fact that the legs were metal, not wood.  So someone had saved them from something else, probably a circa 1930 kitchen appliance; an ice box, one of those new fangled electric ones, or a range - "Now your cooking with gas!"  I like home made, make-do, one of a kind pieces, and when I turned this one over, it had this important message written on the bottom - "MADE JUNE 15, 1961."   The man who made it might forget exactly when he did it.  Who made it? that goes without saying.  Where? that goes without saying too.  By 1961, someone was ready for a new kitchen appliance, and someone else was not quite ready to let go of the old one.  And that guy, whoever he was, made this great little bench.

Skinny Desk

Did you live in an apartment as a kid?  We didn't. We each lived in 2 story 1960s suburban colonial houses, not huge like some things you find today, but large enough not to worry about the precise size of the furniture.  So our experiences selling to the happy crowds at the Brooklyn Flea were eye opening.   Before we went to Brooklyn, a nice vintage furniture dealer told us that skinny desks were always of interest. We nodded but didn't really get it. Now we do, or at least we're better at it. It's like the food rules.  Space is tight. Buy furniture, but keep it narrow or tall. Mostly folding.
  

Apologies to Mr. Pollan. More photos at walkerantiques.com.

Pedestal Table With Butcher Block Top

There was a large textile industry in our area of Pennsylvania, and the wooden butcher block top on this industrial table was originally a die table for a fabric cutting machine. The metal strapping around the top is original. We put the top on a cast iron pedestal from an old machine tool. We are not sure what type of machine tool was originally on this particular pedestal, though often they were used to support grinders or drill presses. Price: $375. Local Pickup. Please contact us for more photos ( info@walkerantiques.com)