Saved from the trash pile.

[Papa]

I have been working on this several weeks. It sat in a car port for
about twenty years and has been in my shed for over ten.

My Dad built it in 1936 as a high school wood shop project. It was
nailed together and painted white originally. Now it has dowels,
biscuits and splines and glue. Finished with four coats of amber
shellac. No stain.

It fell apart when I got it out of the shed so there are no real "before"
pictures, just the parts.

It has no $$ value, just a lot of family history.

The bottom shelf was replace with 1/4 ply in the fifties and a large
chrome knob installed. It had eight coats of paint.

When Mom and Dad moved to their new house in 2000 Dad said,
"Throw the damn thing away".

The top was so bowed it took weeks of wetting and clamping to get
it flat. The under side was never painted, it is now.









I used the original nail holes to locate the dowels so all the misalignment
is still there. There is not a straight cut or square corner on the whole
thing.

[Ironwood]

That's great

Thanks for sharing this.

[Old Sparkie]

Fantastic and shows great respect for your Dads memories.

[chowcini]

well done

[Manuka Jock]

I used the original nail holes to locate the dowels so all the misalignment
is still there. There is not a straight cut or square corner on the whole
thing.

If you hadn't told us that it was not straight or square , we would never know.

Cheers to you and your dad , good work all round

[artme]

Love it!!!

Nice chunky and rustic!

And good on you for resurecting it an preserving your dad's memories.

[Papa]

Thanks for the replies.

Today is Dad's 89th birthday, We are having a get together at the
local chicken joint. His favorite place to eat.

He is a little frail but still going. Does some yard work and sits on
the board of directors at a local bank.

He did 58 years of military service and flew most of it, in fact
he flew an Apache on his last day.

Air Corp. 1939/1944
National Guard 1944/1984
Air Force reserve 1984/1997

Here is where we are going for dinner.

Monte Ne Inn Chicken

There is no menu, you just sit down and they keep bringing
you food till you scream "UNCLE"!

[toolbagsPLUS]

Looks good for another few generations as well as the history that will no doubt follow it.

Good on ya and Congratulations

Cheers


Steve

[Old Sparkie]

Happy 89th Dad and a big thank you for a job well done in protecting our freedom
Cheers, Les.

[Spanner69]

A table that has a family history of 74 years ...... and it has remained in the family .... that is fantastic.!!

Has dad seen it? What does he think of the restoration??

[Papa]

A table that has a family history of 74 years ...... and it has remained in the family .... that is fantastic.!!

Has dad seen it? What does he think of the restoration??

My fire place surround dates back to the 1830s and has always
been in the family.

I have a ceiling lamp originally gas hanging in my study from the
1890s, also been in the family that long.

I have my great grand fathers wood working tools, and still use them.
Some from the 1860s.

We are a family of pack rats!

Yes, Dad has seen it. It is for my niece. She seems to be the "Keeper
of the scrolls".

Thanks for your comments.

We had a nice dinner and fun all round. Dad picked up the check,
who's going to tell a retired general "No"! I learned better than that
a long time ago. I served thirteen years under him as a Staff Sargent.
Believe me, I was held to a higher standard.

Just some info to put this in perspective.

I got my first airplane and license at 14.
I enlisted in the National Guard at 15.
I was a sargent 30 days before my 18th
birthday.
At 19 I was a sniper in Vietnam.
I have a degree in aeronautical engineering.
I had a new car in high school.
Dad put money away for all us kids since
we were born, foot note on that in a few.
The money has always been in our name.
No taxes that way.
We now have no money problems at all and
we all have our own retirements as well.

My Mom and Father separated when we were
about eight months old. I had polio.
Mom married my step dad when we were about
two years old.

The Dad I am talking about here is my step dad.
The greatest Dad in the world.

BTW, I am a twin. My brother passed away in 2003.

[munruben]

Work well done. Looks great. Thanks for an insight to your life. Very interesting.

[Joosh]

that looks great now

[Christos]

Nice work.

[Sebastiaan56]

There is not a straight cut or square corner on the whole
thing.

That gives me a lot of hope for my work! Great story and nice resto, well done!