"What we don’t have is a gallery of relevant office space images. Let’s do this – shall we?" With the appropriate emphasis on "relevant." Make sure your office is either hot rodded or customized in a traditional manner. No billet staplers or electric pencil sharpeners. Tastefully hidden electronics only, and lets see some typewriters out there!
“You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. Imagine if you will, I have a classic traditional office instead of a space which looks as if a bomb detonated, I leave the image to your imagination. HRP
OK... I've got a story that is sort of relevant. Picture this: 1969, an Italian-made twin plug distributor, crafted in very small numbers for a German car manufacturer that is off topic to this joint. Just know - this thing is rarer than a sober Hemingway sighting. It also needed some serious TLC. But the third-party rebuild scene? Well, let's just say it had a reputation shakier than a politician's promise. And the cost? Astronomical. Enter an old-timer in Germany, a relic from the factory line glory days, the custodian of these distributors for the damn factory museum. Grumpy as a cat on a diet, and he wouldn't touch non-factory gigs. I concocted a plan. I dusted off my typewriter, broke out the traditional letterpressed stationery, and banged out two letters. Number one: A 350-word tearjerker about my distributor, how it's the beating heart of my existence, you know, the whole shebang. And number two: The same sob story, but in German, courtesy of our dear friend Google Translate. Now, the strategy here? I figured, this cranky relic might just be a softie deep down, nostalgic for the good ol' days of correspondence. A week later, I get an empty prepaid box in the mail, ready for my precious distributor, accompanied by a letter that dropped wisdom like a Zen master: "Es wird kosten, was es kosten." Translation? "It will cost what it costs." Bravely, I packed up my baby and shipped it off. Fast forward a week or so, and lo and behold, it returns to me looking like it just rolled off the assembly line. No letter, no invoice, just my distributor wrapped in wax paper. I try calling the museum, but they've got their defenses up. Another letter goes unanswered. Months pass, and all I can figure is that this old-timer did it on his own dime. And if that's the case, I reckon my rusty typewriter and a bit of good ol' bravery might've just cracked that grumpy exterior. Who knows, but one thing's for sure - I'm super grateful.
This ^ story is amazing. Not to short Neil any deserved accolades for his incredible office space, but that tale is incredible. Whichever end of it one finds himself, to be able to participate in something so kind (?) at its essence is enviable.
very inspiring, makes one want to doll up a corner of the hamster cage, a control center for the chaos. a desk, file cabinets and shelves all sealed of from the grit and grime
A tire ashtray, bias ply of course. When I finish a project, it will look really nice for about a day. Then all the stuff I moved out of the way to do the project start rolling back in a little at a time. Within a week it's a disaster again.
Inspiration, can come from many sources, and when it does, it can produce some interesting results. So cool that a lot of older geezer's, still have some very cool manual type-writer's.
WoWser! Been more than a few days since I wandered into any place that even vaguely resembled this ‘work’ place. A rotary phone on the desk would be an appropriate addition.
Thank you for the kind words on the office, and my 5w project. I was really trying to achieve the look and feel of a 1920's-1940's era machine shop/auto repair shop office space. The ceiling was a big part of this space, and I almost didn't do it due to costs. Luckily my wife talked me into spending the extra (not usually her MO ;-)) on the 2x6 T&G. She said, you are going to sit in that office and forever regret that you didn't follow your vision. I am so glad she did that, as it is one of my favorite details in the office. And my mom has an old black rotary desk phone that the grand kids used to play with. I've been meaning to ask if I can have it for my desk, as I agree it would fit right in. Neal
Barrister cabinet, display cabinet, brick wall paper and Edison lights......love it. I've been collecting the same sorta furniture but in metal (50s/60s) for my second room (the office) at home. For me it's just regular furniture around the house .
This is the late Gene Hetland's shop office/parts dept. The desk is behind the leather office chair so I figure its within the office description. Every drawer and shelf was full of '32 parts. Sure wish I had taken more photos.
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