The things you find cleaning out old barns.

[gregfender]

My Dad never threw anything away. This became painfully obvious after he passed away. When I started cleaning the old barn so I could tear it down and salvage what I could, you would be amazed at what I found. Just a sample...



20 old oak school cafeteria chairs. All of them in excellent condition. Two old wooden student desks.



14 old enamel light fixtures from an old school gym. A local vintage furniture/fixture retailer has some exactly like this priced at $99. Every single one is in great shape. I am going to use the shades as the fixtures for the lights in my new shop.




A trailer full of cedar shingles. I reckon I can find a use for these too.




And then there is the tailgate from a 70s Chevy truck...cause you never know when you might need one.

 

[smstonypoint]

Thanks for posting.

My parents were the same way -- they lived through the Depression and, although not poverty-stricken, were never well-off in a material sense. "Don't throw things away, we may find a use for them later."

BTW, the minor blemishes on that tailgate will buff right out.

Steve

 

[jveretto]

My dad never threw anything away. A huge pile of junk around an oak tree kept an angry horse from trampling me to death. After dad worked the horse in the garden, she blamed me! She would come after me (a kid) with teeth bare wanting to do bodily harm. I would run in between the piles of junk where she could not follow! Eventually it became a game for but the first few times I thought I was a goner!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I rescued some light fixtures like that (Edison base rather than mogul base) and installed them in my barn, with 'Y' adapters and two compact fluorescents in each one. They reflect a lot of light down where it needs to be, and the screens protect the bulbs against breakage. You can buy mogul to Edison adapters if you have a place for them.

Mogul To Edison Adapter: Price Finder - Calibex
Ace Ivory Twin Light Bulb Socket Lampholder Y-Adapter 33777 - Amazon.com

 

[jimmyj]

Cool stuff. You better call those picker guys!

 

[tcartwri]

When my Dad and my Father in Law passed away a few years ago, we threw dumpsters ( plural ) of stuff that they had saved. It was amazing some of the stuff we discovered, like all of our 8mm film reels from when we were kids. I have been slowly getting them converted to dvd.

 

[cartod]

That is still good junk today. I'd keep it. :confused3:

 

[farmgirl19]

I still use a wheelbarrow that my grandad made! Quality never goes out of style, and even before the Depression, folks didn't think of everything as being disposable. Much of that old stuff will work and be in use long after the next generation has moved on, if you don't scrap it.

Thanks for posting!

 

[Thomas]

Like they say..another man junk another man treasure.

Be sure to look in corners and under boards,you might be surprise what you find.

 

[George2615]

When my Dad and my Father in Law passed away a few years ago, we threw dumpsters ( plural ) of stuff that they had saved. It was amazing some of the stuff we discovered, like all of our 8mm film reels from when we were kids. I have been slowly getting them converted to dvd.

You guys must be younger than me. I have a few 8mm movies I took in my younger days but most of my Dads movies that I have are 16mm (big reels). I have the projector, screen and all I need to view the old memories. I was also brought up to save everything as you never know when you might need it. My current bosses don't like my pack rat mentality. I should take them somewhere to get them converted to DVD's before the film dries out too much.