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The Old House Furniture

What did I find in my garage?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Some quick info: I live in a rental house with some close girlfriends of mine and our was built in 1960, we love the old appliances and look of the home but often we find lots of things not knowing their purpose as they have gone out of fashion for modern homes.

While decluttering the back room of the garage, we found this piece bolted to the wall. We love the way it looks so we removed the bolts to take it out to get a better look. Anyone know what this was meant for/why it would be bolted to the back of the room in the garage? We are assuming its a kitchen piece because we found a matching cutting board a while ago in the kitchen pantry, its a flecked gold pattern.

Also any tips on how to clean it up and make it look somewhat new again? We considered painting over it but it is mainly metal. The top shelf has some strange divets in it, not sure what those are for either. Any ideas are appreciated!

Featured Answer

agnes59

5 years ago

Hi Molly

Perhaps it was used in a medical office as storage for any number of items. Not sure what the divots were used for. Perhaps something attached into them? Dividers of some sort?

Or maybe it was a kitchen sideboard/hutch unit? I grew up in a home which was built in 1958 and the kitchen cabinets resembled the bottom part of this unit.

It was probably re-purposed in the garage for storage of "this and that" and bolted to the wall for safety's sake if heavy objects were placed on the upper shelves.

Just a word of advice: prior to removing it and painting it, you had better check with your landlord as this is or rather was, attached to a wall and considered part of the rental home. Get his/her permission to do so. Don't know how your landlord is!

Agnes

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Comments (6)

HU-704900276
5 years ago
Hi, you have found a nice piece of furniture! I think you can first scrub it and then repaint it with suitable paints. But first talk with the owner to avoid problems ....
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I immediately thought of one of my kids' favorite books--for a while anyone who entered our house was asked to read it. One day my toddler son, by way of asking for the book, asked my BIL, "Do you like 'My Mother'?" BIL, got a strange look on his face, and said, "Of course I like your mother." I had to explain that son called it 'My Mother Book.' :) Back to the kitchen: It is of a style that makes my little heart go pitter-patter, but I agree that the layout could use some help.
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Fori
5 years ago
Cool. Very atomic. It might have had a plate rail that attached by fitting into the little holes.
suedonim75
5 years ago
I believe the holes are for hooks, to hang cups. You can totally paint that. You need to clean all the rust off of it with steel wool. Then use spray paint to primer and paint. It could be a really cool piece.
Helen
5 years ago
It looks like it is semi-hand made as I think the top was built to go on top of the storage cabinet. The storage cabinet looks pretty typical for inexpensive kitchen storage from that era. My father was pretty handy and this looks like something he would have jerry rigged for additional storage. Growing up he built a very "mad men" type of wall unit for the den.

The house I grew up in was built pre WW I for a working class family so the original kitchen was pretty basic - It had one built in cupboard - and when I say cupboard I literally mean cupboard in the sense of it being one piece floor to ceiling - with shelves on the top and the equivalent of cabinets on the bottom - probably about 3 feet wide. Think Mother Hubbard :-)

My mother bought some kind of metal free standing cabinet for additional storage - two drawers and storage underneath. The sink was also free standing and I suspect was an "upgrade" from the original sink. It was a self contained sink with the sink at one end - a drain board at the other and a cabinet below.
klem1
5 years ago
I think it's a home made cupboard. BTW Molly B,I lover your Polka Party on RFDTV. (:

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