After the loss of both my grandparents on my mothers side, their house and shed has started to be sorted through. We were all able to put in any requests and everything thus far has gone well.

 

I remember as a young child, they had this cupboard in their garage which had wire around it. Granny kept her fertiliser in it. I was always scared of it because there were spiders and mice living in it. When they retired from the farm, it was moved into the large shed. It was still full of dust, spider and who knows what. I have always loved it, so after they passed, I mentioned this. No one could understand why I wanted this ugly piece of **** and Mum even mentioned that she hoped I wouldn't put it inside. I can also hear my Grandparents.... they'd be horrified I was going to keep it inside!!! It is actually a meat/food safe. There used to be a metal piece on top of it where ice was put, and then hessian was hund down over the sides. This was their 'fridge'

 

Well, anyway, as no one else wanted it, it was mine. Dad was up there 6 months ago and said it looked okay. He cleaned it out and sprayed it for spiders. I hadn't had a chance to get up there since then. I managed to sort myself out and went up Fri and came back Sat. (8hr round trip so stayed with my cousin). My aunty and I went into the shed and it was like walking into a spider trap... there were webs accross everywhere. We moved it out, along with an old hand mower I was taking. I sprayed everything with insect spray, set off a spider bomb and left.

 

The next morning there were a few dead 'individuals'. We then got to work sweaping it out as best we could. I'm not scared of being bitten by anything it was just the thought of a huntsman on me or on the car near me... and going 100km/hr. Would not have ended well! After cleaning (nothing alive was found) it was loaded up in the car for the long trip home. I droped it off at work (I work in a large factory) and used the air compressor to blast everything out of it. Man it was dusty!!!

 

I was planning on going in to do more work on it today (had a day off), but a nap were more important My next step is to use a wire brush on the mesh as it's quite rusty in places. The the whole thing will need a sand... not fun! As to finishing it, I don't want to change the look of it, just clean it up etc... so I'm probably going to use tong oil or something... just to give it it's richness back. Once finished, it will sit in my front entrance at home and will house some old pots and bottles from my grandparents place, as well as my Grandpa's farm boots and my granny's slippers.

 

okay... time for photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love what you are doing with it and keeping the memories alive... The best part when you walk through your door your granparents will be there to greet you (in spirit of course)... I love it and look forward to seeing the finished product...

I love what you are doing with it and keeping the memories alive... The best part when you walk through your door your granparents will be there to greet you (in spirit of course)... I love it and look forward to seeing the finished product...

 

Exactly! and Thank you.

You just reminded me about my great Aunt and how my brother and I were made to go and pick something from her things when it all got sorted , I felt funny about the whole thing but in the end took an old broken gramaphone and my brother took this old lounge, Since then we have both lugged these things all over the country side in different directions . All the family said we were mad with our choices as it was junk . But for us it was memories .

Have fun with the restoration , it will be worth it.

Edited January 25, 201015 yr by Matt Welchman

Wonderful I so understand where you are coming from. Hard work but you will enoy the effort and the end product. Kudos to you babe

Oh wow, I love it I love old wooden furniture and bits and bobs from the past! I think what you're doing is wonderful and it will be a beautiful memory of your grandparents.

I think you are doing a wonderful thing Maesie. l understand the meaning of restoring items for the sake of memories. When my Grandfather passed away. My family and l went into his garage to help clean it for grandma. l noticed this old horse bridle hanging in a corner, that my great grandfather used on his horses. l asked grandma if it was okay for me to take it and she said it was fine. Even though to some it is junk to them but to me l cherish it.

Edited January 25, 201015 yr by birdluv

I knew you'd all understand! Thanks. It's all about the memories and what they mean to you. I'd rather have 10 pieces of old furnature/stuff worth nothing more than treasured memories, then an expensive piece of 'something'. My older sister has one of my grandpa's hats. It's hanging up in there front room. You walk in there and it's the only thing on the side wall. It still gets me at times... it's just lovely!

No more photos as yet, but I've been cleaning it out and using a wire brush on the mesh. I have also removed the wire mesh which was on the bottom below the shelf. It serves no purpose for me... other then making cleaning it very hard. Obviously is was there to stop things getting in from underneath, but now that it will be inside and not hold food, it's not an issue. You also can't see that it's gone either. The top panels were also loose so I decided to remove these and will sand and re-attach before oiling. This also allows for better access. Next job is to lighly sand all over. Oh the joys!!! :question:

What a wonderful idea, love and what memories you will have.

When my nana passed away unbeknown to me she had left me a gold bangle one of those ones you wear on your forearm up high, I guess it was from here era where they use to wear bangles there and way I loved because it was hers and she thought of me and I also got her old doll that had never been touched. But the woolen outfit was eaten away by moths or rotted from old age, My dad won it for her when he was a young lad so it would be over 70 years old now.

Dont mean to hijack your thread Maes, but I so love these old projects. I have a project or two to do as well, inherited from my father when he was alive. He gave me an ancient old metal safe that is designed and made from the Art Nouveau era. Dated around 1890 to 1910. Its rusty looking but will spruce up real nice.....I intend to strip it back, fix the lo0cks and paint it black again with gold leaf over the flower embossed metal in the art nouveau styling.

Here is the befores

 

 

 

after will have to wait :question:

 

 

I also have the toy I rode around on when I was a kid

Looks like this......

 

I am yet to restore it.

They'll be great Kaz.

 

I have done a bit of work on the meat safe. I started sanding it and soon realised that most of the paint and stains on it would require a decent amount of hard work, even with the machines of today. I don't want to sand it back too much, as I want to keep it as it is. So, I have only lightly sanded it. After this I cleaned it all up and started oiling it. It's looking good this far.

 

I do have a delima though. The roof panels below, were painted at some stage, and this will not come off. I have tried sanding but the panels themselves are falling apart, so I don't want to do too much. My options are to re-attach and just oil over the top of the wood and paint, or paint them, I'm thinking black, and then attach. Due to the height of it, you won't really see it, it's just a matter of choice... mmm. If I do paint them, I'm not fussed about changing it too much, as again, they wont be in your face, and the black will blend in anyway.

 

By roof panels do you mean the top ?

By roof panels do you mean the top ?

 

Yeah, sorry. The top may have been replaced at some stage, as a metal tray with ice used to be on top. So they are probably not original anyway.

Edited January 31, 201015 yr by maesie

By roof panels do you mean the top ?

 

Yeah, sorry.

Check the underside of the top panels. If good, you can prise them off and turn over and then have a better surface to sand and work with.

By roof panels do you mean the top ?

 

Yeah, sorry.

Check the underside of the top panels. If good, you can prise them off and turn over and then have a better surface to sand and work with.

 

The other side are the same. I have removed them already for ease of access.

What you have is a Coolgardie Safe and rare to find in such good condition. Good to see another Australian treasure being restored.

 

Be careful using a wire brush on the wire. As you have already said it is dry but it will also be quite brittle from old age and it is possible that rust (if any) could be holding it together.

Edited January 31, 201015 yr by RIPbudgies

What you have is a Coolgardie Safe and rare to find in such good condition. Good to see another Australian treasure being restored.

 

Be careful using a wire brush on the wire. As you have already said it is dry but it will also be quite brittle from old age and it is possible that rust (if any) could be holding it together.

 

 

Yeah... it rocks I have been very careful with the wire brush and have only used it lightly and in sections. As you said, it is very brittle and I don't want it to fall apart. Thanks RIPbudgie!

This is such an exciting thread! I love antique furniture too.

Any updates on the resto job?

Yeah, after sanding lightly, I realised that the stains and old paint won't be coming off any time soon, and considering its age, I'd prob do more damage. So, I stuck with the light sand, re-atached the roof panels and have oiled it all. I wanted to keep it as original as possible, so I'm not fussed. Although the oil is natural, it STINKS!!!! I'm shocking with strong smells as I always get headaches. It's currently at work and we put it outside during the day, but this doesn't seem to be enough... so this week I'm moving it to Mum and Dad's patio. This way is will get a good airing out. I really want to get in home, but no point if it needs to be removed again...

 

Here are some photos of what I'll be displaying in it. They might not seem like much, but like the Safe, they all contain memories for me.

 

Some random bottles:

 

 

 

Some pots and preserve jars:

 

 

 

Some of my Grandpa's things, including the farm boots he was wearing before he passed.

 

 

 

And some of my Grandma's things, including the slippers she was also wearing before she passed.

 

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by maesie

Ooh Maesie, those things are fantastic! You have done such a beautiful thing with it all. I can see the memories in them They remind me of things my grandparents had. I wish I could have done something like that with my grandparent's possessions, but I was never allowed to have a say about what I could keep

l can just picture in my head what it will look like with all your items in it. It will look awesome.

That is so beautiful and i love all the sentimental items you have. it will be stunning

Oh Maesie that is so touching what a wonderful idea. You will have great memories

Edited February 8, 201015 yr by KAZ