Last Chance Garage in Unionville, PA

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Rock Hornbuckle

If and when I find myself in 10-uh-C, I would love to see your shop. I'm always up for learning something more about the restoration of vintage autos.

Feel free to do so. Many 'barners have stopped in for a visit when their travels bring them thru the area.

[jkeesey]

April 20th we will be having the local model A club meet at my shop to prep for Renningers the following weekend. Anyone is welcome to bring their A I will have my main lift open for quick service.

[DGNY]

Thanks for sharing this great story and the photos. They take me back to a garage of my youth in the 50s - that of Robert Wood of Lockport, NY, a stone's throw north from the city's original Erie Canal locks.

Robert and his skilled assistant [who happened to be a black man] tuned, serviced, painted and rebuilt all makes, with an emphasis on Cadillacs and LaSalles, and specialties in engines and painting. [Sorry, few Fords in view.] All in the midst of what today would be deemed 'disorganization'. But when Bob explained the angles on valves while operating his machine, it all made sense.

Modern garages are wonderful, but the old ones grow more fascinating to me as the years roll.

Regards,

Dyson

[trulyvintage]

I just stopped for the day outside Columbus, OH.

I am glad to share the story of Lou and his shop.

I am pleased that most of you guys liked the pictures
and the story .....

Having talked to him on Thursday, he started his shop
back in 1980 with another guy who worked on foreign
autos in a second building (now used as a body shop).

That guy is no longer operating.

Lou just makes ends meet, his is not rich in money
but he is one of those guys who is rich in friends.

His shop is a building constructed in the 1800's
they bought from the town .......

I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to
be in a position to meet great people like Lou
and travel this beautiful country .....

By the way, Lou owns a Model A Phaeton
that he drives in the Spring and Summer,
he showed it to me at the shop in an adjacent
room at his shop under a car cover ...




Jim

[QGolden]

I was looking at some of the pictures you posted and read of the signs. I got a kick out of this line:

Happy Motoring:

"Pump a mixture of chopped feathers and hot molasses into a worn tire to extend its life. Messy in case of a blowout".

Reminds me of an experience when I was a kid, there was a local "Clam Bar" down the road, for those of you not form New England, there was a time when there were a lot of Mom and Pop drive in restaurants. Usually a small , seasonal, family operation. We called them "Clam Bars" as it was walk up service only and they served deep fried foods, Whole Belly Clams were popular. Anyway, I was 14 or so and taking apart anything that I could get my hands on just to see how it worked, and hanging on a pole in front of the now closed down Clam Bar was a large commercial Bug Zapper. When the place was open I would beg my folks to eat at the picnic tables just so I could watch that bug zapper do it's job. Especially cool when a June Bug would get into it. Long story short, after they closed down I managed to talk the owner out if it if I took it down for him, so 3 of my buddies and I climbed the pole and took it down and carried it home. It took all 4 of us to carry it. So we were going to take it apart and I remember there was a small brass plate on the side of it. It had the the make and model and specs etc. but at the bottom of the plate was the following line:

Warning: this unit contains 50,000 volts, safe but unpleasant.

[trulyvintage]

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Jim

[ct1932ford]

Loved it THANKS!

[Terry, NJ]

One of the most successful people I've ever known, started out in life, working for his father in the family's greenhouse. Dick and his brother, Bob eventually had to buy it from their father. That's BUY, Not inherit! Anyway, Dick is a Minerologist in addition to being a Florist. Bob is a car nut, 55,56,57Chev's and Corvettes. Later Military Vehicles. The green house was probably 60/40 Retail / wholesale. The land was about 3 1/2 acres. The back of the land was rented to a contractor to pack backhoes etc. Another part was dedicated to Bob's Car collection, as they came and went! Things were kinda helter skelter. A new Chassis or body here, a new pile of rocks there. Yet it was interesting! Never Boring! The old tools hanging on the walls were real, not the faux yuppie "Ambiance" that is so common today. Some of the Benches still had their original cyprus boards from 1910. Once Dick got a manikin's legs in some deal and arranged them to appear as though someone was sleeping behind some boxes. It was funny to see. The point is, They did everything wrong (By the book) and they made money and friends. The place was cluttered, an ever shifting morass of cars, minerals and plants. Yet the public didn't seem to mind. They came and spent! And they knew Dick and Bob weren't ripping them off.
Terry

[sawzall]

Having had the oppertunity to work for lou, and spend a good bit of time at the shop I can identify the sentiments of the O.P/ (trulyvintage)

what does concern me is the judgements being made based on a few photos on the interwebs..

heaven forbid if someone see the mess in my shop just now..

[Bob/Ohio]

Great story and pictures of a man who loves old cars and the hobby. Who cares what his shop looks like, as long as it makes him happy. I only hope I can find the garage at 93, let alone still do work and be able to tell some great stories. Some people just miss the point.

Bob

[jkeesey]

Funny story about Lou, when he was teaching on hot days they had all the windows open in the school. His favorite thing to do was to drive his old truck down with the bed full of manure and park it right outside.

[trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by sawzall

Having had the oppertunity to work for lou, and spend a good bit of time at the shop I can identify the sentiments of the O.P/ (trulyvintage)

what does concern me is the judgements being made based on a few photos on the interwebs..

heaven forbid if someone see the mess in my shop just now..

That sums it up

The minute he rolled back that barn door to the shop,
I had a smile on my face that did not leave for quite awhile
after I had left Lou

Thank you for chiming in ...




Jim

[trulyvintage]

I visited with Louie a couple weeks ago .....

Still going strong ....

He could use some help at the shop so I will be starting a separate thread.

In the meantime - Louie with his $10 Hudson Commodore Straight 8 he bought get in 1969 when he was in college .....


Jim

[midgetracer]

Loved the post Jim. It took me back to my college days and a Texaco in my hometown where all us guys hung out and the owner could fix anything for a small fee. It was a time I'd like to go back to.

[Terry, NJ]

Is this shop still going? I have a job for him! Unionville is not that far away.
Terry

Originally Posted by trulyvintage

I visited with Louie a couple weeks ago .....

Still going strong ....

He could use some help at the shop so I will be starting a separate thread.

In the meantime - Louie with his $10 Hudson Commodore Straight 8 he bought get in 1969 when he was in college .....


Jim

[Oldbluoval]

Neat shop comment.........
If a really neat shop is a litmus test of quality....I fail. But, a neat shop facilitates the following
Ease in finding things (organization)

Time savings
SAFETY
Cleanliness


A one-man shop can be what ever it is. If more than one, everything has a place and everything is to be in its place. "Put your tools up everyday and you can find them tomorrow".....my Dad, circa 1950's; sorry Dad, I get a C- on my report card.

[trulyvintage]

Louie is still going strong & doing everything from scheduled maintenance to full restorations.

Last Chance Garage
610-347-2394



Jim