Interesting old porcelain sink, counter, refrigerator unit

[MRM]

When we did our basement a few years ago we went with a porcelain vanity that looks very much like your kitchen sink setup. We love it. I strongly suggest retaining all the porcelain fixtures and cabinets. The feel of porcelain is somehow better even than granite, marble or Corian.

Very nice artwork, by the way. Very inviting and comfortable space. Maybe you can make an offer that includes the wall hangings?

[Pazuzu]

Are you still buying in town as well, or are you going to rent here?

And, when do you want the observatory built?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Are you still buying in town as well, or are you going to rent here?

And, when do you want the observatory built?

We are currently renting in the Montrose area, about 1/4 mile from the AIG building and bayou. We will probably buy something in the burbs next year closer to the grandkids once the kids figure out what they are doing.

According to the Internet, the place should be ~Bortle 4 which is very exciting.



And I've been planning to get one of these.
100mm ED bino-telescope. Interchangeable EP, hence the bino-telescope vs just "binocular"


Lightweight (10#) and easy to move around.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting. I would wonder if these were original except that they have an integrated refrigerator that would not have been possible in 1920.

I should have been more clear. I have 6 units in my building. A couple of them have metal cabinetry and it is not original. It was built in 1910 or so and all of the kitchens are different even though the layout of 4 of them is identical. I don't think any of them are original. It's just been redone over the years at different times and some of the previous owners were cheap as heck. I'm sure they used whatever was the least expensive or even used at the time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

I should have been more clear. I have 6 units in my building. A couple of them have metal cabinetry and it is not original. It was built in 1910 or so and all of the kitchens are different even though the layout of 4 of them is identical. I don't think any of them are original. It's just been redone over the years at different times and some of the previous owners were cheap as heck. I'm sure they used whatever was the least expensive or even used at the time.

Gotcha.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by masraum

According to the Internet, the place should be ~Bortle 4 which is very exciting.

The dark site for the Houston club is probably a mile away https://goo.gl/maps/LqvFUgDiFZLCpu2N8

And I've been planning to get one of these.
100mm ED bino-telescope. Interchangeable EP, hence the bino-telescope vs just "binocular"


Lightweight (10#) and easy to move around.

Still, would be better in an observatory...sexy observatory...designed and built by your local observatory guy...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

The dark site for the Houston club is probably a mile away https://goo.gl/maps/LqvFUgDiFZLCpu2N8


Still, would be better in an observatory...sexy observatory...designed and built by your local observatory guy...

True that! I mentioned your comment to the missus and she said something like "that would be cool." So it could happen. Although it may take a while before we're ready as there are going to be lots of projects to do to the house itself before we start doing extra stuff. Actually, when I'm ready to purchase, I may reach out to see what sort of gear you've got available.

8.8 miles away, our property is just North of I10.

[Jolly Amaranto]

Near the greater metropolitan town of Borden. I can wave as I haul down 10 at 80 MPH.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

Near the greater metropolitan town of Borden. I can wave as I haul down 10 at 80 MPH.

Yes, exactly, the address is Weimar, but on the map, it's Borden. Between 10 and 90 at 210.

[daepp]

I've seen many of these over the years in cool old houses in So Cal.

An electric stove next to a sink - what could possibly go wrong?
(And from the days when they didn't ground everything...)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by daepp

I've seen many of these over the years in cool old houses in So Cal.

An electric stove next to a sink - what could possibly go wrong?
(And from the days when they didn't ground everything...)

whacky, but also cool. Is that a fridge underneath?

[daepp]

Yep

I just never could get comfortable with water so close to voltage.....

[VINMAN]

That same sink/fridge/cabinet setup in the OP, was standard in all of our NY Telephone Co break rooms, back when I started working with them back in the 80's. Only difference was most had a 2 burner electric cooktop above the fridge. There are probably still a few around.


.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by daepp

Yep

I just never could get comfortable with water so close to voltage.....

Fortunately, we never see these shower heads..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

That same sink/fridge/cabinet setup in the OP, was standard in all of our NY Telephone Co break rooms, back when I started working with them back in the 80's. Only difference was most had a 2 burner electric cooktop above the fridge. There are probably still a few around.


.

That's very cool. Thanks for the info.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by daepp

Yep

I just never could get comfortable with water so close to voltage.....

Some people do it on purpose.
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/08/denki-buro-electric-baths-of-japan.html

Many public bath houses in Japan have special pools lined with live metal electrodes for those peculiar bathers who would rather have actual electricity surging through their bodies than have coffees like normal folks. These baths are known as denki buro or “electric baths” and they are found throughout Japan.

Whatever you had learned about the deadly combination of electricity and water at primary school, you can experience first hand at a denki buro. The bather sits in a small pool between two plates of opposite electric polarity and lets a low-level electric current to pass through their body. The current induces mild shock causing the muscles to contract and develop a tingling sensation which some people find relaxing while others find it painful. Electric baths are said to provide relief from rheumatism and spondylitis

The history of deniki buro is difficult to trace, but they've clearly been around since at least 1928 when a story called Denkiburo no Kaishi Jiken (“The Case of the Suspicious Death in the Electricity Bath”) was published. Electrotherapy itself has existed since the 18th century when it was first used at a London hospital for unknown therapeutic purposes.

During the 1940s, the U.S. War Department gave electrotherapy to wounded soldiers to retard and prevent atrophy as well as to restore muscle mass and strength. Electrotherapy was also used with positive results in the treatment of cancer. In 1985, the journal Cancer Research published a remarkable study where researchers reported 98% shrinkage of tumor in animal subjects when treated with electrotherapy for only five hours over five days.

Although its effectiveness has not been conclusively proved, electrotherapy is often used as alternative treatment for back pain, muscle pain, headaches and migraines, arthritis, disorders of the nervous system, neuromuscular dysfunction and a host of other conditions.

According to the popular health information portal WebMD, electric current may cause people to experience less pain because “the electricity from the electrodes stimulates the nerves in an affected area and sends signals to the brain that block or "scramble" normal pain signals.” According to another theory, electrical stimulation of the nerves helps the body to produce natural painkillers called endorphins, which may block the perception of pain.

As always, it’s always advisable to consult your physician before you tryout new therapies especially those that involve electricity. And stay clear of denki buro if you’ve got a pacemaker installed or have a heart condition.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

That same sink/fridge/cabinet setup in the OP, was standard in all of our NY Telephone Co break rooms, back when I started working with them back in the 80's. Only difference was most had a 2 burner electric cooktop above the fridge. There are probably still a few around.


.

Originally Posted by masraum

That's very cool. Thanks for the info.

It's a Dwyer Kitchenette

.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

It's a Dwyer Kitchenette

.

Cool, thanks.