Old School Heavy Metal

[Mo_Gearhead]

No you friggin’ Head Bangers - not music, I‘m talking about tools!

I love estate auctions, went to one yesterday and again today. When I was first starting to spin wrenches I bought a drop light, for use at night, laying under that M%$#&%F###$ 1955 Chevy I had at the tender age of 16. It was a great drop light ...metal cage and indestructible. You could put a 5000 watt bulb in it (if you could find one) and all that would happen would be a chance of suffering third-degree burns on any bare body part that accidentally came in contact with it. Can’t recall what happened to it, but over the years I came to own several PLASTIC P.O.S. drop lights that seemed to melt with anything with more wattage than some school girl’s Easy-Bake Oven lamp!

No more plastic for MO!



It needed a new cord - ten minute fix. I’m back to third-degree torture baby!

One mans junk equals;



MADE IN AMERICA, steel, roll-around, step/seat made of ˝” hollow steel tubing and sheet metal. It’s the type that has wheels mounted on coil springs.



A nudge with your foot or hand sends it easily rolling to the position desired. Step up (or sit) on it and your weight on the light weight springs retracts the wheels and you are standing (sitting) on the solid steel frame.

Some 150 grit sandpaper, two Miller Genuine Draft (bottle only) and ninety minutes later;



The ‘white’ coloration is a product called ‘Must for Rust’ (if you are not using it on your bare metal to prevent rust …I …disown you!)

Next steps; a rattle can of Hunter Green, some new wheels and replace the sandpaper-like traction strips on the top and step areas.

Ok …I can hear some of you, WTF ? Why, when you could be out on the lake or playing tennis? ( I’m doing both tomorrow!)

Three reasons;

1. They weren’t made in CHINA.
2. They aren’t PLASTIC.
3. Because I can!

Someday, when I cash in, I hope some young gearhead buys this crap at my estate sale, takes it home and ponders the fact; “Geez, they really did use to make things in America!”

** Droplight cost = Buck-fifty Rolling Step = Four dollars