In these images of a recent glass assembly (2004), you can view some of the processes in the window panel making. (Photo 1.) Once a design is agreed to, a cartoon is drawn and it is transferred to a pattern sheet. Both cartoon and pattern parts are numbering alike. The pattern is cut apart removing enough pattern material to allow for the "Lead Came." (Photo 2.) Each piece of colored glass is cut to the size of one of the pattern pieces, keeping in mind the color and visual direction of the glass. (Photo 3.) The finished glass pieces are set on the cartoon in a squared frame. At this point "Came" (lead) is cut to size and wrapped around the finished glass parts.

(Left.) This image shows the Lead "Came" which is used to hold the different pieces of glass together being held in place using horse shoe nails. This method is used so the panel can be adjusted during assembly. (Right.) After the window is assembled and checked for being square, a flux is scrubbed into the lead joints and the panel is soldered together. The final step is to seal the window using a semi liquid old-fasion puddy.

The final lamp design can be seen mounted on this wonderful Bronze flower girl lamp marked on the base, "S. Kestner."

Click the image to enlarge

This custom built table top was assembled for use in the studio. It is 4 X 8 ft. in size and was based on a sheet of 3/4" plywood. The field wood used is Hard Maple for durability and it was boardered by lines of Black Walnut on the inner boxes and an outer frame of Brazilian Cherry. In order to cover the end grain of the plywood and to match the top, the edge of the top was covered by cut maple. The last detail was to silver solder and install brass eccussions in each corner to hold magnifying desk lights. In order to seal the wood from stains it was sanded and coated with a epoxy hardwood floor sealer.

The only difference between restoring "child size" furniture and a "full sized" piece, is the size of the wood parts, all parts and joints take the same amount of time to reproduce. This, four foot tall, oak china cabinet was restored in the studio in the mid 90s. It was a family piece that had been bought "used" for the current owners mother and aunt, in the early 1940s, It was passed down through three people and two generations. Restoration was undertaken to pay honor to the owners mother who was the first in the family member to possess it and to, in time, pass it to the next generation.

Case as seen in the first image was totally apart when it was brought to the studio, having just been stripped. When re-assembled prior to restoration it was found only four of the 10 parts of the two bottom doors were with the parts when delivered. One of the doors was partially there, the other door was never on the cabinet when it was gotten from the owners aunt. In all of the time the current owner had it, the bottom was always covered with a curtain.

Fully restored, it proudly sits in the entrance way of their home for all to see. The detail pieces carved in the bottom doors centers were made following the pattern of the top carving in the center.

This tree cup was machined for a tree stand with a "T" type winding key.

Since the initial production of these replacement "Tree Cups."

I have been able to reproduce another style of these necessary parts of the Christmas Tree Stand. Unlike the cups I have been making, this cup was taken

directly from an originial very detailed stand cup.

So it is important to note that not every detail transfered 100% and they do very from cup to cup. These cups have a cast taper in their bottom and a hollow in the top for the tree

"VERBENA"; The second, "REIG" and was printed in the same yellow color on the round barrel door. The barrel door also had the words "PATENADO", "MADE IN SPAIN" & "MUSIC BY REIG." This small but nicely made toy, painted a slick maroon, was screen printed with 4 pictures on it's front. It also had a stylized yellow note and line boarder design on it's case. Glued onto the back of the piano was an instruction sheet marked #728 or #72B.

In order to repair this piano, I had to remake the pot-metal barrel shifting cam, that was in pieces in the bottom of the piano case. Judging from what this cam was made of and how bad this part was when I started, I believe others may need this same part.

These final two photos show an orginial VERBENA snail cam, (later found,) setting next to the machined casting I made to replace the broken cam.

I still have a few of these castings for sale at $125.00 USD (post paid with in the United States.)

This Memorial shadow box was designed and built for Lieutenant Xxxx Xxxx, a Glider Pilot Who earned the Bronze Star (seen being decorated by General Omar Bradley) for his part in the World War II - D-Day Invasion. The finished piece was made of walnut and was covered with UV glass to protect the contents from light. To start, the client knew he wanted to have a memorial to his father, who had served his country with honor in WW-II. He also knew he wanted it about 20"x 30". The rest was in the air. The items for memorial were gathered together and then loosely arranged to get a sense of the space and items involved. They were then moved and adjusted to develop an over all look.

This restoration is actually not about the "actual" gum machine but the marriage between the machine and the cast iron table base.

The machine was well preserved but always supported a breakage worry. These coin-op's were made to be securely fastened to a stand or a store counter and were also made to hold up to years of service. Because this unit was not fastened to anything, it was a hazard. When the kids put a penny in the machine and started turning the handle the machine always tried to turn over.

This cast iron table base was located at a local Flea Market. It was found very rusty and could not be easily be taken apart. It was first wire brushed to remove the loose rust. Then it was heat treated

This set of valve or deck boards were made from scratch for an early 88 note Steinway "AR", Duo-Art, Reproducing Grand Piano. They were made of aged white poplar and were constructed using three story poles (two of which are setting on top of this stack)

What's a Story Pole? Story poles have been used throughout history as measuring devices. These "Story Poles" were marked with every dimension necessary to build this assembly. Un-like conventional rulers, story poles have no fractional increments and are used for building a specific item.

The latest O-27 layout Johns and I built, was assembled in 2003. It is very different from any other we had ever built, in that it sticks out from John's basement wall only six inches. It is simply two tracks at eye level that run the length Johns house. on one end both tracks totally disappears into a wall, (Seen on the left photo, left side.) While in the wall it runs through his wash machine room, turns around in a storage closet, then heads back through the wash machine room again, out of the wall and down the long stretch. The train runs along the wall sixty foot down-line where it turns around on an exposed turn around loop, (seen on the right side of the right image.) It was a fun project, and is very low Maintaince too.