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This afternoon KFGO’s Bob Harris contacted me to get ten minutes of Dakota Death Trip Hallowe’en tales — listen to it here — in which I talked about:

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If you like automobilia, if you’re looking for some cool vintage advertising for your man cave, take a look at these vintage metal auto part storage boxes.

Original metal wall-mounted tool cabinets which once hung in Sahr’s gas and service station in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, these were pretty stinkin’ dirty. This is them after being sprayed with the hose, before any scrubbing took place. But we cleaned them up and now they are spiffy enough to use in your home.

vintage dirty wet auto part advertising sign graphics metal storage boxes

dirty with shelves mancave metal wall cases

Even better than metal advertising signs, these vintage metal cases hold things! They can be used, as they once were, as tool and supply cabinets to hold auto, fleet, farm, and marine parts; or you can store anything you’d like inside as there are shelves as seen in the photo above — but don’t worry, all clean now!

before-after-napa

I think the black and white box with the retro 70s car, boat, tractor, truck, bus, and boat graphics would be a cool way to store Matchbox and other collectible cars — for little and big boys. But once you buy it, fill it with what you like!

vintage belden auto parts wire metal wall mounted storage box

Super functional; super cool.

Uncommon pieces as they were only available to service stations, auto supply shops, and the like; not for consumers.

vintage metal filko crown jewel automotive products service station wall unit box

The taller upright metal Napa & Belden cases are likely from the late 1960s-1970s; the shorter, wider, unit with the green and gold Filko advertising is circa late 1940s-1950s.

You’ll find these items, and many others, in our booth at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market this weekend in Wisconsin. Our booth is located outside, near the entrance to the flea, in booth #214. Call 701.306.6145 if you need help finding us!

PS We travel to the flea tomorrow, so keep an eye on our Facebook Page for updates with photos!

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We salvaged a number of vintage metal rolling carts, also known as kitchen carts, utility carts, bar carts, etc. And by “salvaging” I mean they were in atrocious conditions… Rusting, covered in funky old contact paper, missing the rolling wheels, etc., they sure were “fixer uppers” for junkers like us.

vintage bar cart with contact paper

vintage metal rolling carts before

But, after lots of elbow grease, sanding, and spray painting, look how fabulous these two look!

vintage metal three tier shelf rolling cart black

The super space-age mid-century modern design begged for some red paint to go with that fancy chrome!

vintage mid century modern three tier red rolling cart and red industrial paper towel holder

Next to the cart is an vintage industrial paper towel holder that we spiffed up to match. Because what racy red bar cart doesn’t risk some spills?

These pieces, and more, will be brought to this weekend’s Elkhorn Antique Flea Market in Wisconsin, where we expect they will go quickly!

before-after-red-cart

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The opening weekend of the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market may have been rainy and not-so-nice, but we sold over half our inventory anyway! Since then, we’ve been focusing on restoring, repairing, painting, etc. of other furniture pieces in (and outside of) our shop.

derek-dahlsad-working-fair-oaks-antiques-luna-tiques-we-have-your-collectibes

But here’s a sneak peek at some of what we’ll be bringing to the next one on June 28th… That’s this weekend!

This vintage chest or cabinet served in the workshop — where it was likely made too. Note the drop-down storage and the black metal legs.

vintage-wooden-black-and-white-mancave-cabinet

vintage-black-and-white-chest

Also, a vintage cabinet & kitchen table we salvaged and painted a a creamy butter yellow. Each is properly distressed for a country prim home. (Mighty cute for the dining room or the porch!)

salvaged country primitive furniture creamy butter color

And this mossy green dresser got a few pale yellow stripes and a fresh coat of paint on top.

moss green dresser with pale yellow stripes fair oaks antiques

Last (for right now!) this cute little table we gave a shabby finish and a shiny lacquor seal so it stays chippy — but keeps too much paint from coming off. It also makes the red tone of the wood really pop!

shabby little vintage table fair oaks antiques

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Workin’ in our own workshop today — it’s equal parts storage, office & shipping headquarters, photography studio, and workshop or creative space. Just like us, this space is put to many uses! Since Antiques On Broadway closed, and we left Exit 55 Antiques, this is where we spend most of our work time. (If you see anything here that’s mentioned at being at either of those antique shops, please check our Etsy listings or contact us to see if we still have it. I’ve not yet gone about the business of updating all the links. But I’d certainly be glad to help you!)

Kind of embarrassing to show off the mess, but this is the first stop for all our estate shopping and picking hauls. I think it honestly shows just how much stuff — and work — there is in this business. How the sausage is made, so to speak. *wink* So come, take a tour!

Today we’re primarily sortin’ junk & rediscovering finds… Making piles of what needs cleaning, takin’ pictures of what’s ready to go… Busy, busy, busy! (That’s hubby there, taking photos!)

derek dahlsad fair oaks antiques photographer

This is our print station, where we custom cut, mat, and frame old prints — and those cool images we print on old paper and antique book pages. (We sell those in our new Etsy shop, LunaTique Bazaar.)

lunatique vintage print matting station

These are some — just some — of the old books we’ve rescued to recycle and upcycle for these projects. (We promise, no good books in good conditions are harmed!)

fair oaks antiques books and more books

We have lots of books; the wifey is even downsizing some of her cookbook collection!

vintage books cookbooks

And there are lots of vintage fashions and textiles to go through yet…

we have your collectibes vintage fashion and textiles

We’ve been rather focusing on the lovely vintage lingerie, lately… But who can blame us?

vintage lingerie from Fair Oaks Antiques

Soon we will begin working on larger projects, with furniture and the like. So stop back soon — and keep up with us on Facebook too. We share lots of photos and tips there.

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