Sulphur Bluff, Texas, USA

6.23.2011

1949

Crib modification.

Here's a little shop talk. Melissa and I inherited a crib that my Memaw and Papa bought new from Sears in 1949 for their firstborn. Since then it has comforted over 10 children in the family. Along with a rich heritage, it had a few loose screws/bent parts, and a lot of the vertical wooden gate posts were very loose.

I wood-glued and clamped the gates so they were solid again. Then I took out the old springs and parts that once let the gates go up and down and snap into place at 5 different adjustments.

How did I fix the gates? I couldn't let them slide up and down freely on the rods, I mean we are talking precious little fingers and toes.

Set screws people, set screws. Set screws hold the world together, and with a simple allen head wrench the gates on this bed are infinitely adjustable. My friend Jon suggested that I drill a little hole in the allen wrench and run a chain through it and attach it to the bed frame for the baby to play with. Not a bad idea.

One thing I like about things that were built in 1949 is that you can work on them. There is no plastic or clippy things on this bed, it's all wood and metal and it's American Made.


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