Comic Strip Bus
This project is a bus featured in the syndicated comic strip Gordo which ran for over forty years. Gordo was a Mexican bean farmer who bought an old bus and began ferrying tourists around the interior of Mexico. The bus was a crazy thing with a bulbous body and a way-too-high back window and spare tire. This was a challenging project because the bus evolved somewhat over the years and it became necessary to decide just which version of Gordo's bus to build. The photos show something of the process as well as the result. Gordo fueled his bus with Muscatel, which he referred to as grape juice. Naturally it had a wine cask fuel tank, visible under the bus in the last photo. Mexican jitney buses were commonly named after celestial bodies, hence the name El Cometa Halley.
Fabrication of Part for Antique Gambling Wheel
A client approached us about making a missing housing for the odds device situated on top of an antique gambling wheel. The housing had to be fabricated, painted, then aged to match the patina of the wheel. The photos show the result.
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Antique toy modification
We were recently asked by a client to modify a vintage pressed steel toy 1932 Cor Cor Graham sedan into a coupe. We happily accepted the challenge and here's the result.
Vintage Industrial Air Compressor |
A client recently approached us about making a replica of a vintage industrial air compressor to display with antique Buddy L construction toys. Using photos from an old brochure, here is the result.
Cool Cremation Urn
A long-time friend and client sent us pictures of a 1950s moving van he had seen parked in front of a moving company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He asked if we could make a small version of it for him. After he got the 20 inch long finished piece he proudly announced that his ashes will be placed in the van when he leaves this life. We've never received a finer compliment.
The Biggest Metal Sculpture
From 2016 through 2019 Brian & Marlene Cowdery were actively engaged in designing and building their new home. This was a hands-on project, with concrete work and HVAC the only things done by outside contractors. Naturally, the exterior of the building is completely covered with metal. The interior also features extensive use of metal for ceilings, window trim, baseboard, and as cladding on posts and beams.
Riley Art Glass in Hot Springs, Arkansas installed a spectacular chandelier early in 2019
Shower is made from sheets of orange aluminum typically used to build race car bodies.