Hello everyone and welcome to my new column Shop Talk. The idea for this column came from my colleagues here at Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) after hearing me always talk about the activities and projects taking place in my garage.
I’ve had the workshop in my garage for a long time; 20 years, I guess, since I built the 28 by 45-foot detached garage. On the back end of the garage is a heated and insulated area which serves as my workshop. Some of the first items in the shop were a workbench of course, air compressor, bench grinder and a small drill press.
Next to the outside entrance is a sign made by my granddaughter with help from me which proudly displays the name, Papa’s Playhouse. And, yes, there’s a story behind the name. One day while I was traveling overseas, I received a phone call from an exited granddaughter who was just learning to speak saying, “Papa, men are making you a new playhouse”. I still say she had help coming up with that one.
Over the years, some cool machines have graced the space, most notable, my last airplane, a 1946 Luscombe 8A and a parts Luscombe or two, a 1949 Allis Chalmers B tractor and a couple motorcycles and bicycles. The shop has also provided space for maintenance on cars, a variety of yard and garden machines and the occasional repair or restoration of a piece of furniture or whatever happens to end up there.
A few years ago, I began spending more time at home and less time traveling. This meant more time in the Playhouse. I guess subconsciously, I was planning for the years ahead when I would work less and enjoy more me time. I did a refresh of sorts in the shop which began by cleaning and organizing my tools and toolboxes. One of these boxes is a Bonney and was the very first toolbox I purchased in 1974 when I was preparing to attend Aviation Maintenance (A&P) School. More cleaning and organizing of cabinets and shelves, selling some old airplane parts, adding a new table saw to the shop, a new surface on an old workbench.
Pictures, posters, model airplanes and aviation memorabilia, much of which was packed away in the house, is now proudly on display in the Playhouse. With a few propellers mounted on the wall, an Aeronca and Baby Great Lakes wing hung from the ceiling, Papa’s Playhouse took on a new life, a personality - my space, my personal museum, workshop, mancave, call it what you want, it’s also a much-welcomed hideaway during the long Minnesota winters.
I’m looking forward to writing future Shop Talk columns, which are intended to highlight any number of topics like tools, equipment, airplane projects, flying adventures, maintenance topics and likely some reminiscing about my life in aviation.
Keep ‘em flying safely,
Ron
