This last winter I ended up buying the hangar that I had been renting from my mechanic for the last 7 years. They had owned it and were the 2nd or 3rd owner. The original owner worked on the Air Force base. When they bought it, it came as is...meaning with all the treasures, clutter, and equipment that had stockpiled since it was built in 1979. My mechanic never took the time to go through all that was stashed in the hangar. It was a “working” hangar and I don’t think he had the time or interest in going through it all. So I’ve employed my kids to help me go through it all and get it cleaned out. Here is a sampling of what I’ve uncovered over the last couple of months.

Old TWA and other airline life vests and a box of brand new Victor Rat traps.




1950-1970 era military signal flares.


Dozens of cylinders and exhaust systems.


Shelves of old radios and instruments.


Thousands of machine screws and other unidentified hardware.



A couple dozen starters, alternators, and generators.


A woodruff key...so I’m told. A solid block of metal about 2’x5”x4” and 200#s!


Dozens of old oil filters.


Brand new 2.5 gallon water fire extinguisher.


This is probably the most surprising and interesting. An old shotgun stuffed up in a corner on top of the loft.





I’m still wading through it all. It’s amazing the stuff that the previous owners had hoarded. In all I’ve made 4-5 loads to the scrapyard. Yesterday I’ve found rolls and rolls of wire, electrical boxes, and all sorts of electrical stuff. Looks like it was leftovers from either the hangar or maybe if one of the owners built a home. I could probably rewire the hangar many times over with it all. It’s been interesting. You never know what will be in the next box.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Better hang onto all that stuff for the next hangar curator: "save it forward".
Your kids are sure growing up! I guess their contribution to the hangar treasures will be putting poor old Sprocket up in the rafters somewhere-- I havent seen him in any of your pics in a long time.

I bet you would be surprised what you could fleabay some of those treasures for.

What on earth uses a woodruff key that size? A ships propeller?

hotrod180 wrote:Better hang onto all that stuff for the next hangar curator: "save it forward".
Your kids are sure growing up! I guess their contribution to the hangar treasures will be putting poor old Sprocket up in the rafters somewhere-- I havent seen him in any of your pics in a long time.

Haha! He’s still around. He may not be in any of the day time shots (he’s going to be 13 in a few weeks!) but Old Sprocket is still around and still gets plenty of love. He still manages to make it into his bag to sleep with on the camp outs. Those days are numbered though I think. You can see him out growing it. Still a treasured possession.

They are getting big. They have enjoyed turning scrap metal into cash!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

aftCG wrote:What on earth uses a woodruff key that size? A ships propeller?

That’s what I’m told. The thing is heavy! The kids were really bummed when they were told my mechanic wanted to keep it. Damn near broke my back lifting it 6” to put it on a dolly!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

akavidflyer wrote:I bet you would be surprised what you could fleabay some of those treasures for.

Yeah, I might try to sell a few things...but I just don’t have the patience. I don’t want to be sitting here a year later still trying to move stuff. I’m in clean mode and just want the clutter out!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk