Original Ford Dealer Parts Shelving from the Teens

[Russ_Furstnow]

A number of years age, my good friend Bill Bohlen called me and asked if I knew of anyone who wanted to purchase some Ford shelving. I said I would take them!! The shelves are wood and were used some time during the teens. Years prior, Bill had purchased these shelves from Gerry Rader, the wife of the late Bill Rader. Rader had a parts business and bought the shelves years sometime earlier. Unfortunately, Bohlen did not know where the Ford dealer and the shelves were located when the shelves were in use at the original Ford dealership.

The shelves stand seven foot tall and are built in six foot sections. They weigh around 300 pounds each and are constructed from soft wood with not one knot in the wood!! They are stained a dark color and have wooden drawers for small parts. The drawers have the Ford part number stenciled on the drawer faces. In the drawers, the part numbers are stamped above each area where the small parts are placed. The open bins are stenciled with the Ford part number so the correct part can be easily found. I have compared the part numbers found in the [uFord ]Price List of Parts[/u]from 1915 and 1916, and they seem to match the part numbers found on the shelves.

I have not made an attempt to place the original parts in the bins as this would be an monumental task, but I have placed some original parts in the bins for display purposes. It would be interesting to find other shelves that match these shelves.

[Russ_Furstnow]

Additional Photos of the shelves.

[Will_Vanderburg]

Love the space for the wishbone.

[Original Smith]

I remember seeing those shelves when Bill Bohlen had them. They are very well made, and you are lucky to have them. I have a late metal Ford parts shelf, and it's full of everything!

[Rich Eagle]

Thanks for posting that. It is great to see it.
Rich

[Wayne Sheldon]

I had heard about those shelves many years ago. I did not know Bill Bohlen, but knew of him. I believe I first heard about them when he had them. I had also at some point heard that you had gotten them.
Nice to finally see a good photo of them!
Thank you.

[Rich P. Bingham]

It's wonderful those shelves have been preserved. Thank you for posting these pictures. It's a treat to see !

[Kaiser]

I do hope it ends up in one of the museums one day, Piquette or the MTFCA museum ?

[Steve Jelf]

What a wonderful relic! I love the wishbone niche.