A vintage metallic desk hearkens right back to a time when furniture has been constructed to last. It offers durable function and makes a decorative statement now. Vintage metal desks in particular styles, such as the tanker desk, are sought after for their looks and kitsch, not to mention their lasting practicality. Oftentimes, antique steel desks are made from steel, so they’re as sturdy as they were the day they were made.

A Basic History Briefing

Metal desks were an office mainstay after World War II on through the 1970s and 1980s, however they existed, particularly in a classroom setting, beforehand. Cast iron school desks, such as the ones made by American Seating, were common in the 1920s. They were mostly replaced with lighter-weight tubular steel desks at the 1930s. Larger school desks, together with metal tub-style storage basins under the background, populated many schools for decades. They are still located in yard sales and resale furniture shops now.

Tough as a Tanker

Among the most iconic and sought after metal desks is that the tanker desk — a beast of a table with mid-century style. The tanker is constructed of steel, withstanding more or less any type of abuse or use now as it did decades ago. It typically has two stacked drawers on one side of the seating area, three on another and a shallow drawer at the center. Various office furniture manufacturers such as McDoweel-Craig created tanker desks. The manufacturer name is occasionally found on a metal plate decorating the desk’s superficial center drawer.

Finding and Identifying the Desks

Finding vintage metal desks, if you’re trying to find a school table or even a large office desk, is often a matter of locating a salvaged furniture store, or seeing a government sale or auction when unneeded inventory is offered at occasionally bargain prices. Yard sales and thrift shops that carry furniture occasionally provide these desks, too. In some cases, big steel desks market for low prices just because some shoppers do not want the hassle of dealing with carting such big objects back home. When it comes to identifying your locate, check the drawer fronts first to get telltale plates or tags, then appear within the drawers, as these markings are sometimes concealed. In some cases, the bottom of a desktop may bear a tag or business logo.

Sprucing Them Up

If you’ve discovered a vintage desk with great structure but bad cosmetic shape, repainting it can bring it back to its former beauty or give it a completely new look in a contemporary color scheme. Clean the piece inside and out using a family degreaser, then sand it to make it more receptive to paint and primer. Metal primer prepares it to get a paint color of your choice. If the desk is full of dents, a specialty metallic paint such as a hammered finish masks the many flaws. If the top of the desk is laminate or wood and you wish to repaint it, then select a paint designed for this particular substance. Clean up and repaint the table hardware if you prefer its traditional appearance, or swap it out for something more suited for your style.