So, a couple years ago I spend a considerable amount of time both rebuilding and blogging about an ancient store counter that was salvaged a couple of years before that.

Yes, that's my Dad in the last picture...

Anyway, I did get the piece done and it is sitting in the shop

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I purchased (on a whim, basically) a 1924 cash register.

You see, the space where the old store counter AND the cash register sit is also where my wife and I have twice-annual garage / rummage sales. Being somewhat silly, I figured a register would make it a bit more fun to sit around the shop space that it would otherwise be. I mean, how exciting is opening a converted tackle box to make change, right?

I'll post a picture of my original drawing in this post later (not currently near it), but the idea struck me to build a custom 'counter' for the register in the same style as the vintage store counter. It would replace this setup...

Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, remember the guts of the vintage counter DO NOT represent anything like today's standard cabinet build. So a bit of strategizing is needed... How to create the recesses using less material than the inspiration piece? And, it has be done this time with standard materials, as in, I don't have access to that much 7/8" and 1" thick (clear and straight-grained) eastern white pine. Lots of custom mouldings / appliqués that build up the profiles, too.

I think it's do-able. Should it be done? Eh, probably a question for the ages. Here we go! More to come...