Everyone says you need special display cases for vintage oil cans, but I just use old metal shelving from a hardware store.

I collect old motor oil cans, mostly from the 50s and 60s. People on here always post these fancy glass cabinets, but those cost a lot. I found a set of heavy-duty steel shelves at a place in Tacoma for 40 bucks. Cleaned them up, painted them a flat gray, and lined each shelf with a thin piece of foam. They hold over 80 cans now, look fine in my garage, and I can actually see everything. Has anyone else found a simple, cheap way to show off a collection that goes against the usual advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

troysmith19d ago

Honestly, the fancy case crowd misses the point of a garage collection. Those glass boxes feel like a museum, but your shelves look like a working parts department from the era. That flat gray paint is perfect, it doesn't fight with the labels. Makes me wonder if we over-restore things sometimes. A mint can on a pristine shelf loses its story, you know?

alicehernandez19d agoTop Commenter

Yeah but it's just old cans on a shelf. The story is you bought some old stuff and put it up. Not sure we need to make a whole philosophy out of storage paint.

blair_webb19d ago

You know, Troy saying a mint can loses its story made me remember my buddy. He had this perfect old oil can, still full. He cleaned it up so much it looked like it just came from the store. Then he realized he wiped off the little grease pencil mark from the mechanic who used it. That mark was the whole point, you know? Now it's just a shiny thing.