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In years past, it was at the heart of almost all recreation centers. Scrapes and bruises were treated on it; kids as well as staff seemed to hang from it. You could kick it, stand on it, and even eat your lunch from it. This most amazing piece of recreation lore is the metal desk. To some degree, it has gone away with paper registration. But, unlike the mountainous stack of paper and the line of customers at the rec center on the first day of camp registration, the metal desk holds a special place in my heart. Where has it gone and why?
The Anatomy Of A Metal Desk
The classic metal desk is constructed of a minimum of 80-percent metal compound, although traditionalists prefer one closer to the 95-percent-plus mark. In general, there are three drawers on one side, a pencil drawer in the middle and one or two deep well drawers on the other side. The color schemes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but typically the body had a different color than the top. The tell-tale sign of a well-worn metal desk is a crater or “moon-like” design across the body, characterized by deep alternating depressions speckled with rust. In many respects it is these craters or “battle scars” that make the desks so valuable and sought after. Each depression is a story, a moment etched in time forever.
Shock And Awe
Recently I needed a desk for a satellite office I share with another employee. In the current economic climate, purchasing a new one did not seem financially sound. Instead, I asked around to see if anyone had an extra one. A week went by with no leads, and then I saw a co-worker who inquired about my search. He explained he had one desk that was collecting dust in the back of his storage shed and I was more than welcome to it. He added he was reluctant to say anything initially because the desk was a bit outdated, heavy, noisy, rusty, and an eyesore--even in his shed.