I have an antique rolling ladder...

Question

And I want to save it from the burn pile! 
 It is oak, and in very good condition. There is an anti-slip sticker of some sort on each tread. It still has the original rolling hardware. 
 I do not want to use it as a rolling ladder, however, I would like to use it somehow, and I am willing to saw it shorter. It's 140' tall by 14' wide. 
 Does anyone have any fabulous ideas? I have many tools and I am very handy! Thanks so much!

ETA: this is a circa 1940-1950's telephone ladder with hand-rail and top brake. (I did some research after I posted the question.. just like me putting the cart before the horse!)

Z · Answer

Wow! What an awesome find Christina. 
 I'd hang it as a shelf (using decorative brackets) in a laundry room with the hand rail down and in front to use as a clothing rod. You could attach a piece of wood across the top adding extra storage.

Nancy Toy · Answer

I was thinking the same but as a coat rack and use the top for gloves hats etc .You could cut it and th e part without the hand rail use as a shelf . On it's side it could also hold books.

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Christina D there are quite a few ideas on this site, I listed a few below. You could also suspend this outside on the deck or in a gazebo and put twinkle lights on it for an evening fairy effect, also hang some plants from it. Could be used in a garage or workshop to hang tools and cords on. It looks like a ladder worthy of saving. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/garden/re-purposed-ladder-becomes-trellis-1573655 http://www.hometalk.com/diy/laundry-room-ladder-drying-rack-701705 http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-449189

GranArt · Answer

lean it up against the house and sit or hang plants on it. Maybe hang a few bird houses off the sides further up the ladder. That would look so cool!

Tamela Bowie Interiors · Answer

I would make it shorter and suspend it from the ceiling in your kitchen to be used as a pot-rack. Get some 's' hooks and hang them on the rungs to hold your pots.

Donna Gill · Answer

I used on old ladder to make a divided herb garden.

Christina D · Answer

Thanks everyone! My husband is ready to toss it, but he knows I can make stuff from what he considers to be throwaway items, so I can hold him off... for now. hahaaa! I will post what I finally do with it.. you have all given me so much to think about! Thank you again for all the suggestions!

Carrie · Answer

@Christina D I would hang it in my living room, railing on the bottom with a couple of quilts hanging from it. I would put family photos in between each rung. What a beautiful piece!

Kat Tellez · Answer

I'd take off the rollers and then just lean it up against a wall and use it as a bookshelf. I think it would look fantastic!

Derek George · Answer

tossing it is crazy , i am sure it is worth a small fortune , antique stores , and big city designerss love that stuff , for loft apartments and so forth , never toss old antiques

Starla Swanson · Answer

Wonderful place to display antique linens, quilts, crochet work like lace tablecloths. For large pieces, lay a piece of muslin on the step so the quilt or linen does not touch the wood. It can quickly destroy the threads of a cherished piece. So happy you saved it. It's a piece of history!

Leona G · Answer

This was originally used in telephone company buildings. People have used the hand rails as rails on the side of their trucks and the ladder as plant shelves, nick knack shelves as book shelves and as additional shelving in lined closets. Good luck

Dorothy · Answer

well if u have a 2 story house -- make a good fire escape ---- u should find out more about it --- might be worth money to sell to place that have good use of it !!

Buster Evans · Answer

I was think along the same lines as Carrie about Photo's between the rung spaces I was thinking of using it as a entry hall piece... didnt think about the quilts EXCELLENT IDEA.. But dont cut it AT ALL!! Its already worth $ as is and that will only increase as time goes on.. photos and books or just photos change em out from time to time... But dont change the Ladder at all leave it as is natural aged and intact!.

Auntie Lin · Answer

I had an old ladder that was not as nice as yours but it was my grandfathers so I wanted to do SOMETHiNg with it. we turned it into a beautifu garden piece with crawling Concord grapes!!! my Bumpa would have loved it.

Rosi McCoy · Answer

Whatever you do, do not let him burn or throw it away!! That would be such a waste and just a crime. You know there is someone out there who would love the chance to make a treasure out of it if you don't............but my money is on you. There are some GREAT ideas here. Can't wait to see what you end up making out of this!!!!

Gloria Duy · Answer

I have an old ladder that I use as a quilt rack. But I recently saw a picture of the ladder/quilt rack idea used as a headboard!

Rose S · Answer

if you want to shorten it, you could make a quilt rack for your den and a towel rack for your bathroom. :-)

Babby Blair · Answer

I saw where someone hung it on the side of their garden shed and hung stuff from it and put flowers in it.

Annette · Answer

We have made two arbors out of old ladders. One in for our grapes and the other has trumpet vines for the humming birds.

Jean DeSavage · Answer

You could always use the two parts and make a teepee to grow your beans/peas up it, or you put flowering vines on it. If you hung it horizontally in your garage, you could hang things from the rungs of the ladder, like hoses for the winter, etc., hang bikes from it, all sorts of things.

Alexandra Crume · Answer

These old ladders make great pot racks--cut to the size you need and hang!

Patricia Cleveland · Answer

Christina D: please don't cut it - it's an antique! Look for a way to use it as is or mention it to an antique dealer.

Elaine · Answer

I would hang it sideways and use it to display books and etc. Do NOT CUT IT!

Linda · Answer

Hang from the ceiling. Great piece for hanging pots, baskets or drying flowers and herbs. Use S rings to hang the items from the ladder. Also would great with grape vine draped through the ladder rungs. Good luck.

Judy · Answer

I wouldn't cut it, either...It's beautiful! Hanging it sideways would make a very unique shelf or placing it near the floor on a long wall with old baskets for storage. The size would pose a problem in my house, but I could see it on my bedroom wall near the ceiling with old baskets to hide seldom used items.

Reposhture Studio - Kim · Answer

DO.NOT.CUT.IT!!!! Such a cool piece of history it would be a shame to cut it up. Why not use it as a pergola by attaching it to an outdoor wall with brackets? It would look beautiful with some red honeysuckle and the smell would be awesome.

229965 · Answer

I think it is beautiful and it would make a neat room divider..hang on side from ceiling with hooks like a transom window over a door. Like between a dining room and den. I like the old treads on it...the worn look. Must be from some old library study ?

Reposhture Studio - Kim · Answer

If you seal it with a marine grade poly it will be fine.

Peggy Beckerdite · Answer

I would spray it with outdoor sealant and marine polyurethane. Then I would make a pergola and plant jasmine or honeysuckle or morning glory or some climing vine. It is so neat. Don't cut it.

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