Discover Boeing Surplus Sales, A World Of Old Office Equipment, Tools, Machinery

Ever wonder what happens to the ancient machinery, out-of-date computers and old desk lamps used by the thousands of employees who make up Boeing?

The items don't go to the junkyard. Rather, they end up at the Boeing surplus store - a sort of afterlife for Boeing's retired office equipment, tools and machines.

Boeing Surplus Sales is a warehouse in Kent spanning half a block. It's open to the public and loaded with bargains for those interested in desks, old machinery or any of the zillions of other odds and ends used to equip an office or machine shop.

About any office gadget you could dream of is in abundance at Boeing Surplus. The front section is filled with drafting tables, desks, file cabinets, overhead projectors, computers and safes. You'll find computer paper, printer ribbons, notebooks, clipboards and the like.

There are even bins filled with out-of-date magazines and books. For 25 cents, you can choose from a variety of fascinating publications ranging from the Engineering Journal to Network Computing and Accounting Statistics.

In the back half of the warehouse you'll find the machinery section. It's almost like wandering through a museum of ancient technology. Several of the huge steel masses of machinery date back to World War II and may have been used to create parts for the B-17. There are old freezers used to store aluminum parts; compressors, generators and scales can also be found in this section.

Don't miss the marked-off section containing drill bits and power tools. For anyone who loves tools, it's like the first visit to Disneyland as a child.

Here, people can go crazy on piles of drill bits and bolts that sell for $4 a pound. Virtually every type of screw, socket, bearing, chuck and grinding stone can be found. But it's in the adjoining power-tools room where they may lose all control.

Those in the market for a computer can pick up an old Macintosh or IBM-compatible for fairly cheap. Monitors are in the $50 range and a keyboard can be picked up for about $10.

Visit Boeing Surplus with someone who works at Boeing and you can cash in on the 10 percent discount they are allotted (they have to do the buying.) But even without the discounts, there are plenty of bargains, such as the nearly new deluxe office chairs for $75.

Like any true discount store, there are regular "yellow-tag specials" that will take as much as 50 percent off the marked price.

Depending on your interests, you could make an afternoon out of a visit to Boeing Surplus. Or you can browse through it in a half-hour. Either way, it's an experience that shouldn't be missed. And the best part is that admission is free.

Got a great idea for a local getaway? Give us a call at 946-3970 or write to us at South County Life, 31620 23rd Ave. S., Suite 312, Federal Way, WA 98003. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -- If you go: Boeing Surplus Sales, 20651 84th Ave. S., Kent. 393-4060. Take Highway 167 and exit at South 212th Street. Head west to 84th Avenue South, turn right. Boeing Surplus Sales is on the left. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.