I live within walking distance of the largest Sears on the west
coast. The actual store may not be the largest but the Art Deco
building that houses it was once the western distribution center
for Sears. This 10 story building covering a vast industrial
parcel rises another 4 stories at one corner to form a grand
crowning conference room with sets of narrow floor to ceiling
windows on the four equal sides. On the outside wrapping the top
of this space, to the east, south, west and north, heroic green
neon letters announce “SEARS”. If you travel anywhere within
miles of this beacon on the east side of Los Angeles, the
glowing letters are a marker and reference, a terrestrial
lighthouse, not warning of danger, but the comfort of commerce.
Then there is the Sears tool catalog- a glossy collection of
page after page of color photos. I love the Sears tool catalog.
As a designer and fabricator I have learned that when I’m
working with tools and the job is hard or not going well, that’s
because there’s a better tool