NASA T58 Jet Engine Conference Table

The NASA T58 jet engine conference table is a one of one Tom Bates piece built around an authentic General Electric T58 turboshaft engine acquired at a NASA auction in the 1980s, turned into a monumental board room centerpiece.

The Origin

The General Electric T58 was one of the most trusted turboshaft engines ever built, powering NASA and military helicopters through decades of demanding missions. This particular unit was pulled from a NASA test bench in the 1980s and preserved by designer Tom Bates, who is known for transforming aerospace and automotive powerplants into functional collector furniture.

Rather than restore the engine as a museum object, Bates converted it into a conference table, giving executive spaces a piece of American space program history that can still command a room.

Materials

The engine is fully exposed under a heavy 3/4 inch glass tabletop, letting every blade, compressor stage and casting stay visible from every seat. The dark, machined surfaces of the turbine contrast with the crystal clarity of the top, so the T58 reads as sculpture and as engineering at the same time.

Every hose, bracket and mounting flange is retained, preserving the exact silhouette the unit had inside a NASA test cell. Around the table, streamlined black executive chairs push all the visual weight onto the powerplant itself.

Specifications

• Designer: Tom Bates
• Base: Authentic General Electric T58 turboshaft engine
• Provenance: Purchased at a NASA auction in the 1980s
• Top: 3/4 inch glass
• Width: 48 inches
• Length: 96 inches
• Edition: 1 of 1
• Ideal for: Executive boardrooms, aviation collectors, industrial design interiors
• Shipping: Worldwide

Discover the full Engine Coffee Tables & Engine Art collection at TheArsenale.