Herman Price Sr. and Herman Price Jr. breathe life into battered car seats, worn down office furniture and water-logged boat benches.

The father-son team gives valued possessions a second chance by &uot;taking an old car and giving it a fresh new look,&uot; Herman Jr. said.

&uot;It’s a good trade … it’s like the funeral business, somebody’s always dying, well somebody’s always gonna’ need a car upholstered,&uot; Herman Jr. said.

Herman Sr. has been using his hands to work the fabric for so long, that he sees it as the only thing to do, &uot;there’s nothing else to do.&uot;

Reincarnating cars keeps him alive, &uot;I hope I don’t give up. If I give up, I’ll be dead.&uot;

And after having restored automotive interiors for 40 years, Herman Sr. reversed roles with his son.

&uot;I turned it over to him, I’m retired more than 10 years,&uot; Herman Sr. said. &uot;It’s beautiful to be able to turn something over that you’ve been doing all your life.&uot;

Now the team keeps something of an assembly line going in their workshop on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Mary streets.

Herman Sr. measures, cuts and sews fabric while Herman Jr. redresses the seats with their new look, deals with customers and often jumps online to order parts.

Raised on cars in the workshop since he was 10, Herman Jr. appreciates what’s being passed on to him. People often say, &uot;Where’d you get that done?&uot;

&uot;Herman’s.&uot;

&uot;Oh yeah, I know him.&uot;

Over the years, Herman Sr. has taught many people the trade, but in teaching his son a love for the work they share, he passed on another lesson …&uot;time is valuable, so it’s better to spend time with (family),&uot; Herman Jr. said.

Through the Viewfinder is a weekly feature produced by our photography department to reflect the diversity of our community.