not sure how to ask this briefly——–or without seeming like a goul————-
A year or so ago—-an old customer asked me to help him out with a project.I have done work for this particular customer–and the extended family MANY times—and in fact my wife has been friends with one of the customers daughters for 30-40 years.
At any rate——— the customer is an antique dealer—one of HIS long time friends——was an antique furniture restorer—since I believe 1943. the furniture restorer passed away——and his wife went into a nursing home.
My old customer—-is the executor of the furniture restorers estate( and probably the wife’s as well.
About a year or so ago I helped my customer out by doing some repair work on the home of the furniture restorer—to prepare it for eventual sale.
there are no children/grandchildren etc.
enough of the backstory??????
A couple days ago I recieved word–that the wife in the nursing home had passed away–that the executor( my old customer) was now going to be tasked with selling off the contents of the house–and attached shop. at some point I am likely to be given the chance to go through the shop and buy various tools etc. I suppose proceeds are going to the nursing home———-
my question—–what would YOU be looking for?
personally——– I am looking for a nice shoulder plane——-along the lines of a Stanley #92
what else should I be keeping my eyes peeled for?——what would i be an idiot-or just ignorant to pass up?
I have been inside this shop twice as part of my work–but didn’t have the chance to look things over closely——–and it was HIGHLY disorganized at that time—–
however– I suspect this is going to be a cache of “user” grade tools from the 30’s-40’s-50’s vintage.
what —“can’t pass this up” deals should I be looking for?
BTW— I am not re-selling any of this stuff. I don’t think they will be collector quality–but rather were the dailey tools of this mans trade—they will go into my arsenal–untill someone is faced with the same decisions about MY stuff circa 2050.
thanks for your input.
stephen
Replies
Disregard the first line hesitation.
Here is a story to lead into the last paragraph.
DW still in touch with her college roomate from 1962. About 20 years ago her roomate's Aunts both died - they had a house since the 1920s right on Puget Sound, but lived in Chicago.
Wife had been good friends with the aunts also. Anyway, the roomate came out from Chicago and took us to the house. Lots of antiques including a Gutenburg bible (the family kept that), 6 or 7 1920's Tiffany stained glass lamp, Dresden China, etc.
Told us to take (no payment, free, etc) anything we wanted, as the dealers were coming the next day.
DW took only 2 or 3 small items that she remembered having given the aunts as presents years earlier.
Later, the roomate told DW that she really wished DW had taken much more (I'm greedy, I'd counseled to accept at least the sterling silver set) as the roomate felt taken advantage of by the dealers and would have preferred giving the stuff to friends.
If I were you, I'd buy what would fit into your 'arsenal', and then triple that amount just in case you need spares in the future. Definetly take anything you think the old customer would have been pleased to see you using when you did work for him. Disregard my 'handle' for this post. Do ignore the junk.
Edited 1/20/2007 9:52 am ET by junkhound
I would think old hand tools would be the items of greatest interest to you, especially any planes.
It is hard to answer your question -- not knowing what is available here, and how well equipped your own shop might be. But I do know you are transitioning from roofing to more general renovation, so let me take a shot......
As a furniture restorer, I would guess any stationary equipment is likely to be small scale, rather than big industrial machines.
He probably has a bandsaw, and I would look very carefully at that. These days, bandsaws in the 14-20" range are all over the place. But good bandsaws in the 10-12' range just don't exist, and they can be very handy -- either on their own, or as a partner to a larger bandsaw.
The same is true of table saws. I'm sure you already have a TS, but if you have the space, it can be really handy to have a second, which for instance, you can leave set up with a dado blade.
I would also look to see what he has for grinders. These can be set up with wire wheels and buffers, and are very slick for cleaning up old hardware.
As far as other stationary equipment goes, it depends what you already have, and what you have space for. If there is a jointer and a planer, and you don't own these tools, I would take them if they run, and seem to be of decent quality.
I don't think I would bother with portable power tools -- sanders, drills, routers -- since I think the modern ones are way better. The only exception is a big drill, which is always handy for mixing mud and thin set.
I would also look at any workbenches and/or assembly tables, rasps and files, stationary sanders.
I don't think most old drill presses and shapers are worth the effort, but it depends what kind of condition they're in.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment.............
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Look for Chisels. I got some Mayhew chisels and they are odd sizes. 11/16, 15/16, as well as standard sizes. Good steel and are solid. No yellow plastic.
Chuck S.
live, work, build, ...better with wood
Edited 1/22/2007 8:14 pm ET by stevent1
I'd take a long look at everything, and pay special attention to files, rasps, and chisels. Other edged tools as well, good spokeshaves, draw knives and the ilk are getting harder to find, and once you have good ones you will never want to be without. They also don't take tons or space and extras are always handy, whether for prolonged times between sharpening or a travel box for jobsites.
I agree with try, i'd be looking hard at basically any old hand tools, chisels and planes especially. I also have a thing for quality handsaws. My grandfather had all kinds of funky stuff. My favorites are two chisels I carry every day, a Starrett bevel gauge, and a cool tool box he used when he worked as a patternmaker during WWII. I agree with Junkhound, too, in that I would take more, rather than less. If he was a working craftsman, he would want another to have his things. Vintage tools like eggbeater drills, or saws, or yankee screwdrivers also make great gifts.Take your time going through the shop...-KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Edited 1/20/2007 11:51 am by vanderpooch
My dad was a wood pattern maker, his father a machnist. My dad had a full shop of tools as he did all sorts of side work ( from boat building to framing/finish /cabinets).
Just before he died he called me to his side and declared that I, out of six kids and many grandkids) was to take all of his tools. His opinion was that no one else would have a clue what to do with them other than use them for paper weights, I was the only one in the trades and he was damned if the tools he loved would just sit around and collect dust after he was gone.
I am getting to the point that I think about my tools and my children and start to look around for young guys I run into who could this or that from my collection for the same reason.
The old furniture repair guy probably would have felt the same way. Take them.
A few years ago I was browsing through an Antique mall and I found a very old Porter Cable belt sander. It was unusual looking and appeared to be from the 1930's or older. It was in good condition with a few belts... and even had the original owners manual.. although a mouse had nibbled the corner off of it. The only thing I could see wrong with it was the front wheel had a ding in it...but it was only $15, so I bought it anyways.
About a year ago I was watching a show called the History of Tools..or something like that on TLC. Much to my surprise they had a story about the same belt sander I found. It was indeed from the 1930s and apparently the first belt sander made by Porter Cable. They said the original cost was $200 which was a lot of money back then...like $2000 today.
They said this belt sander was unaffordable to most woodworkers.. and the few that did buy one, would bring it home and hide it under their bed to insure no one could steal it while they were sleeping.
I am not sure if it has much value or not, but it sure is a neat conversation peice!
Look for a Stanley #1.
Don't be surprised if some of those "user grade" tools as you call them, fetch a high price. I don't go to as many tool auctions as I used to but I was staggered by some of the prices just a few years ago.
Go on E-bay to get an idea of what realistic prices are.
Stephen,
Given your plans for working into your 70s I would think you should buy as many good tools as you think you'll use. It gives you a good feeling when you pick up and use a tool with some legacy value. I'd want to think that my tools were being put to good use by anyone except my widow's boyfriend.
I'd better the Will out and make some changes.......OK wait a minute. The Ryobi stuff is his if he wants it. Hands off the Bosch worm drive.
Take as much as you can realistically sort through and make use out of. If it enables you to cull from your existing tools and replace them with these 'new' items you could then sell the excess (or your rejects) and make a donation to whatever cause was going to benefit from the original sale.
There's alot of older folks near me who are taking advantage of the real estate market and selling...I go to many tag sales and estate sales and most times these older guys really prefer someone who will appreciate and use the their old tools.
Oh yeah, look for a big old anvil, something a blacksmith might use - I've seen them priced at $600 and up at antique shops - and they're handy as heck when you need a solid surface to beat something on.
-Norm
Save as much as you can. Even if you don't use particularly use them, you'll respect and appreciate the tools. Maybe eventually find a good home for them.
It's certainly better than them ending up in some cutesy, craftsy "antique" store booth, covered with decoupage or with crappy dried flowers from Hobby Lobby hot-glued to them.
First of all, forget about being "shy" with taking anything. It's what the customer of this type would want and it would make them happy.
NOW...Go for any old planes, and yes, look for a Stanley #1 bench plane like Fingers said, the're only about 5" long and look like the regular Bailey type bench planes except they are small and rather rare. I have all the bench planes (mostly in Bedrock model), except for the #1. In good to mint a #1 will bring from 1500 to 2000 smackers. You might find some others worth a lot of $ unbeknown to you, because you have to know what to look for. The 92 is a good plane, I have the 93 and use it in the field.
Take what feels right.
I would also look for old chisels or anything unique. It would all be hand tools for me. Power stuff I prefer to be up to date.
Good luck, and really let us know, as you might tell I love this sort of thing. An old used hand tool is a very special item, especially one that has been taken care of. They hold a history of use by other craftsmen that went before us, and at one time their hands also slipped warmly around the same rosewood handles and they too had the familiar little leap in their heart as they watched the paper thin curles of wood spring easy to the floor.