Don, I agree, I know I have some old tools that I would like some more info on, and I know there is a wealth of knowledge out there. A place to hang out and learn with out wading thru new tool talk, would be welcome. Who knows, maybe I may have some info to share.
Dave, I think you can be both a collector and a user. The user side of me likes the feel of older vintage tools, and the collector side of me likes to research the age, maker and use of a tool. Sometimes the history of a tool and its design helps you be a better user. I also like the way they look in my shop.
Oh, man. I agree with Dave. But I have to admit, once I started buying vintage tools, I go out Seeking them with plastic clutched in my fist. It’s truly an addiction.
I’m lucky in that I work a bit for a charity that sends refurbished (Note, not restored) tools to craftsmen in Africa. The tools are all donated and sometimes we get stuff in that is either awesome, aged and valuable or just plain strange. We often have competitions to see who can guess what a weirdly widget may have been used for. Quite often we never find out until we take it to a fair for sale. Invariably someone comes along and says,“Wow, I haven’t seen one of these since I worked….”
I have to admit if I had more money and more space I’d have less money and no space.
Hey Don,
Yesterday Leslie and I hopped on the bike to attend the 2nd ever Tool Meeting/Display over in Kerrville, TX, a little over an hour away. Had a great time and spent ~4-hours talking hand tools. My only disappointments came when all of the other participants ended up being only “collectors” and not “woodworkers.” I like both, but have to acknowledge that collecting is its own niche for so many.
But We’ll work on THAT aspect of it! Again, had a great time again. Forgot to take pictures this year though… 8-)
I enjoy collecting more that using but I do both. My collection is very small just because I restrain myself and here in SLC Utah,there very little local antic tools,most of the antic tools in the stores are “imported” from the east cost.
Well, the last entry on this Tool Collecting thread was 9 years ago so I can see the interest in it is rapidly reaching a fever pitch. I am a collector, I collect vintage hand tools, especially planes. I am able to use hand tools at times and enjoy that too. We all have our favorites and I'm no different. I like Stanley bench planes, Stanley compass planes, and Stanley scraper planes the best but have other brands here and there too. I know a lot of you from a different site that have some very nice collections and attractive plane tills that I'm sure people would enjoy seeing, so is there any interest in reviving this old thread?
Very nice array of 8’s. I grab Stanley 3’s and 4’s, I can’t help it. I only have one 8 and it’s in my till with all the other Stanley bench planes from 2 to 8, no number 1
I collect circular saws, mostly vintage with a focus primarily on US built, cast aluminum saws with as little plastic as possible. I'm a sucker for a good design so a near free deal on something more contemporary (but still usually 20+ years old) does occasionally follow me home. I have 59 as of right now.
Working on some tool handles for a bunch of files that I have (no handles on any of them). Just going to use Oak, I have a few drops for some Oak stair treads. that will keep me busy for the next week, I have the blanks ready to go, and some of the ferrules cut and ready (Copper Pipe).
During that I have cleanned up the files and started looking for tool marks, found a few Neilson and a Plumb. Guess I need to look them up and see when they were manufactured.
Walked through a large antique shop today about an hour outside of London, in a place called Stow-on-the-Wold. Nothing extraordinary, as tools go, but there were some ok looking Marples chisels. One Stanley Record #4 that wasn’t in bad shape, but a quick search dates it only into the 1950s. Certainly not worth lugging on an airplane to home. There was a nice #3 Record vise…but that certainly wasn’t carry on!!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
That shop in London reminds me of Hershberger's Farm & Bakery in Millersburg, OH. They have a little of everything and specifically a couple "rooms" dedicated to old cast iron cookware and old tools. The tools used to be a real bargain and they had everything from 300# anvils, all kinds of timberframing tools and more clamps than you can imagine. I was last there probably 4-5 years ago and they apparently discovered the internet. The year prior I bought a nice slick for $20, this time they had several in worse shape for ~$120 each. Some of the bins were littered with harbor freight tools that had lived a rough life, really disappointing, as was the anvils formerly at $1/lb now at $4/lb. I didn't make the trek to Millersburg as I have in the past during a recent OH trip to visit family but I did manage to find eight vintage power tools, five of which are circular saws now bringing my total up to 66.
I don't collect much for old tools. Most of what I have is either a user or waiting on me to restore it and sell it off so someone else can enjoy for many years to come.
I have tried, and thus far mostly failed, to collect orange frog Stanleys. I only have #2, #3, and #4. When they are in very good condition they leave a noticeable dent in the wallet.
The other collection...altho I have used them...are transitionals that have "Bailey" cast in front of the knob. I really just like the look of these. Slowly but surely working on a full set. Some will need "new shoes" but eventually will get a full restore treatment. Ignore that pesky liberty bell plane...not sure how it got in the photo shoot
