Some of you may have noticed, I purchase wood (among other things) on eBay from tme to time.
I was intrigued by this lot of inlay banding that the seller claimed to have purchased at an estate sale in Canada. It was still wrapped in its original packaging, complete with shipping label and C.O.D. sticker in the amount of $16.62 (Canadian) from the now-defunct T. Eaton Company. The seller thought the date was September of 1959, but I can’t really tell for sure. It is obviously very old. The original packaging was open, and presumably some of the inlay had been used. It was advertised as about 35 pieces (3’ long). When I unwrapped it, there were actually over 50 pieces. The bands were thinner than I had judged from the photo on eBay… they range in width from 3/32” up to 1/4”.
What amazes me is the fine detail in these. I’ve used inlay banding before, but this appears to be far superior in detail and quality to anything I’ve purchased previously. The photos don’t really do them justice. In case you are wondering, my winning bid was $58.01.
If anybody has any background info that would shed more light on the history of these, I’d love to hear it. I’m looking forward to working these into future projects.



-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

















21 comments so far
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2160 days
#1 posted 1924 days ago
You lucky dog! That’s one heck of a find.
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
Tomcat1066
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942 posts in 1968 days
#2 posted 1924 days ago
They’re junk. Mail them to me immediately for proper disposal ;)
Seriously, I have nothing to offer except for a congrats for that beautiful stuff!
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
MrWoody
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304 posts in 1946 days
#3 posted 1924 days ago
Charlie, I can’t offer info of my own but there is a short blurb here.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=1&p=45550
A few years ago there was better write up in a Lee Valley catalogue, which I no longer have. (
-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.
CharlieM1958
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14865 posts in 2390 days
#4 posted 1924 days ago
Thanks, MrWoody. Compared to Lee Valley prices, looks like I got a bargain.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
mrtrim
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1696 posts in 2052 days
#5 posted 1924 days ago
big problem charlie , that stuff is highly illeagal to import into the u s . being that we are friends i wont haul you in this time . pack it up amd mail ….... this is not working is it ? lol nice score charlie enjoy !
griff
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1202 posts in 1934 days
#6 posted 1924 days ago
smooth Charlie, I`m looking forward to seeing them in your up coming projects
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
Todd A. Clippinger
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8654 posts in 2271 days
#7 posted 1924 days ago
Pretty cool find!
I am looking forward to see what you use it on.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
Grumpy
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17849 posts in 2023 days
#8 posted 1924 days ago
Great find Charlie.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1994 days
#9 posted 1924 days ago
Wonderful find. Ebay is a nice resource for wood and tools if you are selective. Now that you have these inlays you have a good excuse to get into the shop (as if you really needed one).
Thanks for sharing.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
scottb
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3648 posts in 2499 days
#10 posted 1924 days ago
always nice to get more (Much more) than you bargained for.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
grovemadman
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556 posts in 1944 days
#11 posted 1924 days ago
SCORE!!!! Looks like you’ve come up Chaz, Now dat’s how we like ta roll in dis hood!
-- --Chuck
tomd
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1322 posts in 1942 days
#12 posted 1924 days ago
Good find, inlay strips are expensive.
-- Tom D
rikkor
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11296 posts in 2046 days
#13 posted 1924 days ago
Great catch Charlie. That should “jazz up” some projects.
Thos. Angle
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4400 posts in 2134 days
#14 posted 1923 days ago
Great, Charlie, now everybody will be looking on E-Bay and we’ll never get any more bargain!!! those are beautiful. Congrats.
-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon
CharlieM1958
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14865 posts in 2390 days
#15 posted 1923 days ago
It’s getting harder and harder to find eBay bargains because everybody already is looking.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
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