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Tool Collectors Corner

12K views 277 replies 50 participants last post by  Smitty_Cabinetshop 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've learned a lot from the folks here on LJs. I'm sure my tool collecting has been influenced more from LJs than any other single source. I love to discuss vintage tools, there restoration, their presentation, their history, their value right along with their use.

I'd Like to hear from others. What you like to collect. How and where you present them. You're thoughts on restoration, value and anything that has to do with collecting.

And most if all, questions regarding how and why related to collecting vintage hand tools.

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#2 ·
Great thread idea Don. I'll say that as you know, as of late I'm into 4 1/2 sizes strictly. I can't exactly say why, but they're just so cool. I get the same feeling a person does with a #1 every time i find a new one. It's cool hunting around try to see how many i can find, which also opens up a lot of different manufacturers who made planes that i never knew about.

Once i can get some shop time I'm going to try and make a nice display case for them, while none of them are collectors pieces, or something a lot might consider worthy of such, how many people can say they have a collection of nothing but these sizes from every known manufacturer? I think the same would be cool for any size plane too though.

I've started to take a better stance on restorations. I don't like the labor involved in having to strip and repaint, so now i usually almost always leave the japanning alone depending how bad it is. I'll just file the frog and bed, sand the knob and tote, and wire brush all bare surfaces. A lot more rewarding and it's a lot faster too!
 
#3 ·
Being a general contractor for the last 25 years, and mostly doing millwork ,trim, and cabinets the last 15, I have developed a fondness for collecting old carpenters tools. Though I did not have a vast knowledge in this field, I have learned a lot from reading, hanging out at auctions and flea markets and following the forums of those in the know here on LJs. I do wonder, when I get a new[old] tool, who held it in their hands and on what jobs it worked on. The history of the piece intrigues me more than the value. And just for the record, none of the tools I have are above being pulled down off the shelf and used in the way they were intended[although I am very careful with some]. Lastly, I know if you have enough money, you can own anything you want instantly. For me its the thrill of the hunt. Finding the tools, along with the story of where they came from, and sometimes who owned them. Thanks Don for starting this thread, I'll be checking back often.
 
#5 ·
Do you wonder the history of the tool manufacturer?
Seeing a mans name stamped in the tool tells you he made a living from it. Who was he?
How was the tool taken care of? By what methods was it made?
Dont you think it wants to be put back in service?
I do.
These tools need to be saved and there usage recorded for future generations.
That is why I collect.
 
#8 ·
Excellent topic of discussion, Don!

For me, I collect the vintage tools out of respect for their history and useful value. Our old home was built in the 1860's, right after the war. Every piece is hardwood…mostly walnut. Every piece of wood on the house was attached 100 years before electricity was available on this road! And the home is sturdy as a rock still.

Hand plane marks left everywhere, the doors, trim, 20" tall baseboards, transom windows over the doorways, little wooden decorative touches built on site by a craftsman with His own cared for hand tools. No air compressed driven nails, no ply, no drywall, no construction grade lumber. Just walnut, blood, sweat, and steel.

The more I examine this old house, the more respect I have for hand tools, and working wood with them! I love actually feeling the wood underneath the hand tool…can't do that with a router.

For me, it's the old Sargent planes…cannot pass one by for some reason. I only NEED one more Auto-Set to complete that family, and 3 more transitionals. No displays yet…all are in my bedroom…safe from humidity until restored and a till can be designed. :) My LN's are my users, the Sargents will be sharpened and used on special projects.

Also, vintage saws seem to have this magical allure to me. Since I've learned that spring steel very sharp is a joy to use, my table saw is for flat storage. LOL. I pull out the Disston No.12 several times a week now…just love the feel of the tool cutting wood. And brass backers from the 1800's are beginning to grow in numbers in my shop. Have to save them from restaurant walls!

Just color me Sargent…I'm always on the hunt for a screwdriver, dividers, gauges, etc. How could you not love this lil gem?



:)
 
#9 ·
Man, Auto-set 707? Is it corrugated? Awesome!

Speaking of old houses. My inlaws have a GORGEOUS house built in the mid 1800s. Every piece of wood is quartersawn oak. The stairways are all raised panels, with gorgeous hand rails, moldings. The two dens have gorgeous dens, mantles, carved ribbons, fluted columns, the cieling in one has an amazing molding motif on it out of cherry, as is the rest of the woodwork in that room. Im working on restoring a 20 foot radiator bench out of cherry for them with raised panel sides. The house is just a work of art. They said it used to be someones mansion.

I am planning on doing a blog about it when i get a chance. The best part is my father in law is a woodwork nut, he has a bunch of cool pieces. He flys for fedex, and usually picks up some cool stuff in other countries.
 
#10 ·
I'm a big Sargent fan as well. I'm always looking for more Sargent information. I love to add top my Sargent type blog.

I also agree with Dave. I will search for the names stamped on the vintage plane in hopes of finding another story worthy of another post.

Jeff, you certainly know how to find 'em.
 
#13 ·
I'm not a hoarder, i just sold a bunch of mine off, probably 10 or so planes. Which is a lot considering i only had about 30 or so. It's tough to want to sell any!

Techteacher- Good luck on the #1/#2 search. Deals ARE possibly, just have to be diligent, i just score a #1 on ebay. Neat little plane.
 
#15 ·
Lat, no to the corrugations on the 707, but I've got 'em on the 718 and 722! Waiting to hoard the whole family before restoration. :)

Jeff, thanks for sharing that photo of 150 planes (no, I didn't count), maybe my wife will see how small MY collection really is! LOL
 
#18 ·
I like my Type 11 Stanley's, preferably corrugated. I've got a full line minus a #4 1/2 C (it's a type 10, non-corrugated).

Lately I've also been starting in on Keen Kutter KK series planes as well. I've got a #4-1/2c, #5-1/2c, and #4c. It's taking a LOT of self control not to bid on a #64 though… and by not bid on, I mean not bid again on…
 
#19 ·
Nice thread Don, and a good start.

While I've always had a fondness and appreciation for old tools, I never thought of myself as a collector until I joined LJ. Just seeing the tools and reading the discussions here has brought out the latent collector in me, with a bent towards old saws. I didn't really choose saws, they chose me. I'll acquire other old tools as I can, of course.

I enjoyed reading about old tools and old houses above. Though I never saw it, my great grandfather (son of the man in my avatar) built a large two story farm house in West Virginia. His son (my grandfather) was required as a teenager to hand plane all the chestnut siding for the house, turning who knows how many thousands of board feet of chestnut lumber into beveled siding by hand. It's a wonder he ever wanted to pick up a tool again, but he became a carpenter for the rest of his life. I have a number of his hand tools.

One thing I think would be worthy of discussion in this thread is this: When should a restoration be attempted, and when should an old tool just be left alone as is. I have a couple of old saws that I'm torn whether to restore or not. They are early 1800's, not in the best of shape, and even if I restored them, they probably wouldn't be daily users. In truth, they may be better suited for a museum. I'm not sure restoring them is the right thing to do, but I'm interested in others' thoughts on this. Secondly, when you do restore a tool, how far should you take it? There seems to be two schools of thought. I've seen some old tools that were made to look like new again, and they look great. Other people prefer to do only the minimum to make the tools useable. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer. It's probably a matter of personal preference. What do y'all think?
 
#20 ·
I personally like to use tools, not collect them.
I find it irritating to find a perfectly good tool sitting there not used, or on a wall in a restaurant.

That being said, I realize that some tools are so rare, that they need to be saved for future generations to see. So I don't have the absolute answer to how to balance that.

To the Hoarders, you guys suck. You need to make some of your stuff available to people that need them. After 3 or 4 of the same item, you are twisted. Is it that you want to make sure you have it and someone else doesn't? Do you want to take it to the grave? Funny thing is, most of it will be sold by your family at a yard sale or estate sale.. so you can't take it with you.

Lately I have seen some junk equipment going for lots of $$.. not worth it. Hopefully I'll find the few pieces I need at a garage sale ….

You collectors have driven the price up of ********************.. people feel that you collector's piece is so valuable so my rusted piece of junk is of equal value….

Now I have expressed my view, but it's not all that cut and dry, collecting is not a bad thing.. but you have an effect on the rest of the hardware out there. It becomes more money for no reason at all.
 
#22 ·
I appreciate both types of the rehab. I like them looking shiny and new a tad bit more, but I also see the beauty and reasoning with just cleaning, up and putting back into service.

The hard part for me in balancing the sickness of collecting vs hoarding is the urge to have all the sizes, even though most of them are not used with great frequency. I think I want them, just because. Anyone have a 2" 750 stanley they are looking to part with…cheap? : )
 
#23 ·
I actually wrote a blog about the"when to restore" topic. I never posted it because it had a preachy sound, so I need to revisit it. I believe it has to do with the condition in relation to its age. After all, even museums perform restorations. I to have become more reserved in restorations, but some of the stuff I pulled up looks like they were found by digging threw an outside dump. They just deserved to be restored.
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
I just like the old planes. and I've rescued some that were sure to end up in a landfill or scrapyard. I'm currently on the prowl for my favorites, the transitionals regardless of manufacturer, and number 4's with weird trademark names on the lever caps. I can't help it! I don't pass up any plane for sale if not priced outrageously.

In my neck of the woods, there are no other collectors that I know of, so it is the like-minded gents here in Lumberjocks who sustain my interest in the vintage planes. Along with the fellowship, I've come to identify planes which have mismatched parts or otherwise modified from what they should be. I've learned a lot here. I find joy in restoring the poorly-kept planes, removing rust and sharpening them and take them on test rides afterward!

Indeed there is a sense of stewardship when you own more planes than you can shake a stick at! For those who blame us for hoarding, and driving up prices, I'd bet if you met any one of us in person, we'd gladly give you a plane or two to get your collection started. Nothing would be expected of you in return, of course.
 
#25 ·
Jeff - I respect your opinion, but I disagree. If someone thinks tools should only be used and not collected (or hoarded), then that person should be looking for user quality tools and not rare tools. User tools can still be picked up pretty cheaply - $25 for a plane, $10 for a saw, etc. If paying $25 for a tool rather than stealing it for $2 makes someone upset, then it's hard to have a lot of sympathy. The price of everything has gone up, not just tools. It's the world we live in.
 
#26 ·
I get the idea that collecting can drive up prices, but so can recruiting more woodworker to use hand tools. I used to teach technology and some engineers would preach to me how I was teaching my own competition. I agree, but that just drives us to be better.

Collecting tools may drive up the price, which means it drives up the value. My plane collection is worth more than I paid and that's the point.

One the flip side of that however, driving up the price, creates a need, so more are saved, dug and sold, and dug out of the old barns and cellars, the more that are saved, the easier they are to find, which drives down the price. I agree its not even, and prices will rise, but I'm ok with that.

As far as my family selling them at estate sales. My wife and kids know better than that. There are auction houses that specialize in vintage tools, and I've made sure my family knows that.

I don't want my vintage plane to depreciate any more then I'd want the stocks in my 401K to depreciate. Its all relative.
 
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