My Oldest Tools

[SILVERPLATE]

My oldest tools are these wrenches still in great shape. Granted the open end wrenches were probably not used much. I got them while in junior high about 1965 or 66; they are Power-Craft like Sears Craftsman but only the Montgomery Ward brand of tools. They are the only Power-Craft's I purchased and was advised the Craftsman were the ones to go with. In 1972 I got a job at Ford dealer and found the Snap-On man with instant credit and never looked back at what is the best tool in my box. Been an air traffic controller the last 30 years and look forward an increase use in retirement.

http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/photos/350694426_txofG-M.jpg

The top of my box.

http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/photos/339298236_yUpR8-M.jpg

[rsanter]

I have valve grinding tools for doing the flathead engines as well as some of the old FORD marked wrenches that came with the cars
as you can imagine, they dont get used much

bob

[wrenchr]

Very nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[billymade]

Are those all your Snap-On tools or do you have a box too? What is your take on the price of Snap-On tools these days; compared to what you paid in 1972; are they similar with the value of the dollar being adjusted in 1972/2008 dollars?

[goodfellow]

Are those all your Snap-On tools or do you have a box too? What is your take on the price of Snap-On tools these days; compared to what you paid in 1972; are they similar with the value of the dollar being adjusted in 1972/2008 dollars?

I don't know about the inflation adjusted aspect, but there was a time back in the early 70's when SNAP-ON tools were just slightly more expensive than MAC (MATCO wasn't around yet). We had two trucks stop at my shop every week -- like clockwork, and the prices for comparable items were only a few dollars more on the SNAP-ON truck.

I bought mostly MAC --

One thing is for sure -- Craftsman hand tools (dollar adjusted) were much more expensive in the 60's and 70's than they are now. You can argue about quality (then vs. now), but today's Craftsman hand tools are a bargain compared to 30 or 40 years ago.

[Uncle Buck]

http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/photos/350694426_txofG-M.jpg



Those wrenches were originally made by Crescent I think. I had a set that looked the same except Crescent brand. I had no idea that Wards source for some of their wrenches and the like was Crescent!