Trying to quit auctions awhile...unsuccessfully

[Lump]

I'm trying really hard to NOT go to tool auctions and estate sales for a few weeks, until I can get my current stash better organized and all cleaned. But this past Saturday there was an auction listing "upright tool boxes" and "old mechanics' tools"...and it was right up the street from me, out here in the countryside of Ohio.

What could I do?

You would have been proud of me though...I passed on LOTS of items I sorta liked. Prices were often too high, and everything was really FILTHY!! But I ended up with a few items, and might even have overpaid for some of it?

First item...(and this is an item I probably overpaid for)...is a new, unopened set of Blue Point Split Ring Pliers. I meant to stop sooner, but auctioneer took my bid instead of the other guy, and I ended up paying $27.50 for them. I have no idea if that is bad or good...but it's just over the limit I intended to pay...

Nice little NAPA Belden metal-box set of terminals and matching pliers. Cost $7. It was so dirty I couldn't read the lid, till I wiped it off. Must be why no one wanted it...kind cool looking, I think.

Another pic, inside the kit. Tool matches graphics on lid. Cool. Don't need it, but like it.

I have not previously seen IHC branded tools, except for the really old tractor tools before. And I live about 25 miles south of the International Harvester plant in Springfield, OH (now Navistar). I want to ask some separate Q's about these IHC tools, so I will post only two pix here, and put other shots in a separate post.

This old plastic pouch was nailed to the wall, stiff as a board. Nobody noticed it, but after I bought the IHC tools I spotted it there. The auctioneer said to take it with the tools. Needs LOTS of cleaning yet.

All the IHC-branded tools were sold in this cardboard flat, with other tools as shown. It was sold as one of four flats, for "choice" per flat. Another guy outbid me (thank goodness...I had gone too high before I realized it. I Loved it when he kept going to $50). But of the four flats to choose from at $50 each, he took only the two which were filled with nothing but Cman tools! One was about 20 raised panel SAE wrenches (about half-and-half DOE and combo's), and the other had four modern Cman 1/4" drive ratchets and about a dozen Cman sockets, mixed but mostly 3/8 drive shallow. So they restarted the bidding with the other two left. I got the one flat for $30...which was a bit much, but I wanted those IHC tools, and there were some Mac and New Britain tools in there, and a nice SK breaker. Plus a "Wera" nutdriver...and I've read about you guys liking Wera, and didn't previously have any of those...

Sorry for the blurry close-up. This shot was supposed to show you the Mac logos on both the extra-long 1/4" drive Mac extension, and the little Mac Speed handle too. Very nice shape.

Next came a ratty bunch of Cman ratcheting wrenches. Old and rough. Yecch. Why did I pay $7 for them? I dunno, but the pouch seemed cool at the time.

Last item I bought. Check out this "Ford Owner's Tool Kit". Must have come with a tractor. Horribly dirty (still), but I didn't have time to clean it last night before photos. It also came with about 15 giant combo wrenches, branded as "Hartford", but made in Taiwan.

I have specific Q's about this Ford tool set, so I'll make a separate post later tonight. But this is another photo showing the Ford name and a part number. (The question for a separate post is: Did Ford possibly use Proto "helmet" Challenger tools in their tool kit? Every tool in the pouch is a Challenger...even the unused hammer.)

At the end of a 3-hour auction day, I had spent a total of $96. Too much, really. And, I was FILTHY!

I bid on a neat old Pebble-grain Proto puller. It featured one chrome bar, with a removable hook at each end, and a large threaded bolt in the middle. Knowing how GJ folks like Proto pebble stuff, I bid it to $40, before I woke up and stopped. Thank GOODNESS the other guy kept going, and bailed me out. I got the impression he was going to buy that puller no matter what!

A buddy of mine wants those giant Hartford wrenches, so they will be out of my way soon. I'll clean the rest of the tools up next, and then decide what to sell, and what to keep. But I've GOT to get the rest of my other tools sorted out before I go to any more auctions or estate sales...well...at least before I go to very MANY more sales....well, there is this ONE auction coming up...

 

[cowboy73]

I think you did really well. I love the old NAPA terminal box.

 

[caper]

You definitely got the best flat with those International wrenches.They are hard to get and have a definite colletor following.Some go for decent money on the bay.If those are International Ratchets with the wrenches I'm definitely interested in them.

 

[Brad54]

I've heard the IH truck guys love those tools.

-Brad

 

[Thumper]

Ya did good.....

It is tough to know when to say "when"..

 

[Dale B]

The I.H. wrenches are Wrights aren't they ?? Sure look like the one's I have

 

[Danglerb]

No need to stop, just bid low.

 

[Lump]

Danglerb,
Hey, great idea! But geez, sometimes I'm already bidding pretty low! Hmmm, I need to start hitting those auctions by those two auctioneers in the other direction from my home. They sold stuff cheap, cause no serious tool buyers were there in the past several times. Hmmmm.

No need to stop, just bid low.

 

[bindernut]

Lump, if you want to sell any of the IH tools, figure up a price & let me know. I will trade cash for the tools at the Springfield show in a couple weeks.

 

[Scout Driver]

I've heard the IH truck guys love those tools.

-Brad

Yeah, I've heard it too!

Scott

 

[Lump]

Frankly guys, I will likely sell all of these IH tools. They are really cool, but not as special to me as they are to IHC folks. But now I've got to figure a way to offer them fairly.

I've come to think of many of you as my friends, even though I haven't met most of you. But I keep promising my wife that I should be able to do like Jack Vines (Packard V8) and sell enough of these tools I've already bought to perpetuate my hobby of hunting and buying more old tools, while keeping a really cool collection for myself at very low total investment. So I really should sell some of these. Yet I've not really even tried to sell more than about a dozen of the tools I've found in the past year or so, total. No eBay or CL listings, no GJ classifieds, no flea market booths----yet.
Thus, if I could sell some of these at (or near) market value, maybe I can get a head start on my tool-scrounger's dream....

But how to be fair to my friends? Caper asked first...Bindernut is a regular attendee of my swap meets...Heelsroll is one of the successful tool hunters whom I envy...and there are several GJ members with obvious IHC interest....like Scout Driver. Hmmmm

Maybe I'll put some of them on eBay, in two or three separate listings. Then, perhaps AWAY from eBay I could offer all GJ members free shipping in the 48 states, or some other discount not available to other eBay shoppers (I mean GJ members who were members before my eBay listing began).

Maybe that would be fair? I could split some of these up a little. Some dupes here...

 

[bindernut]

and there are several GJ members with obvious IHC interest....like Scout Driver. Hmmmm

hahahaha "Binder" is slang for an IH truck, that's where my name came from. After all the time you spend around the Scout show, you should know that...

Your post is totally understandable. Lots of people have interest in these tools that aren't easy to come by.

 

[Red Green]

Seems like a good price on the Bluepoints. My dad bought that set in the 80s sometime. when one finally broke the Snap-on man replaced it with a Snap-on brand pliers.

 

[Lump]

Seems like a good price on the Bluepoints. My dad bought that set in the 80s sometime. when one finally broke the Snap-on man replaced it with a Snap-on brand pliers.

Cool, thanks for the info. I have no frame of reference for the value. I love Snap On, Mac, Cornwell, and Blue Point tools, but have no idea what new ones sell for.

 

[Red Green]

here is the link http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...1&group_ID=771&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

$102 for the new snap-on ones

 

[Boiler]

Wow, those flats were going really high! The mixed mess flats are usually where the deals are. Sets of stuff go for too close to retail at the ones I go to.

 

[Boiler]

side note / question: I'm new to auction hunting this year and am having a great time at it. My question is, do the estate auctions roll all winter in Indiana and Ohio? Or am I looking at a major slowdown / stoppage soon? May affect my buying / work habits. I might just horde and clean things up during the winter.

 

[Red Green]

In southern Michigan they all but stop about the end of october. You will be lucky to find about 2 a month untill spring.

 

[ears]

side note / question: I'm new to auction hunting this year and am having a great time at it. My question is, do the estate auctions roll all winter in Indiana and Ohio? Or am I looking at a major slowdown / stoppage soon? May affect my buying / work habits. I might just horde and clean things up during the winter.

Generally they are better in the winter, some auctioneers will put off auctions for a long time to not hold them during the summer vacation/fishing/picnic etc. season.

 

[Red Green]

Generally they are better in the winter, some auctioneers will put off auctions for a long time to not hold them during the summer vacation/fishing/picnic etc. season.

That varies greatly by region. In an area where we could get a 1 foot of snow over night really puts a damper on the outdoor auctions.

 

[Boiler]

Actually I was hoping I'd find more of them in barns and 4-h buildings in the winter...

 

[Lump]

Boiler,
Many auctioneers have to earn a living all year long, like most of us. So here in Southern Ohio we see auction listings for much of the year. But we rarely have giant snowstorms, etc. It will definitely slow down, but if you look you will find them. And just as you suggested, many of them will move to county fairground buildings, etc.

 

[arkangel06]

The I.H. wrenches are Wrights aren't they ?? Sure look like the one's I have

Hell no, their bonney

 

[caper]

Hell no, their bonney

Look at the open end again,they have a slightly different angle to the open end which is a Wright feature.

 

[heelsroll]

But how to be fair to my friends? Caper asked first...Bindernut is a regular attendee of my swap meets...Heelsroll is one of the successful tool hunters whom I envy...and there are several GJ members with obvious IHC interest....like Scout Driver. Hmmmm

Thanks for the kind words -- I defer to my rabid friends on this. I called dibs largely in jest, you have value there and to realize that value is no crime!

I say list them on the Bay to make as much as you can, maybe privately offer a discount to the folks you'd otherwise sell to.

The more $$ you bring in the more great scores we get to see!

 

[caper]

I agree with Heelsroll,if you want to list them on Ebay I'll certainly understand.I may have been first in line but as I said in my PM there are many guys here on the site interested in International tools.As I said in the PM I'm really only looking for one ratchet and don't want to try and cut out any other collectors.I see nothing wrong with you Ebaying them to maximize your profit potential,it's just business.That way what you get for them is a fair,accurate market value.Just be sure to let me know when you post them so I can Bid!

 

[Lump]

I agree with Heelsroll,if you want to list them on Ebay I'll certainly understand.I may have been first in line but as I said in my PM there are many guys here on the site interested in International tools.As I said in the PM I'm really only looking for one ratchet and don't want to try and cut out any other collectors.I see nothing wrong with you Ebaying them to maximize your profit potential,it's just business.That way what you get for them is a fair,accurate market value.Just be sure to let me know when you post them so I can Bid!

Thanks, guys. It's a deal. And I WILL offer a special rebate of some kind to my regular GJ correspondents.

 

[bindernut]

Honestly, you could probably make almost as much $$$ selling that stuff at the Scout Nationals in a few weeks than on ebay & save yourself a bunch of hassle. Everyone is always looking for tools, but none ever get sold at the show, except maybe a rusty old implement wrench.

 

[arkangel06]

Look at the open end again,they have a slightly different angle to the open end which is a Wright feature.

So wright took over after bonney bought the farm???

 

[Lump]

Honestly, you could probably make almost as much $$$ selling that stuff at the Scout Nationals in a few weeks than on ebay & save yourself a bunch of hassle. Everyone is always looking for tools, but none ever get sold at the show, except maybe a rusty old implement wrench.

Very good point, Bindernut. But I'm usually so busy during that event that I cannot spend much time in my own booth at all. Worse yet, I have NO IDEA what they're worth. So no matter what I sell them for, I'll always wonder if I left money on the table.

I'll sell the wrench set and at least one of the ratchets on eBay. The sockets are random...several dupes, and no complete set. And the extensions...not sure about them either.

I guess I'll see what happens with the first couple of items on eBay, and then decide whether I can wait for the 'Nats in a couple of weeks for the rest or not.

I've got something for you, too. See you there....

 

[caper]

So wright took over after bonney bought the farm???

Nope,two seperate companies.

 

[bonneyman]

That varies greatly by region. In an area where we could get a 1 foot of snow over night really puts a damper on the outdoor auctions.

That's one of the great things about Tucson - outdoor "activities" like garage sales and swap meets go year-round!

 

[Lump]

I agree with Heelsroll,if you want to list them on Ebay I'll certainly understand.I may have been first in line but as I said in my PM there are many guys here on the site interested in International tools.As I said in the PM I'm really only looking for one ratchet and don't want to try and cut out any other collectors.I see nothing wrong with you Ebaying them to maximize your profit potential,it's just business.That way what you get for them is a fair,accurate market value.Just be sure to let me know when you post them so I can Bid!

Okay, guys. I have now put just the IH combo wrenches and pouch on eBay. I wouldn't want to use bad forum manners, but since several of you asked, I'm notifying you in this thread about it. eBay number 320581438376.

I have NO IDEA what they will bring, but regardless I will offer some kind of fair rebate or other financial advantage to GJ members, though I will not mention that on eBay. I will determine what is fair after I see what it brings. I don't know if I will be dealing with 50 bucks....or 50 cents.

I really hope one of you gets this set.

Next, I will try and list one of the ratchets, along with a few sockets and at least one 1/2" extension. Hopefully tonight. I will also PM several of you about this, who asked specifically to be notified.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

 

[bindernut]

Let me know when you put a ratchet on there, that's what I want. Unless my surprise is the 2nd ratchet,

 

[Lump]

Let me know when you put a ratchet on there, that's what I want. Unless my surprise is the 2nd ratchet,

Okay, I wouldn't post stuff like this on here, but several fellow Garage Journal members asked me to post whenever I listed one of the International IH ratchets on eBay. I put the better ratchet on tonight, with both extensions and ten sockets. See it at eBay # 320584230885.

Next I will add the other IH ratchet (currently stuck, soaking in oil), along with just one other 1/2" drive socket. Plus I have twenty-four 3/8" drive IH-marked sockets and one 3/8 extension, but no drive tools, and this will make up my final IH tool auction on eBay.

Good luck to all, and I really hope a GJ member ends up with these.