2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)

[JMP]

I'll be keeping an eye out for one. I hate the feeble feedback of most keyboards.

I learned to type 60 wpm on a Selectric and used an old Olivetti portable for classwork back in the days of the dinosaurs.

One of keyboards in my collection.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Some estate sale finds over the weekend. Channellock, big Irwin screwdriver. Cool old tin of soldering paste. And most importantly movies. Got about 82 movies on VHS, Blu-Ray and DVD.

 

[mikeinri]

I'm WAY behind here...

Funny thing, my favorite snow shovel for the 1-2 footer is a grain shovel.
They are bowl shaped in the handle end & drop less snow while tossing.
Sort of a scoop on the handle end, & flat against the concrete on the other.
Found used, they are usually worn badly on the scraping end as they are unprotected aluminum.
Three of these are in very good shape as far as that is concerned.

Dad used one like that, but our snow is rarely light / fluffy, it's usually wet cement, so if I need to lift snow (as opposed to pushing it aside), I use the smallest shovel possible: a rectangular garden shovel, with a long handle.

Taking lots of little bites saves my back.

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

Made a last day 1/2 price estate sale this morning. Not a lot, but grabbed a 60s vintage Coleman Stove/Cooler stand in the box for $1.50, a Firestone Supreme jack plane for a buddy’s collection for $25, and a Jotul No.6 cast iron waffle maker for $30.

You ****!

Yup, blue bolt ***** majorly!

Yes, he *****!

Estate sale, I think I have about $100 in this lot.
It was a rainy day with poor access, had to dig, make a deal, & carry back up a hill to car.
All good till the last trip with the tractor weights Ha! Hope to flip those & get most of the cost back.

Ramps, 2 gallons of fresh gas in can, 12awg cord
Deere 40lb weights, Jorgensen 6" clamps, 2 Peterson
SK deep 1/2 incomplete, 3/8 deep complete
C-man =V= Bar, Estwing, NAPA pouch, but puller inside is KD. (maybe KD was oem for NAPA?)



I always love finding oil & chemicals at sales, usually can get for about $1./ qt.
Motor oil mostly Castrol, Injector cleaner, Battery tender, Filters
Big fork on a short handle, Maul



Bessey clamps, 2 Armstrong 1 Williams c-clamps, Full bar oil & de-greaser

You ****!

Mike

 

[knock knock]

$20 from local flea market. Have a five gallon bucket of other goodies to go through.

 

[JMP]

Unexpected early week Marketplace score. I paid the sellers asking price of $20 for the box and wrenches. Super lucky to get this since the first person / joker to message had offered $10 which was a cheap lowball.




Listing photo:



Big boy wrenches...

 

[83VillageRepair]

I haven't been buying much but if something super interesting appears I will go take a look. These came from a machine shop that is closing down. Can't go wrong with a diesel powered mower. Edit -- I also bought a 3phase disc sander but I guess I didn't take a picture. I will update this tonight. Edit2 found 1hp 3ph 1150rpm. I will put it on a little vfd

 

[Kaervak]

Stopped at the ReStore after work on Tuesday and got all this for $17. The Craftsman hex key set is missing the 3MM long arm key. If anyone has a spare, let me know

 

[jeffmoss26]

You ****!

 

[EricN.]

Hi everyone, I haven’t been around much, you know other hobbies in life that sort of thing. But anyway, I got back on the hunt for tools again late last year. I had a couple of good fines, but the one I got Sunday was pretty good and I thought I would share
I answered an add on marketplace for a group of tools laying on the garage floor. Immediately I saw two snap on ratchets I’m kind of a ratchet hoarder so I text the gentleman. The ad was only seven minutes old so I got pretty lucky. We agreed to meet at noon And I drove to his home. We had a very nice conversation about American Airlines. He was an inspector there My dad worked there and retired in the 80s so when I saw a lot of snap on spline drive tools, I got kind of excited anyway here’s what I got for $120
Lots of craftsman and proto and snap on. Very little china stuff
the punches are Starret, and that sweet Wright ratchet!

 

[zanyad]

Welcome back, @EricN.. Very nice haul!

 

[Patrickm82]

Damn welcome back. That’s quite the haul!

 

[3jakes]

EricN *****
Bought those 2 red handles at a great price.
Got everything else for FREE.

 

[ecotec]

That was a great buy. The Wright ratchet is really nice, too.

 

[EricN.]

That was a great buy. The Wright ratchet is really nice, too.

I want more Wright ratchets now

 

[ecotec]

I want more Wright ratchets now

I have a couple of the dual pawl ones, and I love them.

Their combination wrenches are the most comfortable, of any brand, to use.

 

[3jakes]

A single tool oriented estate sale this morning, rural ag. run by family.
I was there 1/2 hour early & it was apparent that my main regular competitor had been there for quite a while & had big piles of good stuff.
Sigh...
There were 2 buildings, I started in the shed where he was.
I made this pile, & the seller says "how about $20".
Aluminum potato shovel, digging bar, Craftsman wood clamp, baby eagle safety cam



Of interest:
C-man bushing driver set, Indestro 1/4 stuff.



Armstrong spuds, Proto Brass, some quoits.



I stowed that stuff in the car, & went to the next building.
I made a big pile on the concrete only to find that the prices were all the sudden not as friendly.
Finally settled on $80 for these:
Rino ramps, Ag. triangle, Ground tools, small propane heater, Chinese jack stands, & misc.



Of interest in this pile:
Ridgid #5 strap wrench (have a smaller one, this one is bigger.
Ridgid #4-S pipe cutter
NOS #15 tubing cutter
Williams #8041 1-5/8 x 1-7/16
Wilton big-*** c-clamp #812



A Deere bird feeder that needs a little work. I have some wood dowels around here somewhere for a perch...



After I loaded up all that, I did a last walk through & came up with these for 5 bucks.
Saw blade, Peterbilt, & a Blue-point flex magnet pickup.

 

[alinc100]

One sale today ,due to a guy driving a long way and giving up before it opened, as the folks told him the item he was interested in was more than he wanted to spend, I became 1st in line. I got to pass out 'street numbers' There was about 25 people in line at the 10 am opening. I scurried to the basement to secure my prize. I'm sure I missed some decent tools ,while emptying the chest ,but that was my main object. The rest of the tools came after digging once i secured the Gerstner. Of course no front on the Gerstner, no lock , but in decent shape for being 111 years old. I think it will clean up well.
ESTATE SALE 04/18/25

Plomb ⅜” drive WF-17 5” extension
Plomb WF26,27,28,29,32,33, (5/16” to 1/2”,11/16”,3/4” )12 point shallow sockets
Williams ⅜” dr ratchet
Williams ⅜” dr 6” extension
Blackhawk ⅜” 6” extension
Craftsman ⅜” dr 15mm,17mm -v- shallow 12 point
Challenger ⅜” dr ⅜” 6 point deep
Proto ⅜” drive 7/16” 6 point deep
Williams ⅜” drive 3/8”,9/16”,11/16” 12 point deep
Proto ⅜”drive 3/16” hex allen
Blackhawk ⅜”drive 3/16” hex allen
Howard’s Sun Shield wood wax
1914 Gerstner Model 41 Machinist chest

 

[Beerhippie]

I took a quick cruise up the road to where there was sup[posed to be a sale today--which I couldn't find.

But there was a TOO on the same road, where I got this:



100', 12/3 Monster w/locking socket--new for me. Looks like it might have been used once. $25!

 

[Patrickm82]

Nice that’s about $75 off!! Nice score @Beerhippie

 

[alinc100]

The Gerstner 41 after some clean up, paint splatter removal ,quick wax and polish the brass knobs.

 

[Patrickm82]

Very nice @alinc100 to bad she’s missing the top handle.

 

[JMP]

Very nice @alinc100 to bad she’s missing the top handle.

Likely can still buy a replacement part.

 

[JMP]

Hi everyone, I haven’t been around much, you know other hobbies in life that sort of thing. But anyway, I got back on the hunt for tools again late last year. I had a couple of good fines, but the one I got Sunday was pretty good and I thought I would share
I answered an add on marketplace for a group of tools laying on the garage floor. Immediately I saw two snap on ratchets I’m kind of a ratchet hoarder so I text the gentleman. The ad was only seven minutes old so I got pretty lucky. We agreed to meet at noon And I drove to his home. We had a very nice conversation about American Airlines. He was an inspector there My dad worked there and retired in the 80s so when I saw a lot of snap on spline drive tools, I got kind of excited anyway here’s what I got for $120
Lots of craftsman and proto and snap on. Very little china stuff
the punches are Starret, and that sweet Wright ratchet!

Welcome back; you ****!!! That is $$$$

 

[RTM]

Likely can still buy a replacement part.

Just not the correct one. Have to improvise if his is really from 1914.

 

[bmwrd0]

That looks like a WWII Gerstner, due to the vinyl covering.

 

[Beerhippie]

Not really a garage sale, but more horse-trading. I gave away a pallet of electrical enclosures and motor control panels to a local picker and he asked if I'd like something in trade. He said he had an old wooden Kennedy box if I was interested. I ran down to take a look after work, and:



I don't think it's Kennedy. It's all wood, with sheet metal cladding on the outside.



Nothing on the hasp/lock.



Drawers are sound, if a bit dirty. They still have the intact green felt bottom liners.

No identifying marks anywhere. I'll post it over a the Vintage Toolbox thread.

 

[JMP]

Yesterday's haul. Aviation maintenance student tool set filled with Snap On, Blue Point and other bonus tools. A few other tools not pictured as well. I paid a good amount for all this but a good deal less than student discount prices which are around 50% off. I did some math and believe it or not this would be north of $6k not counting tax to replace everything with new at today's retail prices (you might find better but you'll never pay more). Of course the same setup can be had for much less going with garage sale finds and brands like Tekton, Icon, etc. I found this on Marketplace and the seller used them in the same school and aviation program that I am currently in. Many of these tools were barely used or not used at all. Of course this certainly means future finds will be slowing down for me.


Aviation style dog box setup.



The tools:

 

[Beerhippie]

Yesterday's haul. Aviation maintenance student tool set filled with Snap On, Blue Point and other bonus tools. A few other tools not pictured as well. I paid a good amount for all this but a good deal less than student discount prices which are around 50% off. I did some math and believe it or not this would be north of $6k not counting tax to replace everything with new at today's retail prices (you might find better but you'll never pay more). Of course the same setup can be had for much less going with garage sale finds and brands like Tekton, Icon, etc. I found this on Marketplace and the seller used them in the same school and aviation program that I am currently in. Many of these tools were barely used or not used at all. Of course this certainly means future finds will be slowing down for me.


Aviation style dog box setup.



The tools:

Did anyone ever actually use any of those tools?

Don't know what you paid, but... you ****.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Gerstner 41 after some clean up, paint splatter removal ,quick wax and polish the brass knobs.

Nice!

That looks like a WWII Gerstner, due to the vinyl covering.

Gerstner was actually the first company to offer chests and cases in what they called "imitation leather" and "imitation seal-grain leather" as early as 1911 and that yellow oval decal is the early (1911-1940) one. I think the full front panel opening (looking almost like a case with no lid) is another tell. The hinges (hidden first, fleur-de-lis early, rectangular much later) would help. But I'm more of a Union man, and all this palaver is just me testing my meager flea-ready Gerstner knowledge, and anxious to hear from Andy, who is much more well-versed.

 

[four.cycle]

"Heddon" wall thermometer. Crescent hacksaw. Mechanics Tool Co. "Eagle Claw" pliers 04/18/25

but that's not why I'm posting this here.

This place has some interesting stuff.
I wasn't able to find any name plate on the drill press. It's about 8 feet high.
The lathe has to be at least 10 feet long, but most of it (as well as the drill press) is buried under piles of other stuff.
Both the drill press and the lathe belong to the building owners, who apparently live quite a ways off and are not always responsive.
The guy said they had a deal cooked up on the drill press for about $7K, but when the prospective buyer figured what his moving costs would be, he bailed out on the deal. Moving either piece will require (a) closing the store for a full day or two (b) removing a section of wall large enough for the machine to pass through and (c) heavy equipment to move the equipment out of the building.
They had eight bench vises, which I posted in the VISE thread, and an over-abundance of well-rusted vintage axe heads and adze heads for $5 bucks a pop. A lot of odd widgets that are not shown on their website (like the pliers and hacksaw.)

 

[alinc100]

Very nice @alinc100 to bad she’s missing the top handle.

Not missing, leather is worn out and it fell off while carrying. Thankfully I have good reflexes. It will need to be recovered.

Likely can still buy a replacement part.

I will be able to send the original out and get the leather recovered.

Just not the correct one. Have to improvise if his is really from 1914.

It really is from 1914 according to The Guide. It was the 1st year of the Model 41 and the only year of the full front panel.

That looks like a WWII Gerstner, due to the vinyl covering.

see above^

Nice!

Gerstner was actually the first company to offer chests and cases in what they called "imitation leather" and "imitation seal-grain leather" as early as 1911 and that yellow oval decal is the early (1911-1940) one. I think the full front panel opening (looking almost like a case with no lid) is another tell. The hinges (hidden first, fleur-de-lis early, rectangular much later) would help. But I'm more of a Union man, and all this palaver is just me testing my meager flea-ready Gerstner knowledge, and anxious to hear from Andy, who is much more well-versed.

Hinges are hidden, flat panel front ,sadly was missing after a good scouring of the area. And since I had to pull The Guide up my chest is technically a 41B as it is 20" wide. (I had to go check while making the screenshot below)

 

[bmwrd0]

As they say in TV Land, The More You Know!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Not really a garage sale, but more horse-trading. I gave away a pallet of electrical enclosures and motor control panels to a local picker and he asked if I'd like something in trade. He said he had an old wooden Kennedy box if I was interested. I ran down to take a look after work, and:



I don't think it's Kennedy. It's all wood, with sheet metal cladding on the outside.



Nothing on the hasp/lock.



Drawers are sound, if a bit dirty. They still have the intact green felt bottom liners.

No identifying marks anywhere. I'll post it over a the Vintage Toolbox thread.

Very cool!!

 

[alinc100]

palaver

You know just about every time you type a message I have to learn a new word...or two. This one sums up my descriptions, stories and long road to a short story.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Don’t feel bad, I had to look up “quoits” lol

 

[RTM]

That looks like a WWII Gerstner, due to the vinyl covering.

That was my thought too, was amazed to see them in the 1914 catalog.

 

[EricN.]

I went to the swap meet today.
I didn’t spend much. Could have spent way more! Anyway this is what I got for 20
C-man 7/16 socket a Victorinox
Swiss knife, Mac took 1/2”dr impact swivel and the box. And of course the little magnifier

 

[d42jeep]

We got a late start to a family run estate sale about 10 minutes away in Berkeley. The tools were in a basement room and mixed so we took some time going through them.
I missed the Diamalloy adjustable wrench with the plastic handle cover. Fortunately, my wife pointed it out. The Craftsman heritage 1/4” drive set’s box was pretty roached but the tools were excellent.

These other tools were stuffed into the Craftsman box too.
I was especially happy to see the Snap-on
The S-O shorty combo is an upgrade for my user box
The Xcelite stubby driver cleaned up well as did the Proto #1 Phillips.
An Italian Rain Bird hose nozzle for the collection. -Don

 

[Provincial]

Congrats to JMP on the aviation tool kit. That will be a big head start on a good career!

Beerhippie, that box probably was made by one of Gerstner's competitors, and has great potential. I have a Pilloid that used to have a leatherette cover, but now is painted steel over a wood frame/drawers.

Go here to check out yours: https://sites.google.com/site/theguideforwoodmachinistchests/