2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)

[LesserSon]

Someone at work offered up this Acme No1 stapler, so I’ll give it a refurb and see how it works. Looks like it would be best for making booklets or magazines. I see this and some other base configurations with the same model number on eBay, listed $40-90, and some sold for less than $30 plus shipping.

 

[jeffmoss26]

10 bucks and change at the restore just now

 

[Smokeshow69]

Tools store purchases

Walden Star Wheel ratchets in 1/2” and 1/4”
Craftsman C-Series extension and t handle
Cross bar, unmarked, was with Craftsman stuff
Snap-On vintage sockets and swivel power socket

You **** majorly for those c series tools

 

[Shiftless]

Three Cutco pieces for 10 cents each. They are pretty rough.

Agreed
P.M. sent

 

[wtn1271]

Garage/moving sale finds from last Saturday.

Craftsman 1/2" drive flex head long handle ratchet, #44816
=Husky= USA wrenches, SAE, missing 3 of the smaller sizes
SK 1/2" drive extension
Craftsman 1/2" saltus wrench
Husky (Taiwan) ?, metric flare wrenches
Marples wood chisel

The ratchet will find a new home, the rest will get a good cleaning and stay with me. I really like the Husky USA combination wrenches, very comfortable and long pattern. Hopefully I can source the 3 missing sizes via ebay or from future sales.
$20 total.

 

[Beerhippie]

Oops! Wrong thread!

 

[mikeinri]

Garage/moving sale finds from last Saturday.

Craftsman 1/2" drive flex head long handle ratchet, #44816
=Husky= USA wrenches, SAE, missing 3 of the smaller sizes
SK 1/2" drive extension
Craftsman 1/2" saltus wrench
Husky (Taiwan) ?, metric flare wrenches
Marples wood chisel

The ratchet will find a new home, the rest will get a good cleaning and stay with me. I really like the Husky USA combination wrenches, very comfortable and long pattern. Hopefully I can source the 3 missing sizes via ebay or from future sales.
$20 total.

You ****!

Mike

 

[wtn1271]

I couldn't find a qualified diener on such short notice, so I took a stab at the Stretch Armstrong autopsy myself. After carefully extricating the subject from his plastic bag tomb, it became apparent that Mr Armstrong had suffered a mortal wound to the neck, (a fate not uncommon to his kind). I estimate he had lost more than 50% of his original volume. Surprisingly, the 'fluid' that remained was still quite viscous and his body exhibited reasonable elastacticity. Significant dependant lividity was noted in the extremities and overall skin color was poor. Once laid out in the supine position, the subjects his head was respectfully detached and a gentle cleaning was initiated. I found a solution of warm water & Tide laundry detergent to be an effective agent to dissolve Mr. Armstrong's once life giving mixture of corn syrup, red dye, and other proprietary ingredients that had sustained him for these many years. After the subjects exterior surfaces were made clean and upon due consideration, it was determined that Mr Armstrong would recieve the full Buffalo Bill treatment. This procedure is still somewhat controversial and not yet an accepted standard within the industry. Nevertheless, the subjects body was then carefully (and rather skillfully I might add) turned inside out and the remaining corn syrup mixture was once again dissolved using the aforementioned solution of warm water and Tide. After drying, it was noted the the inner skin tone was significantly better than the mottled and exfoliated exterior so the decision was made to leave the subjects body it its reversed state. To prohibit Mr. Armstrong's skin from adhering to itself, a generous coating of J&J body powder was applied to both inner and outer surfaces with satisfactory results. Finally, Mr Armstrong's body was reanimated with the internals of a donor plush toy recently acquired from the $1.25 store specifically for this purpose.
Turning our attention to Mr. Armstrong's head, it was once again cleaned and debrided with care and respect using our standard methods & equipment. Overall condition was determined to be quite good with 'a pinkish hue' noted on the the right side. Mr Armstrong retains his youthful yet rugged masculine appearance. Also of note is the successful removal and laundering of Mr Armstrong's modest swim trunks which returned to near original condition.
In summary, while Mr. Armstrong's physical condition is no longer compatible with life as he once knew it, his outward appearance has been significantly improved and he may still get the chance to live on if the Gods of eBay shine upon his remains.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Still missing the first 3 pictures in the series (?), will try again later.

 

[wtn1271]

Having technical difficulties with the photos....please stand by..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Further investigation revealed a deteriorated Stretch Armstrong figure that has 'bled out',

An autopsy is planned for later this week, weather permitting.

After carefully extricating the subject from his plastic encasement, it became apparent that Mr Armstrong had suffered a mortal wound to the neck,

How far are you from Tacoma? The Thread Police may need to subpoena some menacing looking Barbies who reside in a sort of hippie antifa artists'/nudists' colony up there. I suspect some #MeToo foul play!

 

[3baygarage]

How far are you from Tacoma? The Thread Police may need to subpoena some menacing looking Barbies who reside in a sort of hippie antifa artists'/nudists' colony up there. I suspect some #MeToo foul play!

WTN- back in the late 90’s a couple of my buddies, then teenagers, decided that Stretch (90’s version) needed to be stretched to the max, and put him through the ringer until failure. I remember his innards looking like amber rock candy. I also remember someone tasting a piece. No, I was taught much better than that!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hard to believe it's June and this is the first time I got to my Thursday flea market [Lugz 2025_16].



Top to Bottom on the Left...

/ I know that @RTM and @four.cycle, at the very least, will recognize the lil' 60's era Amazing Shelton Socketool family midget hex bit ratchet
/ That looooooong red-handled 1/4-drive spinner was Made in Japan, but too cool to leave it behind
/ The 12-point socket is a 1/2-drive WARD's Chromium Vanadium made by Duro-Indestro with a 19/32" service opening (I have a few other WARD's orphans)
/ The 8-point socket is a 1/2-drive Blackhawk 3-groove Lock-On with a 1941 date code and a 5/8" service opening
/ The America Goes to War book is from 1942
/ The blue vinyl pouch is empty and will soon be populated with one of the many homeless ignition wrench sets in my collection
/ I shall keep the mfgr of that 12" Adjustable with the slightly golden hue and the non-sparking aluminum bronze composition embedded in the "512-264-3794-ALBR" Federal Stock Number on the handle - vying for the prize of the day in my own book! - a secret for a little while longer, until I have the chance to post it down on the VB.

On the Right...

/ And threatening to nudge the adjustable off its lofty pedestal in my heart is that Zenith Radio Wavemagnet thingie on the right. Armed with my Old Crow "spinner-grinner" (SIGINT) MOS experience and radionerd historical knowledge, it looks like an actual antenna to me, probably loop type, with a strap cable, but it also looks like it does double duty as advertising. Looking forward to researching it!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It was warm, jam-packed with hundreds of vendors, a thousand people, and the festive mood was enhanced by the sounds of one native somethingorother playing some cool pipes. Being an appreciator of ethnic music, busking, and peacocks, but the cheapskate that I am, I dropped a dollar that I had just found on the ground in his 'DONATIONS' box!

 

[3baygarage]

You **** majorly for those c series tools

Smoke, If you like those, wait till you see what my old flea yielded! I was blown away at the finds from one single day.

You’ll see why I shipped a package to myself. Let’s open it together.


All of these sockets came from an old buddy’s booth.

-Williams 3/8 sockets.
-several hardy hole inserts
-some Hinsdale swivels and screwdriver bit
-unmarked Pipe plug insert bit
-Blue-Point 10mm
-Williams 9/32 and 1/4” stuff
-Power driver bits by Williams, Cornwell, Proto
-18 reefer bits, all Bonney except one Duro.
And the highlights:
-A half dozen Craftsman Vanadium 3/8 sockets
-10pcs Craftsman Vanadium 9/32 drive!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Pardon the Interruption 3eeb, I will just get my LEFT-BEHINDS out of the way and clear the stage... A "GISHOLT MACH CO." (never heard of them!) "LOW SPEED CLUTCH" adjusting offset box wrench (like a fuggin' rookie, I meant to go back but forgot!), a DeJur wartime photographers' exposure meter (not a photo bug), and an 1890's Vanderman Steamfitters' Vise. That I kinda sorta wanted. He went from $140 to $100 to $85 in the course of three separate 'visits' ( I know you guys know what I mean, where you're pretending to continue to inspect it for flaws...), and I was flush with men's league umpire cash, but I didn't want to spend more than $50, regardless of the nagging feeling I could probably get at least 3 x that out of some of the big spenders on the MegaVise thread!

 

[3baygarage]

It was warm, jam-packed with hundreds of vendors, a thousand people, and the festive mood was enhanced by the sounds of one native somethingorother playing some cool pipes. Being an appreciator of ethnic music, busking, and peacocks, but the cheapskate that I am, I dropped a dollar that I had just found on the ground in his 'DONATIONS' box!

Pan flute

At first I was overlooking these little buggers and tossing them to the side with the cheap sockets. Then I thought I saw Vanadium spelled out, and took notice of the light markings on these tiny guys. Imagine my excitement as I kept finding one more and then another and another in the tray. I circled back before leaving and found the tenth one.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool finds Lugz!

/ I know that @RTM and @four.cycle, at the very least, will recognize the lil' 60's era Amazing Shelton Socketool family midget hex bit ratchet

Me three on this one! I have a bunch of them. I tend to like the hex driver the best if you can find bits that retain themselves. (Chapman?)

 

[Outlawmws]

an 1890's Vanderman Steamfitters' Vise. That I kinda sorta wanted. He went from $140 to $100 to $85 in the course of three separate 'visits' ( I know you guys know what I mean, where you're pretending to continue to inspect it for flaws...), and I was flush with men's league umpire cash, but I didn't want to spend more than $50, regardless of the nagging feeling I could probably get at least 3 x that out of some of the big spenders on the MegaVise thread!

Yeah, that would have made some $$, it looks in great shape too!

Maybe next week?

 

[Cruzan80]

Lugz, the rest of the stuff in the "Adjustable clutch" box looks to be interesting as well! Looke like some kind of Morse taper adapter, and carbide insert tooling? While it may not be your area of interest, it could be worthwhile to look at for flipping to a machinist.

 

[3baygarage]

The rest of the haul:
-3 chisels, several Witherby
-4 Bicycle wrenches, 3 unbranded and PIERCE ARROW by Billings & Spencer
- Craftsman socket magnets
-Craftsman Lifetime 1/2” ratchet, first find of the day from my buddy Jim
-Cornwell stubby
-Snap-On flat blade, and unbranded SO magnetic bit driver that some bozo tried to ****** from my pile on the ground.
-2 Crescent flat blades
-Williams 1/4” socket driver with female end
-NOS vise-grip
-interesting wrench marked OIL WELL SUPPLY CO. Pittsburgh, PA. Search shows it could be for Woolf steam engine!
-Diamalloy Handyboy
-2 Stanley and an Old Forge offset drivers
-Crescent and Reed brand Ford style pliers
-Snap-On? rusted Vacuum Grip pliers
-Mossberg Auto-Cle ratchet and U-joint. Mixed sockets were present but rough and busted.
-Vulcan phillips screw starter and punch
-Proto new 8mm ratchet wrench
-Williams adjustable with Union Local stamping
-2 Royal typewriter box wrenches
-American Meter Co. doe wrench
-Proto 4” adjustable
-Armstrong 1/8” combo wrench
-S-K cross bar for 1/4 breaker bar
-Williams and Armstrong square machine wrenches
-Superslim doe wrench
-Williams 90 offset socket end wrench
-Keystone (Buffalo) long hex drive socket handle
-Last but not least (bottom right) Buffum unknown scraper?plumbing calking tool?


Williams, Keystone, Buffum


Pierce Arrow

I had a really great day at my old Buffalo flea. Saw the old crew. Many familiar faces, and some new. It wasn’t quite in full swing yet, but the first nice weekend, I was told. The finds were exceptional for a one day visit! I spent so little on most items that I was quite happy. On top of that I ran into fellow forum member Ken W. who was set up. I haven’t seen him in years, and we had some good conversation. I knew I recognized him but it had been so long. It was nice to catch up with him and everyone else, and listen to the old banter and gossip. Heck, I miss those guys. After 4 hours of hanging around there I had to shoot over to the post office before they closed! Hope you all enjoy!

 

[WisJim]

A "GISHOLTMACH CO." (never heard of them!) "LOW SPEED CLUTCH" adjusting offset box wrench !

Gisholt was a manufacturer of industrial equipment including turret lathes in Madison, WI until the 1970s. I think at least some of their buildings are still there. I remember them being an important employer in Madison when I was a kid in a nearby town, but by the time I moved to Madison in the early 1970s they buildings were mostly unused with remnants of the old machinery remaining. So that wrench may have been for adjusting some equipment that they manufactured.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...looks in great shape too!

Incredibly good! The action on the screw was smooth with only TWO stiff fingers on the spindle. The swivel base is homemade, I think. And I thought they had an under bench mount with a giant wingnut.

While it may not be your area of interest, it could be worthwhile to look at for flipping to a machinist.

There were three boxes of tooling and holders. I've been weaning myself of that kind of impulsiveness, though. Not only because of it tending to sit and take up space, but just the loading and unloading and the immediate out of pocket. Also, while I consider myself something of a polymath, with more than just a few "lanes," I am wary of getting too far outside of them and crashing, if you know what I mean.

So that wrench may have been for adjusting some equipment that they manufactured.

Aha. Thanks. Makes sense with all the tooling, etc. Shouldve grabbed it in case someone with a Gisholt mill or whatnot needed it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I circled back before leaving and found the tenth one.

Nice!

 

[Debcrow]

In summary, while Mr. Armstrong's physical condition is no longer compatible with life as he once knew it, his outward appearance has been significantly improved and he may still get the chance to live on if the Gods of eBay shine upon his remains.

Just look in the phone book under "Plastic Surgeons".....
But do not go overboard. Stretch Armstrong with a pair of stretchable ***** is going too far!

 

[Outlawmws]

Great score 3bay!

-NOS vise-grip

I love those nut/bolt grips and have all 3 sizes plus spares for road boxes.

-Diamalloy Handyboy

Very cool - I've yet to find a pair like that in any brand

-Craftsman Lifetime 1/2” ratchet, first find of the day from my buddy Jim

From the short lived Stainless run! Very nice!

 

[JonahBrown]

Great score 3bay!


I love those nut/bolt grips and have all 3 sizes plus spares for road boxes.


Very cool - I've yet to find a pair like that in any brand



From the short lived Stainless run! Very nice!

Lifetime were the latter chrome plated steel ratchets. The stainless versions were stamped stainless.

 

[3baygarage]

Lifetime were the latter chrome plated steel ratchets. The stainless versions were stamped stainless.

You’re right. I’ve mistakenly used the terms interchangeably at times too.

 

[JonahBrown]

You’re right. I’ve mistakenly used the terms interchangeably at times too.

The sockets are also chrome plated steel. Many people mistakenly call them Stainless as well.

 

[bmwrd0]

I was able to sneak out to two sales on Thursday, with limited results:

At the first sale, I found the Starrett box with random micrometer tips, paper clamps, three Snap-on sockets, a circle H Craftsman socket and an wooding 1/4" hex driver. At the other sale, a novel about Japan from 1912.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Feeling rather skunked in more ways than one (I might fail a urinalysis on second-hand smoke right now...), I had to make a few more circuits to meet my "If you're only going to bring three things home, they better be three special things..." standard at the flea this morning (Lugz 2025_17).



/ The pliers are Crescent "MoTorKiT" (sometimes you have to breal your own 'no dupes' rule)

/ I have over a hundred B&S wrenches, but this is the first I have ever found in the wild with an "A.L.A.M." marking, believe it or not.

/ The Merchant Marine book, 1939 edition, has an unfortunate fold mark down the front cover, but it has the fold-out world map in the back, intact.

 

[Outlawmws]

/ I have over a hundred B&S wrenches, but this is the first I have ever found in the wild with an "A.L.A.M." marking, believe it or not.

what does the "A.L.A.M." marking mean?

EDIT: Found it:

Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers​

 

[Private Lugnutz]

what does the "A.L.A.M." marking mean?

EDIT: Found it:

Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers​

Yes. When found on a wrench, it's not related to the early automotive industry politics, licensing, rights, royalties, and monopolization fights the term typically conjures. It's a standard. Like "S.A.E." or "U.S.S." In this case, it's qualifying the model number "1132." I plan to elaborate on the B&S thread, with a x-link to your DOE thread.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lots of peculiar LEFT-BEHIND's this morning, interesting enough to photo not necessarily buy (e.g., the P.R.R. FAK, the telegraph records, and the warehouse scale truck), or desirable to buy but too rich for my blood (e.g., the conductor's cap!)

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool left behinds Lugz! I'll pick up old FA kits if in decent shape, the $$ is right, and if something unique (I have 2 "personal" metal FAKs from PG&E one is in my daypack in use, one is in camping re-purposed) as well as several larger boxes that have been updated with non-expired stuff, We always setup our own, but usually in plastic tubs, but I've been changing those over. A couple became specialty tool boxes.

 

[SC Fly Guy]

While running errands this morning, came across one TOO. Ended up with a Lufkin Metal folding rule, 2 Vise Grips, 2 Channelocks, a Stanley set, and a couple of Craftsman items. As I was leaving, I spotted the Stihl FSA57 with charger and battery in really good condition. $50 total.

 

[zanyad]

@SC Fly Guy *****!

 

[Beerhippie]

While running errands this morning, came across one TOO. Ended up with a Lufkin Metal folding rule, 2 Vise Grips, 2 Channelocks, a Stanley set, and a couple of Craftsman items. As I was leaving, I spotted the Stihl FSA57 with charger and battery in really good condition. $50 total.

Who's the sucky boy? You are!

 

[83VillageRepair]

Went to an estate sale out in the country just a few miles from my place. Lots of Asian tools but I was able to dig out some good stuff. Spent $45 total, paid what he asked. Prices were very fair.

 

[Patrickm82]

You **** @SC Fly Guy!

 

[Outlawmws]

While running errands this morning, came across one TOO. Ended up with a Lufkin Metal folding rule, 2 Vise Grips, 2 Channelocks, a Stanley set, and a couple of Craftsman items. As I was leaving, I spotted the Stihl FSA57 with charger and battery in really good condition. $50 total.

Yeah, that score ***** on several levels!

Went to an estate sale out in the country just a few miles from my place. Lots of Asian tools but I was able to dig out some good stuff. Spent $45 total, paid what he asked

So does this one!