2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)

[Patrickm82]

I agree 1207 or 1209 Stanley

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Eron 150 6” vise. I thought it was British but it’s Japanese lol. Not terrible for $45.

 

[bmwrd0]

After picking up paint for the weekends projects, I swung by half a dozen yard sales, and it wasn't until the last one that I found anything worth bringing home:

A fifties vintage Thorsen sockets that had a couple extra sockets and a Tru-Test rachet inside, along with a SpeedMaster 1/4" ratchet.

 

[Beerhippie]

After picking up paint for the weekends projects, I swung by half a dozen yard sales, and it wasn't until the last one that I found anything worth bringing home:

A fifties vintage Thorsen sockets that had a couple extra sockets and a Tru-Test rachet inside, along with a SpeedMaster 1/4" ratchet.

"Honey, why does it always take you so long to run down to the store and pick up a gallon of paint?"

 

[Outlawmws]

"Honey, why does it always take you so long to run down to the store and pick up a gallon of paint?"

She is usually his Co-pilot "Honey turn right - (slap) not from the left lane!"

 

[saukit]

@mikeinri *****!

Took the day off today and ran around a bit Pretty scarce pickings for most part but the last sale made up for it in entertainment value plus an old catalog which I never find!

$10 on the Mac storage box at a garage sale, this will be great for filling with 50 pounds of wrenches



The catalog and little box of BE and S-K 1/4" drive sockets came from the aforementioned last sale of the day for $10, the Greenlee knockout punch set and the Snap on 3/8 extensions came from a private estate sale for $5 and the RHFT Craftsman 1/4 ratchet was 2 bucks at a yard sale. Just sitting there in a box of dreck


The Snap-on catalog is from 1960 and other than the binder being torn up, the catalog is in great shape. From a local dealer too with a card and everything. Notice the phone numbers, that's early Seattle!



The last sale of the day was pretty wild, if anyone's in the Puget sound region and into militaria or woodworking, shoot me a PM and I'll let you know where this place is. Unfortunately a lot of the stuff has obviously been google lensed and the prices are pretty crazy but there are still some gems in there. I passed on a couple bedrock planes for $50-60 each. This is the last weekend of the sale and the place is still packed with stuff! I wish I had seen this sale earlier, they said they've been open for a few weekends and I'm sure people were hauling loads of gems out of there before the people running the sale had a chance to check eBay!

Pretty sure these guys don't know that the black chest on the right is a Gerstner, because there's one in the other room with more obvious markings that has a $2k price tag on it



I might try to go back late tomorrow and see if I can get a couple of these cabinets for cheap...

 

[Skellyii]

Haven't been out much in the last month or so, and the few times I have been out, the tools were lacking. But last weekend we went to a small town 40 miles from here to see friends, and we dropped into their local Habitat Restore and I picked up a few wrenches and a couple of empty cases that I will use to store my now rarely used air tools to get them out of my toolbox. Total spend was $10

We got to another sale where I picked up this 50s, early 60s?? Craftsman roller for $20. A previous owner had made a custom base for it with 5" wheels. I had guessed that he did that because the bottom was rusted out, but there was only surface rust. All of the drawers work fine, just deciding whether to enjoy the patina, or do a resto on it.




There seems to FINALLY be a plethora of tool sales today, I'm leaving in a few minutes, so I'm hoping to get lucky.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Went to the last day of a sale where almost everything was free, not a ton of good stuff left but I did find these.

 

[SC Fly Guy]

Haven't been out much in the last month or so, and the few times I have been out, the tools were lacking. But last weekend we went to a small town 40 miles from here to see friends, and we dropped into their local Habitat Restore and I picked up a few wrenches and a couple of empty cases that I will use to store my now rarely used air tools to get them out of my toolbox. Total spend was $10

We got to another sale where I picked up this 50s, early 60s?? Craftsman roller for $20. A previous owner had made a custom base for it with 5" wheels. I had guessed that he did that because the bottom was rusted out, but there was only surface rust. All of the drawers work fine, just deciding whether to enjoy the patina, or do a resto on it.




There seems to FINALLY be a plethora of tool sales today, I'm leaving in a few minutes, so I'm hoping to get lucky.

You **** for the Craftsman with custom roller base!! I’m a fan for ‘letting these old beauties tell their stories!’

 

[INSP380]

Ok Gang…. Picked this up this morning for a real good price. I’ve been looking for what could have come in it. There doesn’t appear to be any wear marks to hint at it….. What do you guy think?

Steve

 

[Cruzan80]

Is it tall enough for a height gauge? If not, maybe a vernier caliper?

 

[INSP380]

Is it tall enough for a height gauge? If not, maybe a vernier caliper?

I’m leaning towards a caliper…. But my next guess is height gage. Problem is, finding a good reference photo. My Dad picked them up for me so I’m waiting to see them in person for the depth. Good thing he was 5 min away..

Steve

 

[gleman]

Garage Sale today.



New cans of Blaster and carb cleaner, mostly full 3in1, torch and striker and oil can for 4 bucks.

 

[Cruzan80]

I’m leaning towards a caliper…. But my next guess is height gage. Problem is, finding a good reference photo. My Dad picked them up for me so I’m waiting to see them in person for the depth. Good thing he was 5 min away..

Steve

I have a B&S height gauge in box, but am not home now. Let me know if you need measurements to compare.

 

[Patrickm82]

Had a pretty good morning picking today and 1 from last weekend. I hit 6 sales this morning with 3 producing. Pretty good score on the rope, the google machine says it’s $350 new. The date code is 2011 but doesn’t seem like it has ever been used. Here’s what I got! $85 for the haul.

300’ blue water rope co. 7/16 assaultline
Type A kernmantle. $50
Very nice L.L Bean Hudson Bay axe. $20
2 Jorgensen, 2 B&C and Armstrong C clamps
Craftsman circle H 1/2” sliding breaker
Craftsman L breaker
Craftsman socket box (empty)
Craftsman red handle driver
Craftsman mag. bit driver w/ bits
Snap on clutch driver
10”&8” Irwin slide lock pump pliers.
Millers falls egg beater drill
6” Bonney adjustable
NASA 3/4 six point wrench
Brass Winchester 12 ga. shell

 

[Beerhippie]

I don't know how many depressing junk sales I hit today. It was the big all-town yard sale down in Wallowa, most of which started yesterday. Even showing up after lunch on the second day, I could tell that 99% didn't have anything I'd be interested in when the opened.

I did make a small haul of it:



Ryobi chainsaw w/2 batts and charger was $5. Lufkin Red End Extension rule and unlabeled Perfect-handle screwdriver were $10.
The battery in the charger works and the saw runs. Not sure about the batt in the saw yet. Batteries are NiCad, but for $5, I figured I'd take it for a spin.

 

[d42jeep]

Only two sales listed on Craigslist in the Tahoe basin and they were ongoing sales that we had hit many times. We figured that maybe we could hit some TOOs and we finally found one with a few tools.
The claw hammer is Standard branded made by Stanley, the perfect handle screwdriver I believe to be Tobrin, The Craftsman screwdriver was supplied by Pratt & Reed. The 1/4” drive sockets were Walden, Snap-on, Williams, Proto and one Craftsman. The lowest level are hex drive and a discardable no name 1/4” drive spinner.
My favorite item of the day was from one of the repeat sales. I gifted him some unwanted tools and he gave me something I could really use.
Obviously, I need the spray. I forgot that I found two Vim wrench holders at the other ongoing sale. I have a few of these and they work well.
-Don

 

[WisJim]

I stopped by chance at a garage sale yesterday after going to some others that were a waste of time. This one was a fellow who has annual sales and usually has some interesting although overpriced old tools and sporting goods. I got there on the 2nd day because I hadn't seen his signs earlier. I passed on some saws, wrenches, screwdrivers, old lanterns, etc., that I didn't need (want) badly enough to pay his prices, but I did get a Hold Lok HT-6 screwholder/screw starter, and a Millers Falls 610A spiral screwdriver --not that I need another spiral screwdriver.

 

[RTM]

Ok Gang…. Picked this up this morning for a real good price. I’ve been looking for what could have come in it. There doesn’t appear to be any wear marks to hint at it….. What do you guy think?

Steve

Slot in the top left makes me think a rule drops in there. Length of that will drive further thoughts. Does not seem thick enough to be a combo square rule, so maybe an apprentice “kit”? Saw those in one of the catalogs, rule, square, calipers etc. This one is not it.

Brown & Sharpe Machinists' Tools : Catalog 135 : Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

46 p., illus., 28.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

In other words, maybe not a single tool.

 

[INSP380]

Slot in the top left makes me think a rule drops in there. Length of that will drive further thoughts. Does not seem thick enough to be a combo square rule, so maybe an apprentice “kit”? Saw those in one of the catalogs, rule, square, calipers etc. This one is not it.

Brown & Sharpe Machinists' Tools : Catalog 135 : Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

46 p., illus., 28.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

In other words, maybe not a single tool.

Brilliant!! Thank you for that lead. The words apprentice & Kit brought me to this!!!

Steve

 

[Provincial]

I had time on the way home from work yesterday to stop by a few sales. The first had this old first aid kit. My wife has been looking for an older, large one to stock and keep at our camping area, so I picked it up.





The flip up rings are handles to turn latches for the retaining doors. The "TRAVELKIT" is empty except for an empty Band-Aid box. The big case has straps that pivot out to hang it on a wall. The wife intends to touch up the worst spots and leave the patina. Not too bad for $5.00.

This no-name hydraulic crimper turned up at another sale. 60 to 300 millimeter capacity, and it pumps up solid. Some leaked oil in the case, but for $20.00, it will pay for itself fast making battery cables for my heavy equipment. Now I have to make a chart to convert the metric sizes to battery cable sizes.

 

[INSP380]

Brilliant!! Thank you for that lead. The words apprentice & Kit brought me to this!!!

Steve

Just bought the book!!

Brilliant!! Thank you for that lead. The words apprentice & Kit brought me to this!!!

Steve

Just found and bought the book!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Very mixed bag today, it was a HS FM day, and some yard sales in the same area.

I made an abortive visit to Bass Pro shops while I was down there - I haven't been in a big sporting good store in ages, and did some "window shopping". BPS has a LOT of selection for sure, but so much I'm unimpressed with. So many "solutions for a problem I didn't know I had, and lots of "gimmicky" stuff IMO. 2/3 rds of the store is clothing related too. Came away with nothing (I specifically went to look at the Ken Onion Work Sharp tools)

So Flea market:

Zippo fluid, GMC ratchet (#3! al by me!) , and a SO Combo for $5 a buck a pack for 2 packs of Silk Lites, $8 for the Queen bird and trout hunting knife with 3" blade, $2 fora box of Sears dowel centers, $10 for a set of Craftsman anniversary pins for the 4 major eras up to 70's, $2 for Krauter pliers and Crescent dykes, a buck for the package of SK inside and outside snap ring pliers, and the leather box was $2 and same seller had a pot lid (next pic) I hoped would fit my Pyrex Flameware 7" fry pan, but didn't... in that next pic the Knife seller gave me the pinewood derby wheels for a buck - I've been looking for some for ages, to fix the wheels on the car I made over 60 years ago.







I got this stove for $5 at the flea. No makers marks, and I cannot find it in the Terry Marsh pages.












Yardsales:

First one that produced included SO, Plvmb, Idestro wrenches and ignition wrenches from Williams, Herbrand and a DIN SOE, plus two wood handled drivers, a Lodge silicone skillet grip, Coffee pot glass percolator top a clip on LED light that needs batteries, and a badge retracter. $8 all



Second had a piano light (Needs a new cord and an LED bulb...), and a Miro aluminum baking try I'll use for keeping cans of oil adn such from having an accident. $8 all



One had two 8" embroidery rings I need to fix speaker grills for a buck each, and another had the plastic box for $2, and the walking stick was thrown in free:

 

[Beerhippie]

^The burner of that stove has PW Auto Cook Kit vibes... but not exactly.



I'd check out some very early PW stoves.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd check out some very early PW stoves.

I've been hacking at various details that should help ID it, but so far, no luck.

The burner top plates have a centered single screw, both sides, and are very large compared to most stoves -Almost 3-1/2" to the outside edge, All flat plate valves to control the burners. the knob on the genny apparently just controls the volume of fuel.

The tank still has fuel in it, but has suspicious "stuff" also sliding when I slosh it. the fill cap is a unique butterfly design.

The box has those rows of holes front and back, and a solid bottom... Box has no folding legs, just two raised "rails" that have trapezoidal holes, so the legs may be MIA?

Its a strange mix of old and newer design features. Coleman looking wind flaps, spring loaded to keep them out and in place, but a separate pump and probably an NRV.

 

[mikeinri]

Brilliant!! Thank you for that lead. The words apprentice & Kit brought me to this!!!

Steve

Awesome! Any chance you can go back to the seller and find the missing tools???

I had time on the way home from work yesterday to stop by a few sales. The first had this old first aid kit. My wife has been looking for an older, large one to stock and keep at our camping area, so I picked it up.





The flip up rings are handles to turn latches for the retaining doors. The "TRAVELKIT" is empty except for an empty Band-Aid box. The big case has straps that pivot out to hang it on a wall. The wife intends to touch up the worst spots and leave the patina. Not too bad for $5.00.

This no-name hydraulic crimper turned up at another sale. 60 to 300 millimeter capacity, and it pumps up solid. Some leaked oil in the case, but for $20.00, it will pay for itself fast making battery cables for my heavy equipment. Now I have to make a chart to convert the metric sizes to battery cable sizes.

You ****!


Mike

 

[Outlawmws]

Dang! I think I found it! A Coleman Canada "Gypsy" Model No. 10 from around 1930!

Was NOT expecting Coleman!

Coleman Canada stoves – early models

Coleman appliances made in countries other than the US and Canada are included in the Coleman Canada pages on the website. Coleman – Toronto called their No. 1 stove the Coleman Camp Cooker (…

terry-marsh.com

About 1/2 way down the page!

 

[Beerhippie]

I've been hacking at various details that should help ID it, but so far, no luck.

The burner top plates have a centered single screw, both sides, and are very large compared to most stoves -Almost 3-1/2" to the outside edge, All flat plate valves to control the burners. the knob on the genny apparently just controls the volume of fuel.

The tank still has fuel in it, but has suspicious "stuff" also sliding when I slosh it. the fill cap is a unique butterfly design.

The box has those rows of holes front and back, and a solid bottom... Box has no folding legs, just two raised "rails" that have trapezoidal holes, so the legs may be MIA?

Its a strange mix of old and newer design features. Coleman looking wind flaps, spring loaded to keep them out and in place, but a separate pump and probably an NRV.

I'm trying to recall what I have or had that used that big butterfly fuel cap... with little success. PW still comes to mind.

 

[Beerhippie]

Dang! I think I found it! A Coleman Canada "Gypsy" Model No. 10 from around 1930!

Was NOT expecting Coleman!

Coleman Canada stoves – early models

Coleman appliances made in countries other than the US and Canada are included in the Coleman Canada pages on the website. Coleman – Toronto called their No. 1 stove the Coleman Camp Cooker (…

terry-marsh.com

About 1/2 way down the page!

Well, it's Canada, eh?

 

[Outlawmws]

Heh, 1930, Canada -thing is my mom's birthday stove! both born there too!

 

[RTM]

Another busy day at Garage and Estate sales today. While scoping out targets last night, I saw a local ES that I would not be nearby for the opening time, so MLW agreed to go, and chatted me some pix. I had seen some Proto green handles in a pic, so she aimed for those, and we got tangled up with poor cell service, so she got scooped on a few items by a guy who was just rudely grabbing stuff, dropping and breaking stuff, annoying many around him. He came to my GS a few years back, and dropped $100+, grabbing stray **** that would not sell easily, for resale at a FM. No big deal, I saw the pile he took, not much I cared about, She came home with this haul, 3 Proto hammers, a box of drip sprinkler bits, a bunch of Ty wraps, a square head that might be a Union, an Edmonds patent alligator wrench, and a small garden tool.




I went back later, grabbed a 10’ orchard ladder, a 3’ x 18” x 6’ tall set of shelves, and some proto goodies, two racks, an 18” extension, and a bent hacksaw, and an extension cord. Left side. At another sale on the way home from running the dogs, I grabbed a Corona shovel, and a box of automotive push in fasteners. At an overhyped GS, I found nothing, but the neighbors had some free milk crates, and 2 aluminum sheets. Right





One other sale netted a sleeve of business card blanks for a printer, a Keystone hex drive socket set in good condition, XActo vintage handle and razor saw, and a Stiletto S10 brace, will figure out who actually made it later.

 

[gearhead1960]

Day 2 at the sale we went to netted these....for $3

-Craftsman Small Flat Blade Screwdriver
-Craftsman Punches (2)
-Nicholson Black Diamond File
-GB Instruments Stud Finder
-Kobalt Extra Long Driver Bits (5)
-B & D Extra Long Driver Bits (3)
-Nissan Wheel Chocks (2)

and these for $.75ea.....

 

[LesserSon]

I didn’t stop at any sales yesterday - spent the morning fishing with LesserSonJr, and afternoon priming new fiberglass porch posts.
This morning, MrsLS & I did go to a sparsely-attended Jake’s - it was humid and I guess the threat of a light sprinkle kept vendors away.
$21 brought home some Shakespeare and Johnson fishing gear, BLO, Nicholson file card, Craftsman dikes, Sheffield chainnose, Proto Prof smooth roundnose pliers, Stanley swivelhead pop-riveter, LSStarrett protractor rule, Bonney CV tappet wrench, two gimlets (smaller is Keen Kutter), Disston jabsaw handle, Allentown Paints lid-lifter/bottle-opener, Gingher Italy pinking shears ($40+ retail), and pack of solid brass corners.

 

[Outlawmws]

Day 2 at the sale we went to netted these....for $3

USUCK there!

LSStarret protractor rule,

That's differnt! More details please?

And you **** too.

 

[INSP380]

Awesome! Any chance you can go back to the seller and find the missing tools???




You ****!


Mike

No Dice man, seller had nothing but household stuff. My guess is Grandma kept the box full of knick nacks…not another tool in sight.

Good news is the book, I have the scribe and blade and a nice B&S Combo square. The calipers should be easy. I have a boat load of Starrett in the mean time. The search continues…

Steve

 

[Smokeshow69]

Day 2 at the sale we went to netted these....for $3

-Craftsman Small Flat Blade Screwdriver
-Craftsman Punches (2)
-Nicholson Black Diamond File
-GB Instruments Stud Finder
-Kobalt Extra Long Driver Bits (5)
-B & D Extra Long Driver Bits (3)
-Nissan Wheel Chocks (2)

and these for $.75ea.....

Oh man, those books are killer! Cool artwork and great subjects. I love reading post war stuff like that

 

[LesserSon]

That's differnt! More details please?

And you **** too.

The 1897 catalog calls it a “No10 inclinometer, try square & bevel protractor combined.” I don’t see a logo on the protractor. The level vial is not broken. It’s on a No4-graduated hardened rule, which is marked “The LSS Co.” I have a bit of cleaning to do on it.

 

[Outlawmws]

The 1897 catalog calls it a “No10 inclinometer, try square & bevel protractor combined.” I don’t see a logo on the protractor. The level vial is not broken. It’s on a No4-graduated hardened rule, which is marked “The LSS Co.” I have a bit of cleaning to do on it.

The lock nut looks Starrett, so likely a set.

 

[RTM]

LSStarret protractor rule,

That’s a different than normal protractor head, not seen in the wild yet. Listed as a #10 inclinometer, not sure what the difference is. Nice get.

Starrett Tools 50th Anniversary : Catalog No. 25 : L. S. Starrett Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

388 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Oops, guess I needed to refresh my screen. Already been down that path.

 

[Beerhippie]

I didn’t stop at any sales yesterday - spent the morning fishing with LesserSonJr, and afternoon priming new fiberglass porch posts.
This morning, MrsLS & I did go to a sparsely-attended Jake’s - it was humid and I guess the threat of a light sprinkle kept vendors away.
$21 brought home some Shakespeare and Johnson fishing gear, BLO, Nicholson file card, Craftsman dikes, Sheffield chainnose, Proto Prof smooth roundnose pliers, Stanley swivelhead pop-riveter, LSStarret protractor rule, Bonney CV tappet wrench, two gimlets, Disston jabsaw handle, Allentown Paints lid-lifter/bottle-opener, Gingher Italy pinking shears ($40+ retail), and pack of solid brass corners.

I have the same Stanley pop-rivet tool. I think I've intentionally used the swivel feature about once out of thousands of rivets driven. The rest of the time, it's just a PITA as it's always swiveling when I don't want it to. A 3/16" SS rivet is a struggle.