I've Started Bidding on used Tools

[Bolster]

Somewhere I read that "every object is either an idol or a tool." I.e., either you place it above you and worship it, or you place it below you and use it.

Yet the anthropologists tell us the main thing that makes mankind different from the animals, is his extravagant use of tools. So why can't our tools be both idols and tools?

I use them AND treat them with great reverence. They get cleaned, they get set down on something soft, they don't get loaned.

That's why the craftsman set my father got me for my 16th birthday in the 1970s is still going strong...and why I'm still using my father's set of Snap-ons that served him his whole life.

My contractor friend seems to enjoy abusing his tools. Slides them across concrete, sets them on sandpaper, uses screwdrivers as chisels. I just don't get it. He likewise doesn't "get" my approach, thinks it's hilarious that my tools look unused.

Personally I think tools take a lot more abuse than they need to. A little TLC and they're around for a long, long time.

 

[hamburglar]

Sold my "childhood" 12" GiJoe stuff from the 60's for over 2 grand. Sold my Hot Wheels Redlines for over 3 grand .

Yer kidding, those are worth a lot? I've got a box of nice Redlines around here somewhere.

Next thing you know, you're going to tell me that L89 and LS6 ragtops ended up being worth something.

 

[Bolster]

Yer kidding, those are worth a lot? I've got a box of nice Redlines around here somewhere.

Totally depends on how you treated them. If they're C8, C9, C10 condition, you're sitting on a gold mine. If you played with them on the concrete, and thought it was fun smashing them into each other, well...

...sorta like tools, I might add.

 

[hamburglar]

Totally depends on how you treated them. If they're C8, C9, C10 condition, you're sitting on a gold mine. If you played with them on the concrete, and thought it was fun smashing them into each other, well...

...sorta like tools, I might add.

I give. What's C8/9/10? It's probably 40-50 cars that are in nice shape except that a few have the wheel bowed out some. The newest was probably bought in 1970 or so, given the models.

...Holy ****...I was just looking through all the Hot Wheels(tm) grading stuff on the web. These people are wacked out. They're just little cheap toys for pity sakes. I'd sell my old cars in a New York minute if they're worth anything, it's bound to be a speculative bubble like the current worth of cars of that era. So where's the best place to dump this stuff?

 

[wrenchr]

I give. What's C8/9/10? It's probably 40-50 cars that are in nice shape except that a few have the wheel bowed out some. The newest was probably bought in 1970 or so, given the models.

...Holy ****...I was just looking through all the Hot Wheels(tm) grading stuff on the web. These people are wacked out. They're just little cheap toys for pity sakes. I'd sell my old cars in a New York minute if they're worth anything, it's bound to be a speculative bubble like the current worth of cars of that era. So where's the best place to dump this stuff?

ebay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jniolon]

Somewhere I read that "every object is either an idol or a tool." I.e., either you place it above you and worship it, or you place it below you and use it.

Yet the anthropologists tell us the main thing that makes mankind different from the animals, is his extravagant use of tools. So why can't our tools be both idols and tools?

I use them AND treat them with great reverence. They get cleaned, they get set down on something soft, they don't get loaned.

That's why the craftsman set my father got me for my 16th birthday in the 1970s is still going strong...and why I'm still using my father's set of Snap-ons that served him his whole life. .

Bolster nailed it for me... I buy tools to use and to appreciate.. I don't worship them but I do have a great appreciation for what they do, how well they do it and on to the intelligence of the man that designed them.. Back a few years ago when my grandson was born my perspective on things change greatly. More introspective I guess and a larger realization of how quickly I'm headed for that hole in the ground... I wrote a couple of articles... "what to do with your stuff " and "what to do with the stuff in your head'. One of the things I realized about my collection is that certain pieces have far more value than others... Like Bolster's dads tools... it's not about the tools as being useful...although I still use them...it's because they are memory keys to our past.....

an excerpt...

"...So, I've collected all these tools and tried to emulate these artists. Sometimes it was successful…..sometimes not. Wrenches, sockets, hammers, saws, tig, mig and stick welders, plasma cutters, torches, transits, yard tools, tractors, meters, gauges, mics and calipers and in multiple quantities sometimes. Hell, I've got more vice grip pliers than some people have total tools. Several thousand dollars worth of "stuff". There is also a value that can't be calculated in dollars here. Some of these tools belonged to my grandfather, my dad and favorite uncles. Just by the simple act of holding them, I can be in a place or a time that was so special to me, a feeling that I can't duplicate any other way. I have a transit that belonged to my father… it's over a hundred years old and we used it for years in his business. Years of memories with him, both good and bad, but more good than bad. I can just set up the tripod for this instrument and have the most wonderful comfortable feeling you could ever imagine. A simple Lufkin 50 foot metal tape in my hand revives thoughts of times with my uncle, the brick mason, laying out a foundation for a block wall. I can still feel the cold on my face from that January morning. I didn't really enjoy being there freezing then, but I'd give a months pay to have him here now and measure that same foundation. No one can appreciate that but me. "


later
John

 

[lbgradwell]

Somewhere I read that "every object is either an idol or a tool." I.e., either you place it above you and worship it, or you place it below you and use it.

Yet the anthropologists tell us the main thing that makes mankind different from the animals, is his extravagant use of tools. So why can't our tools be both idols and tools?

I use them AND treat them with great reverence. They get cleaned, they get set down on something soft, they don't get loaned.

That's why the craftsman set my father got me for my 16th birthday in the 1970s is still going strong...and why I'm still using my father's set of Snap-ons that served him his whole life.

My contractor friend seems to enjoy abusing his tools. Slides them across concrete, sets them on sandpaper, uses screwdrivers as chisels. I just don't get it. He likewise doesn't "get" my approach, thinks it's hilarious that my tools look unused.

Personally I think tools take a lot more abuse than they need to. A little TLC and they're around for a long, long time.

Bolster nailed it for me... I buy tools to use and to appreciate.. I don't worship them but I do have a great appreciation for what they do, how well they do it and on to the intelligence of the man that designed them.. Back a few years ago when my grandson was born my perspective on things change greatly. More introspective I guess and a larger realization of how quickly I'm headed for that hole in the ground... I wrote a couple of articles... "what to do with your stuff " and "what to do with the stuff in your head'. One of the things I realized about my collection is that certain pieces have far more value than others... Like Bolster's dads tools... it's not about the tools as being useful...although I still use them...it's because they are memory keys to our past.....

an excerpt...

"...So, I've collected all these tools and tried to emulate these artists. Sometimes it was successful…..sometimes not. Wrenches, sockets, hammers, saws, tig, mig and stick welders, plasma cutters, torches, transits, yard tools, tractors, meters, gauges, mics and calipers and in multiple quantities sometimes. Hell, I've got more vice grip pliers than some people have total tools. Several thousand dollars worth of "stuff". There is also a value that can't be calculated in dollars here. Some of these tools belonged to my grandfather, my dad and favorite uncles. Just by the simple act of holding them, I can be in a place or a time that was so special to me, a feeling that I can't duplicate any other way. I have a transit that belonged to my father… it's over a hundred years old and we used it for years in his business. Years of memories with him, both good and bad, but more good than bad. I can just set up the tripod for this instrument and have the most wonderful comfortable feeling you could ever imagine. A simple Lufkin 50 foot metal tape in my hand revives thoughts of times with my uncle, the brick mason, laying out a foundation for a block wall. I can still feel the cold on my face from that January morning. I didn't really enjoy being there freezing then, but I'd give a months pay to have him here now and measure that same foundation. No one can appreciate that but me. "


later
John

Well said, gentlemen! I couldn't agree more...

 

[eschoendorff]

Bolster nailed it for me... I buy tools to use and to appreciate.. I don't worship them but I do have a great appreciation for what they do, how well they do it and on to the intelligence of the man that designed them.. Back a few years ago when my grandson was born my perspective on things change greatly. More introspective I guess and a larger realization of how quickly I'm headed for that hole in the ground... I wrote a couple of articles... "what to do with your stuff " and "what to do with the stuff in your head'. One of the things I realized about my collection is that certain pieces have far more value than others... Like Bolster's dads tools... it's not about the tools as being useful...although I still use them...it's because they are memory keys to our past.....

an excerpt...

"...So, I've collected all these tools and tried to emulate these artists. Sometimes it was successful…..sometimes not. Wrenches, sockets, hammers, saws, tig, mig and stick welders, plasma cutters, torches, transits, yard tools, tractors, meters, gauges, mics and calipers and in multiple quantities sometimes. Hell, I've got more vice grip pliers than some people have total tools. Several thousand dollars worth of "stuff". There is also a value that can't be calculated in dollars here. Some of these tools belonged to my grandfather, my dad and favorite uncles. Just by the simple act of holding them, I can be in a place or a time that was so special to me, a feeling that I can't duplicate any other way. I have a transit that belonged to my father… it's over a hundred years old and we used it for years in his business. Years of memories with him, both good and bad, but more good than bad. I can just set up the tripod for this instrument and have the most wonderful comfortable feeling you could ever imagine. A simple Lufkin 50 foot metal tape in my hand revives thoughts of times with my uncle, the brick mason, laying out a foundation for a block wall. I can still feel the cold on my face from that January morning. I didn't really enjoy being there freezing then, but I'd give a months pay to have him here now and measure that same foundation. No one can appreciate that but me. "


later
John

Yup... well said.

 

[Bolster]

Said with true eloquence, Jniolon.

Hamburglar, check here for a condition grading system for hot wheels.

I confess I have never sold a single hot wheel from my childhood collection, for their ability to take me back 35 years in under second. If you sell, keep a handful of your favorites for the next generation.

 

[billymade]

I've managed to keep all my hotwheels and matchbox cars. There was a time when my brother was throwing everything out; he was newly married and the feeling of throwing out all the childhood things was his knee jerk reaction (we don't need this, throw it out!!!!); I saved all the matchbox/hotwheels and later when he ended up having kids I was able to give these childhood things back to him for his children to enjoy! It felt good to do this and while my brother won't admit it; I would assume he was glad I did this too (ya, know how hard it is for a older brother to admit much to his younger one, LOL!)! There are downsides to being a packrat and saving everything but in this case I'm glad I did! Then there was my "stepmom" who when she newly married my dad threw all my toys out (anything that represented his previous marriage) and when I went to visit they were all gone! This was a pattern that would continue, this shows the power of things and how they can represent something even though they are inordinate objects! One thing in that colleciton I miss are the Corgi Batman and James Bond cars; the bond car ejected the bad guys and the batman had a cutting blade in the front! Collecting things to have around us must go back to the cave man days; of course having tools give a purpose to all these collecting of things and they are "useful"!!! LOL!

 

[jimvannoy]

I have a Matchbox size 007 Aston Martin like that. Had a larger one that was battery operated. It drove around, stopped, guns popped out and shield went up. Had the ejector seat, changing tag numbers and everything. It was one of the items that did not survive. I remember taking it all apart to take the guts out and see what made it "tick".

There comes a point when it's best to sell some stuff. 60's/70's toys are at their peak right now. It happened with 50's toys 10-15 years ago. I use to sell the heck out of 50's stuff. Now those people are older and not as interested anymore. I see 50's things like Lone Ranger, Flash Gordon, and other stuff that sold for big bucks selling for a tenth of what it use to bring and some does not eve sell at all. Now it's the people who grew up in the 60's/70's that want their childhood toys. In another 10-15 years it will be 80's/90's stuff.

 

[rsanter]

I had the 12" GI Joe stuff...sold them
had the hot wheels, matchbox, corgi...sold them
had the plastic model kits......sold them

I was not playing with them and had no interest in them so it was time to send them to someone who would want them

spent the money on lionel trains, my 66 mustang conv and tools.

bob