Retirement of good tools

[gte718p]

I inherited my first set of Snap-On wrench from my grandfather when he passed away. Fifteen years ago. He was a midwestern farmer who used tools and for many years they were my go to wrenches. Several years ago my garage was broken into and quite a few of my tools were stolen, but the thieves were thankfully stupid and went for flashy over value. I came to realize how irreplaceable these tools are. They have been taking up room in my tool box, but I find that I've been reaching past them for the GearWrench Xbeams more often then not.

Today they officially retired and moved out of the garage and into the office. The frame is made from all scraps of other projects. I think it is a fitting tribute to good service.

 

[gte718p]

The picture uploaded upside down, but I'm to lazy to fix it. You get the idea

 

[NIDDLE]

Cool idea. My dad did a similar thing with my grandpa's hat after he passed. He wore that old denim hat everywhere, all my memories of him were that way. Got it hanging up in my garage.

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Beautiful

 

[Haveblue]

i like it! very cool!! It drove me nuts looking at it upside down, so I had to flip it!! LOL!

 

[Exceller8]

Looks great!

 

[Shadowdog500]

Your origional upside down photo looks better to me!

Looks great!

 

[Haveblue]

 

[diesel research]

im not a vintage collector. which era did these originate? Did he just use them on the farm?

 

[2oolhound]

There's not too many reasons you can retire good tools but your's is legit! Looks great on the black background.

 

[Outlawmws]

Very nice!

I have to ask: how are the wrenches mounted to the board?

Maybe get a trophy shop to make a little name plate: "In memory of Grandpa ***" 19XX - ? "

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Very cool! I hung my dad's old tool bags up in my wood shop. (He's still alive and kickin), but he was gonna get rid of them, so I took them. They got his infamous bright green spray paint on them. Hell, all the tools he passed down to me have that green on them. lol

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Very nice!

I have to ask: how are the wrenches mounted to the board?

Maybe get a trophy shop to make a little name plate: "In memory of Grandpa ***" 19XX - ? "

I'll trade some tools for a plate. I can do that stuff

 

[jeffmoss26]

That is a great idea! Very fitting with tools that have been passed down from generations!

 

[kts]

Really cool idea!

 

[gte718p]

Very nice!

I have to ask: how are the wrenches mounted to the board?

Maybe get a trophy shop to make a little name plate: "In memory of Grandpa ***" 19XX - ? "

They are held in place by two small nails, one in the box end, one in the open end. The nails are painted black so they are almost impossible to see. I was actually surprised how firm of a mount they made, but I could still pick one up off the board and use it if I wanted to.

The engraved plate is a great idea. We have an engraver at work. I'll make a plaque when I get some time.


I'm not a snappy expert, but it is the older logo. My quess would be 50's-60s. I remember using them to wrench on the tractors in the 80s so I know they are at least that old.

 

[trexdoink]

Nice idea, it's hard to know what to do with the old classics if you have what you need already.

 

[Outlawmws]

They are held in place by two small nails, one in the box end, one in the open end. The nails are painted black so they are almost impossible to see. I was actually surprised how firm of a mount they made, but I could still pick one up off the board and use it if I wanted to.

The engraved plate is a great idea. We have an engraver at work. I'll make a plaque when I get some time.


I'm not a snappy expert, but it is the older logo. My quess would be 50's-60s. I remember using them to wrench on the tractors in the 80s so I know they are at least that old.

There should be a numeral on the wrenches somewhere, (it may look stylized or even backwards) SO uses this to mark the date and there is a published table from way back to far in the future, for what year the tools were made. it's possible you may have more than one year in the set...

 

[Coach James]

How could you tell it was upside down?

Coach

 

[gte718p]

How could you tell it was upside down?

Coach

The label is upside down

Anyway the tools are OEXH-18,19,20-24 USA 6

 

[Outlawmws]

Can you get a good closeup of the last 6? That is probably the date code. The font style will dictate the decade.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

date codes I got from GJ...

 

[gte718p]

Can you get a good closeup of the last 6? That is probably the date code. The font style will dictate the decade.

Based on the chart MohawkDave posted I think it is actually an unpside down 9 for 1969

 

[Outlawmws]

Agreed.

 

[rick carpenter]

Your grandchildren will be glad you did this.