2018 Garage Sale Thread

[drivesitfar]

LUG: you could have saved you a lot of time by buying the Columbian for $50 and the Reed 1c and you wouldn't have had to filter around the junk to find the Snap on and get the shaft. I'm looking for a Reed 1c everywhere except Ebay cause I probably enjoy the HUNT more than anything. the REED 1c might be small, but it's a KEEPER.

sorry i didn't mean to say anything, but maybe it's still there even though the bigger columbian is gone and i'd buy the 1c anyday even if i owned one or two too of course if it wasn't priced too high.

Tex: that cool tractor seat chair wasn't much cheaper than the big brass box, but one thing i want to tell you and everybody. all cast iron or steel tractor seats are not created equal. some are so thin you can almost bend the cast or steel and others like this one weigh maybe 25-30 pounds or so and are stout.

 

[Hexen]

...
Tex: that cool tractor seat chair wasn't much cheaper than the big brass box, but one thing i want to tell you and everybody. all cast iron or steel tractor seats are not created equal. some are so thin you can almost bend the cast or steel and others like this one weigh maybe 25-30 pounds or so and are stout.

Were the flimsy ones really used on working tractors, or just made as reproductions for putting together those chairs?

 

[3baygarage]

Lugz- this is the wrench. Harley Davidson cylinder base nut wrench, war time I believe.

Found the Harley wrench, Mac pliers, non spark Vaco screwdriver, and Snap On awl at a yard sale for a total of $4.

 

[drivesitfar]

HEX: pretty sure the flimsy one i bought an an online auction was a tractor's seat, but even though the seat was flimsey the cast iron mount for it was solid so i'm sort of looking for another nicer stout seat.

I'd like to hear from the tractor guys cause even though i worked at my uncle's farm a couple weekends a month in the summers in my teens i'm certainly not a farm machinery expert.

 

[3baygarage]

Also went to a barn sale. It was very picked over. Not much in tools.

Found a nice little cast griddle
blacksmith tongs- I think they’re Heller with a horse logo

These were painted and mounted on the wall>

Craftsman long C 1/2” torque wrench
Armstrong dbe
Snap On Vacuum Grip dust cap tool
Snap on deep impact, Sunex impact

Long C torque wrench

Horse in diamond (Heller?)

Snap On vac grip.

 

[bill300d]

Are you telling me that you've been crossing the Delaware, bill?! If so, I'm starting to get a little freaked out. Twertsy has been planning a raid from Virginia with horse13. I just found out I have local competition with pfaustus. Now you? It's an all-out assault!


.I've been known to a few times a year and when I do I hunker down about 15-20 minutes south of your secret hole at the daughters house So its a hop skip and a jump.

 

[jakemac]

No. But I have the feeling I'm going to get a lecture that I should have.

In my head, I've been screaming at you for hours !

 

[I8AWRENCH]

FrankLee I like that Craftsman Crown label hardware chart!

I brought these home today from an estate sale.




Last week's booty:

Looks like a drum bung wrench - non sparking too

 

[I8AWRENCH]

Not a clue, but I suspect it's for welding tanks.



Yeah, it's a little threadbare on the edges, but it's nice.

I think this quote was the one

 

[NJ Marty]

Got this CM Hatchet last week at an estate sale where you fill boxes and pay as they needed everything possible gone so it was very inexpensive. It has the original handle and looks to be an older CM Logo.

 

[Outlawmws]

Marty, I'm thinking the early logo from the thirties!

 

[NJ Marty]

Marty, I'm thinking the early logo from the thirties!

Outlaw it might be. There is still the remnants of the label on the handle and it looks like it might be an oval with a swirl CM logo

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Prior to 1918, the aluminum canteens had no markings for the date or manufacturer. With the 1918 contracts and thereafter, that information was stamped on the rear concave area or bottom.

Yes, that was it. I knew it was something odd. That was the last year of the war. So I'm not sure how much thereafter there was until WWII. Thanks for the reference.

In my head, I've been screaming at you for hours !

I'm starting to get the idea you weren't the only one!

the REED 1c might be small, but it's a KEEPER.

It seems like a fine vise. But I just picked up the Prentiss Bulldog last week. And, candidly, as I said, I'm not really a vise collector. Consequently, I don't have a list in my head of the most desirable or valuable vises the way I do other tools, and I'm not really interested in becoming a vise buff, either, to be honest. Therefore, I was not prepared to risk my cash on an uncertainty. If the Reed 1C - or any other vise, for that matter - is that special, I wouldn't know it without a cheat sheet. (You got a short list, make and model, whip it on me!) I also passed up a different Reed. Even had a Defense Plant Corporation (General Motors, Linden, NJ) tag on it. I've been wanting one for some time for its wartime provenance, and that one would've been vehicle production oriented to boot! But it had some issues.

Lugz- this is the wrench. Harley Davidson cylinder base nut wrench, war time I believe.

Nice find!

I've been known to a few times a year and when I do I hunker down about 15-20 minutes south of your secret hole at the daughters house

Apparently it's not so secret!

 

[d42jeep]

Yes, that was it. I knew it was something odd. That was the last year of the war. So I'm not sure how much thereafter there was until WWII. Thanks for the reference.

I found some old pictures of some of the canteens I've picked up along the way.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Mike,
It's actually a WWI canteen. The tipoff is the Aluminum cap. Generally the WW2 canteens have a larger diameter black plastic cap. They are usually dated as was this one but the date stamping is difficult to capture in a photograph. I'm not sure why, but I have accumulated quite a few canteens and covers. I'll see if I can find a picture.
When it comes to cleaning tools I have a selection of hand wire brushes and steel wool. I generally try to stay away from my power wire wheel but sometimes it's necessary. I would have been cleaning up the pipe wrench for hours without it. I also have a vinegar dip for really rusty plain steel items. Here are before shots.
-Don
-

Okay. I recall the canteen being that shape and also recall them having a black plastic cap. I didn't realize yours has an aluminum cap. I'll have to go back and take a look. Thanks for the education! Sorry I doubted you! ;-)

Mike

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Were the flimsy ones really used on working tractors, or just made as reproductions for putting together those chairs?

Hexen,
I only sat on 2 or 3 farm tractors in my youth and as I recall all those seats were rock solid. If they aren't I'd be thinking they're cheap repros but what the heck do I know about them. Happy to hear from some of the experts here!

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I didn't know you were a canteen man, Don. Nice collection. I'd be interested in seeing a list of the dates. (Photos not necessary.)

 

[Hexen]

Were the flimsy ones really used on working tractors, or just made as reproductions for putting together those chairs?

HEX: pretty sure the flimsy one i bought an an online auction was a tractor's seat, but even though the seat was flimsey the cast iron mount for it was solid so i'm sort of looking for another nicer stout seat.

I'd like to hear from the tractor guys cause even though i worked at my uncle's farm a couple weekends a month in the summers in my teens i'm certainly not a farm machinery expert.

Hexen,
I only sat on 2 or 3 farm tractors in my youth and as I recall all those seats were rock solid. If they aren't I'd be thinking they're cheap repros but what the heck do I know about them. Happy to hear from some of the experts here!

Mike

Well, well... look what I found.
http://www.iwgac.com/cast-iron/tractor-seats/
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_os...l,+metal)+tractor+seat+-(vinyl,+pvc)&_sacat=0
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=garden&field-keywords=tractor+seat
https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/metal-tractor-seats.html
http://www.ironcooker.com/tractor-seats/213-farmall-reproduction-tractor-seat.html

Maybe there's some legit flimsy ones too, but I think repros are looking a lot more likely.

One of the ebay sellers even claims 'his' repros (wholesaled from iwgac) weigh "about what the old ones would weigh or the ones I seen anyway", but he says that about one that weighs 20lb and another style about the same size that only weighs 12lb.

And then there's another seller, who apparently makes these themselves, but says they're not lightweight at 4lb.

 

[EOC_Jason]

No. But I have the feeling I'm going to get a lecture that I should have.

It's okay, if it's not your thing, it's not your thing... There are plenty of nice things I pass on too simply because I wouldn't have a use for it or I know someone else could appreciate it much more than I...

 

[d42jeep]

I didn't know you were a canteen man, Don. Nice collection. I'd be interested in seeing a list of the dates. (Photos not necessary.)

I didn’t intentionally set out to collect them, but I seem to frequently run across then when I’m searching for tools and if the price is right (almost free), I figure why not? I have a few mess kits for the same reason. I’ll dig the canteens out and send you a list.
-Don

 

[drivesitfar]

Lug: there are enough guys collecting and needing a good vise so what you have bought has been good so far. no list of rare ones and you'd probably know if you see any. since you like stuff around WWII you'll see a lot of Reed and Rock Island vises that are my favorites and they also made vises for Sears/Craftsman before WWII so maybe grab those if you come across one for a good price. the hard thing about maybe going to a swap or flea and grabbing a big vise right off the bat is you can't just keep shopping and carrying it around so you either have to trust the vender to hold it for you or carry it back to your car/truck before you can keep shopping.

good luck

HEX: looks like TRACTOR SEATS go down a big RABBIT HOLE and I was just thinking of making one into a chair for one of my workbenches. there is quite a difference in the weight and quality of casts on the few that i've seen.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's okay, if it's not your thing, it's not your thing...

Oh, for sure. A collector can only have so many "things" before he's saturated! It's impossible, imo, to be a true expert in too many - and vises just seem like one complex bottomless pit too far for me right now. I know some good names to look out for (but not necessarily models), I have a list of verified WWII vise mfgrs that I casually look out for, I know that very large (and conversely very tiny) vises are desirable, and I am on the lookout for a particular vise for a well-known GJ'er vise guy, but other than that, it's pretty much a blur. I wouldn't mind a 'top 10 never-leave-these-vises-behind' sort of list, because I do like to pick things up for colleagues and GJ acquaintances, and I'm not opposed to flipping tools to help keep my collecting in the black.

I’ll dig the canteens out and send you a list.

At your convenience. Just curious now.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Another very small haul this morning...

View media item 80025
The stencil brush is marked "JOHN L. WHITING - J.J. ADAMS CO." on the ferrule, "WHITING-ADAMS," "SB-213," and "VULCANIZED" on the handle.

Another tommy bar, just because you can never have enough tommy bars.

The CRAFTSMAN hacksaw is out of my niche, and may be common for all I know. Funky sliding tubular design with a thumbscrew. EDIT: Looks early 60's to me. I'll have to look it up in the cats later, unless someone knows for sure.

 

[Hexen]

View media item 80025...
The CRAFTSMAN hacksaw is out of my niche, and may be common for all I know. Funky sliding tubular design with a thumbscrew. EDIT: Looks early 60's to me. I'll have to look it up in the cats later, unless someone knows for sure.

Looks like it's in fantastic shape for being 50+ years old. I don't know when that one is from, but I bought a new one at Sears a few weeks ago with a similar design (though the handle is different)... the sliding top bar makes it adjustable to use either 10in blades or 12in blades.

 

[EOC_Jason]

If you want some vintage NOS Sears blades to go with that hacksaw I have a ton!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

no list of rare ones

Sounds like you vise guys need some administrative work. I find it hard to believe there's not a known list of most valuable vises, irrespective of personal prerogative.

the hard thing about maybe going to a swap or flea and grabbing a big vise right off the bat is...

Yup. Same goes for military cabinets, jewelers' desks, hoists, etc. Most vendors at my main two fleas are good about that.

Looks like it's in fantastic shape for being 50+ years old.

If it's that old, yes. But again, that's just a hunch. I have a Forsberg with a very similar handle, and it's from the 50's, but it's the break-down adjustable style. (See thumbnail.) Generally speaking, break-down hacksaw frames went from straight wood handles (c. 30's-40's) to steel and composite open pistol grips (c. 40's to late 40's) to these plastic so-called "safety" (closed off at the bottom) pistol grips (c. 50's). But this just looks 60's to me for some reason. The alternative adjusting design is probably affecting that hunch, too.

If you want some vintage NOS Sears blades to go with that hacksaw I have a ton!

Haha. No, I'm good on blades, but thanks. I collect hard 1224's for WWII kits, and most of them are probably postwar. The wartime are very hard to find.

 

[LesserSon]

Two vendors at a drive-thru inspection of a small local flea market. Had to justify stopping by purchasing these two Walden Worcester tees (1/2 & 9/16), both stamped with Oct 22 1918 patent date.

 

[jdbilodeau]

Busy weekend of day job work, but I did manage to squeeze in one estate sale. One benefit of having too many hobbies is that you always have a way to settle your mind when work gets crazy.

Took home a couple of bins worth of goodies- a pile of clamps, Porter Cable builders saw, some new Freud and Makita table saw blades, one new Craftsman blade. Also a pile of Nicholson files, barely used and a super beat up Craftsman hatchet. GJ has gotten me on a bit of a vise kick, so I grabbed a Reed 21 pipe vise and a tiny Samson, both painted some kind of Pepto pink..... and some Ridgid pipe threaders.
Pic 2 are some brand new taps, some metal number stamps and a US made hook- along with a weird little hammer that I bought just because.
Pic 3 is where things get kind of cool- I found a set of Blue Point screwdrivers, from the period where Par-X was turning into Blue Point. They have the Par-X plastic bag, and Par-X part numbers, but Blue Point printing. I don't think they were ever used! Same for the honking big SnapOn socket below them. Also got a new grinding wheel dresser (which I only know what it is because of GJ), some Blackhawk hex keys, Wiss snips and a Lectrolite wrench.
Finished it off with what looks like an almost brand new Ridgid metal toolbox. Nice big size, with the tool tray inside.

 

[jdbilodeau]

I say something about that being way higher than normal for this market, and he says, "Those are Snap-On. I can sell them on eBay."

Which is true. But this isn’t eBay. Which I point out, to no effect. Deal unstruck, I start to walk away. Been in that position way too many times to get upset about it.

That's when I see him take my handful to his truck and put it on the front seat.
...

Ugh. I've seen so many versions of this story over the years. Flea markets, storage auctions, estate sales....
I'm always a little amazed when it happens. How easy would it have been for that kid to say "oh wow- I missed those! You ****!", given you a reasonable price and been done with it? Putting the couple of bucks he *might* make on eBay in the Karma bank would have been a much better investment IMO.

 

[Outlawmws]

JD, Better pics of the "weird" Hammer?

Sounds like you vise guys need some administrative work. I find it hard to believe there's not a known list of most valuable vises, irrespective of personal prerogative.

Leaving aside Personal preferences, the real issue is sheer volume Lugz, There was a recent post about Parker's line up at the turn of the last century. something like 120 models and 30-40 sizes? and here were SO many vise companies... Some are rare, but not particularly valuable, some are stupid valuable because of demand, not rarity (Baby Wiltons comes to mind...).

Then personal preference comes into play, and personal prejudices against certain brands...

Ask for such a list and ten people will give 20 different answers.

Some vises have higher build standards and tolerances. Those get recognition. (ATHOL/Starret, Reed, Rock Island...) Many are near that level and some command respect, and some don't so much (Columbian is underappreciated, but also VERY common; value suffers...)

I think its easier to say if a certain class/size of vise is below a certain price point, "Buy it"! as you can flip easily for a big profit. Selecting ten or twenty "Top finds" is hard...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

How easy would it have been for that kid to say "oh wow- I missed those! You ****!", given you a reasonable price and been done with it? Putting the couple of bucks he *might* make on eBay in the Karma bank would have been a much better investment IMO.

'Zackly, JD! Not to mention my continued business in the long run. Instead, he's on my walk-right-past-without-looking list. There are two on that list already and they've been on it for years. One of them is a different kind of Snap-On story (the 'you-can-get-that-replaced-by-a-dealer' pricing guide guy) and a loudmouth liquidator who instantly gets very vocally insulting for simply declining to buy at his prices. His mother, who's always there with him, is always yelling at him and apologizing for him.

 

[Outlawmws]

I came, I saw, there wasn't much to conquer...

Three planned stops. Stop one I was a couple min too late and one of the re-seller/lo-ballers, got a really nice hunting knife for ten bucks...


Stop two I spent 4 bucks but it was all for the kids SWMBO, or the house...


Stop three I spent cents fifty, for a pair of jar opener pliers (for those ****** Juice bottles they slam so tightly closed I have to pound on top to coax them to open...), and a stainless steel ring.

The ring is the only pic, and mostly to see if anyone recognizes the outline of the opening? Is that a company logo outline, or a stylized kitty head?


This way?

Or that?

 

[alinc100]

I was able to hit 2 sales today,second one was a bust .first sale yielded these few items for $8. Fuller 10" adjustable,Lufkin 10' tape,Gulf wax,Huot index about 1/2 full,Craftsman Reed prince,flexible 1/4" driver marked U.S.A. and a 1" wood chisel marked Jaxon Made in USA.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Outlaw: If that's truly the way it is in the vise subworld - amounting, basically, to price per pound, or with tiny vises, the same principle almost in reverse, regardless of brand and model, among many brands of equivalent value, it would be unique in the tools universe. Objectively, regardless of personal preferences, some old wrenches or pliers or hammers etc are simply worth more than others. Often driven by scarcity, but not exclusively. Brand has a significant affect. If there are truly no significant value distinctions between Rock Island vs Morgan vs Littlestown vs etc etc etc vises of equivalent type and size, it's very unusual. I would've expected that some vises are known to be bigger paydays than others. Beyond fleeting trends (e.g. baby Bullet).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...and a stainless steel ring...[ ]... Is that a company logo outline, or a stylized kitty head?

Either way, I like it open like that.

 

[Outlawmws]

Is that a bottle opener?

And we have a winner!

Wow, 4 minutes to an answer

I was wondering what this recess was for on the inside;

And that makes it so it fits under the edge!

 

[rmalkow2]

Picked up a surprise CL purchase yesterday after work. A surprise meaning when do you ever expect to find two WWII era airplane belly tanks for sale at a reasonable price in my area of the world. I've searched and kept my eye open for just one for a long time but seems like everything is far away from me. These were an hour drive down just over the Ohio border and after a little negotiation they were loaded in my truck. They actually came from Michigan and this seller (antique dealer) bought them out of a barn where they were sitting.
They look to have been sitting in dirt which rusted through the middle section skin. Someone years ago had cut them out for what looks like seating and also welded some pipe through the front and back to mount them somewhere. Not made for real axles even though it first looks that way. I'm guessing they were a kids ride or maybe on display in front of a typical VFW Hall.
Anyway the front nose sections and rear tail sections can be saved. In my goofy way future thinking one of these could possibly become a tribute type belly pan streamliner. I have always admired the shear ingenuity of those cars and the courage of the guys who built them. For now I will be their caretaker and keep them from rustling away or going the crusher.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And we have a winner!

I want one!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

two WWII era airplane belly tanks

Sweet finds! They would make neat space age-y Go-Karts. How about fenders on a homemade Airstream-like camping travel trailer? Stickered up or painted with WWII insignia or fuselage nose art.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw: If that's truly the way it is in the vise subworld - amounting, basically, to price per pound, or with tiny vises, the same principle almost in reverse, regardless of brand and model, among many brands of equivalent value, it would be unique in the tools universe. Objectively, regardless of personal preferences, some old wrenches or pliers or hammers etc are simply worth more than others. Often driven by scarcity, but not exclusively. Brand has a significant affect. If there are truly no significant value distinctions between Rock Island vs Morgan vs Littlestown vs etc etc etc vises of equivalent type and size, it's very unusual. I would've expected that some vises are known to be bigger paydays than others. Beyond fleeting trends (e.g. baby Bullet).

Sorry, Lugz I guess I wasn't clear. There are many WIDE variations in full retail values. but MANY vises are sold by those with no clue, and you can get deals, and make whatever profit is in the full retail margin.

IMO with few exceptions, a decent condition US Vintage Machinist vise, is easily worth paying up to about $50 to flip. Cleaned up, possibly painted, you can at least double or triple your money. You might go a lot more. It depends on the demand, and the more pent up it is (Baby Bullets, the Tiny "jeweler' vises that are miniature Machinist vises, US/European rotatory, Wilton bullet styles penerally...), A LOT more.

It's definitely NOT a "price per pound" deal any more, and hasn't been for at least ten years.