2020 Garage Sale Thread

[LesserSon]

Do any of you guys recall seeing a hand-forged single open-end tapered S-shape wrench formed something like a snake or serpent, with scales even stamped on it? Stylistically, I would guess mid-1800s, kind of primative, but must be some alloy, because while a bit cruddy, there was no discoloration to the steel.

I saw one online a few years ago, maybe here or another tool-related site. Today I saw a second one in person. I don’t know why I didn’t buy it immediately. I didn’t want to show too much interest by taking a picture, and I meant to go back for it if I had cash left, but then forgot which vendor had it. Now it is haunting me.

Ring any bells?

 

[RTM]

Starrett Center Finder for yesterday's 4" Combination Square

That has got to be the find of the day. I’ve never seen one that size! Nice one.

 

[jrg]

A couple more bits from yesterday’s sale



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Jayman17]

I'm pretty sure I went to the same ES as jrg did. I usually lurk on this thread but I picked up a few things at this ES.
The owner must have been a tool hoarder, he had tons of tools in two shops. Much of the stuff was nos or very lightly used. Also had tons of knives of every kind kitchen, pocket, hunting etc. I've never seen so many knives. Drawers full of kitchen knives out in the garage?!
All of the SK socket sets are nos, some are still wrapped in plastic. The Craftsman drill set is nos. I think the Stanley block plane is nos. The vise grip pliers are like new. The files are un-used but have a little surface rust on them. I always pick up odd shaped files, these were square, triangle and rat tail.
I really had to limit myself at this place, too much good stuff.

Jay

 

[3baygarage]

Wow that's a nice haul. How cool is that S-K package?

 

[d42jeep]

If you choose to sell the S-K stuff on eBay, the NOS sets sell for quite a bit. Great haul!
-Don

 

[mikeinri]

Nice SK grab!

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ring any bells?

Nope. But a serpent finish is a neat idea for an "S" wrench! (Check you PM.)

 

[Outlawmws]

That has got to be the find of the day. I’ve never seen one that size! Nice one.

I have a 4" center finder, but agree, very rare! What I have NOT been able to find, even referenced in a catalog, is a protractor head for the 4" scale...

 

[Old Radar]

Wrapping up the weekend sales, went back for the final day of the sale I hit the first two days.

Starrett 829 Small Hole Gage Set
JH Williams Adjustable Face Spanner (3/16" Pins)
Proto 251 Parallel Snap Ring Pliers
General 380A 3pt Machinist Scriber
JH Williams H-110 3/4d extension
Moore & Wright Tap Wrench
Starrett 248 (B) Drive Pin Punch
Starrett 124C Inside Micrometer (w/8-14" extension rod)
$30 total.

While looking at some Starrett catalogs when I got home, I saw an item that I had just seen on a table at the sale but didn't realize what it was at the time due to its rusty condition. While on the way to take my wanna-be garage dog to the park I stopped back at the sale and purchased the Tempered Steel Rule and Holder Set. It wasn't until I steel-wooled some of the rust off that I found it was not a Starrett, but a Lufkin set. Still--not bad for an extra 50 cents on the day. (I should have taken a before pic...)

 

[Old Radar]

I have a 4" center finder, but agree, very rare! What I have NOT been able to find, even referenced in a catalog, is a protractor head for the 4" scale...

I'm beginning to doubt if it is really the matching center finder for this 4" combo. It just looks too big in relation to the rest of it. The patent is no help--that number comes up for a axle lubricator. Do you have a picture of your set up?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...Tempered Steel Rule and Holder Set...[ ]...Lufkin.

This color... ... with envy!

 

[pfaustus]

Deleted because the point was already made

 

[LesserSon]

PLEASE make TIME to VOTE for
PICKER of the YEAR!
Poll ends Friday Dec18 at 9:30am

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The patent is no help--that number comes up for a axle lubricator.

That's bizarre. Is it marked Starrett? You called it a Starrett center finder. But is it marked that way?

EDIT:

UK Patent 572,276. 1943. Moore & Wright center head. Link here.

 

[Old Radar]

That's bizarre. Is it marked Starrett? You called it a Starrett center finder. But is it marked that way?

EDIT:

UK Patent 572,276. 1943. Moore & Wright center head. Link here.

Thanks for getting to the bottom of this, Lugz!

No, it's not marked Starrett. The abundance of Starrett items at the sale and the similarity of the knurled knobs led me astray. I did pick up these other Moore & Wright tools there, though I just can't see how that 3" square is going to work.

 

[RTM]

I'm beginning to doubt if it is really the matching center finder for this 4" combo. It just looks too big in relation to the rest of it.

The nut is not correct for a Starrett, others have educated me on that already.

 

[Old Radar]

Yes, upon closer inspection, I see the Starrett is closed vs. the M&W allows the post to go through. Any other more subtle nuance I'm missing?

 

[b.well]

I'm pretty sure I went to the same ES as jrg did. I usually lurk on this thread but I picked up a few things at this ES.
The owner must have been a tool hoarder, he had tons of tools in two shops. Much of the stuff was nos or very lightly used. Also had tons of knives of every kind kitchen, pocket, hunting etc. I've never seen so many knives. Drawers full of kitchen knives out in the garage?!
All of the SK socket sets are nos, some are still wrapped in plastic. The Craftsman drill set is nos. I think the Stanley block plane is nos. The vise grip pliers are like new. The files are un-used but have a little surface rust on them. I always pick up odd shaped files, these were square, triangle and rat tail.
I really had to limit myself at this place, too much good stuff.

Jay

Great SK find!

 

[b.well]

I went to pickup a nice metal garden hose reel at 1/3 cost of new for my wife. Our old one is plastic and missing a wheel. This showed up and looked like a nice upgrade. What brings me to this tool thread is what I found on the front porch. The seller just said to leave the money under the mat. So I actually never saw them. There was an old Craftsman tool box on the porch. We were communicating on FB Messenger. I asked about it. We agreed on $10. Missing the shelf inside but overall very nice shape. Think it's very old?

On a side note thanks for the nomination for Picker of the Year! To me my top finds were: Wilton Bullet 400s 94 NOS for $40, Trenton 99LB Anvil for $80, Minty Rock Island 574 for $50, and of course the Craftsman 5188(Reed 105R) for $140. Definitely a heavy metal year! I've learned a lot on GJ. Thanks all!!!

 

[RTM]

Yes, upon closer inspection, I see the Starrett is closed vs. the M&W allows the post to go through. Any other more subtle nuance I'm missing?

The Starrett isn't closed, but has a very distinctive hump around the threads, rising above the nut. It almost looks like the M&W might be upside down, vs a Starrett.

But yeah, couple of feature changes on Starrett posts, some have ears to prevent turning when you remove the rule, and various and sundry changes over the years, that make the old ones not fit, and other manufacturers are not interchangeable.

The stippled square head is an obvious Starrett tell, but the smooth center heads and others are easily confused with other mfgs.

 

[mikeinri]

B.well, great score on the hose reel! How long is that Sears box?

Mike

 

[b.well]

Just over 30". Its long!

 

[BFBOB]

I went to pickup a nice metal garden hose reel at 1/3 cost of new for my wife. Our old one is plastic and missing a wheel. This showed up and looked like a nice upgrade. !

Too bad it's missing the seat.
...at least it looks like it should double as a garden chair!

How about posting a picture taken from the side, point of view level with the top of the reel? got a harebrained notion...

 

[b.well]

Too bad it's missing the seat.
...at least it looks like it should double as a garden chair!

How about posting a picture taken from the side, point of view level with the top of the reel? got a harebrained notion...

When it's full with a garden hose it might just make a good seat....lol

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just over 30". Its long!

Carpenters box probably. Many of them had a little slot cut in the lid where the short leg of the square would stick out. Older ones anyway.

 

[mikeinri]

Just over 30". Its long!

I'd love to have one of those, especially for that kind of price!

Mike

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes, upon closer inspection, I see the Starrett is closed vs. the M&W allows the post to go through. Any other more subtle nuance I'm missing?

The Starrett isn't closed, but has a very distinctive hump around the threads, rising above the nut. It almost looks like the M&W might be upside down, vs a Starrett.

But yeah, couple of feature changes on Starrett posts, some have ears to prevent turning when you remove the rule, and various and sundry changes over the years, that make the old ones not fit, and other manufacturers are not interchangeable.

The stippled square head is an obvious Starrett tell, but the smooth center heads and others are easily confused with other mfgs.

Here is mine, and yes the thumb screws are a distinct tell. Mine has the same crosshatch pattern as the tri square head.

 

[Old Radar]

Wow. I am really starting to slip! After looking at Outlaw's 4" Starrett I went back into the garage to look at mine--it's NOT a 4"--it's a 6"! I can't imagine what lead me to claim 4" in my original post that started all this Combo Square discussion. Not that discussion is a bad thing, just that this was based on a faulty premise--two, if you count the B&W center finder. Sorry all! I'll try to be a little attuned to the big details!

 

[Motorman55]

Got some 'FREE' tools yesterday from a neighbor who was cleaning out their garage.

Of note: Partial S-K 3/8" Metric socket set, 4" Eagle oiler, metal body B&D Tools, Rickel green handle garden tools,

Plus a mix of German, USA, Japan wrenches, plyers, screw drivers, hammers, axe and a lot more not shown in pics.

The Eagle oiler and 3-1 metal can goes in my oil can collection. The wife claimed the Rickel tools for the yard (after I clean them up of course) She likes the green handles. I'll start looking around to finish filling the S-K metric set. The rest I'll sort thru to keep or let go.

 

[Lesserstore]

Got some 'FREE' tools yesterday from a neighbor who was cleaning out their garage.

Of note: Partial S-K 3/8" Metric socket set, 4" Eagle oiler, metal body B&D Tools, Rickel green handle garden tools,

Plus a mix of German, USA, Japan wrenches, plyers, screw drivers, hammers, axe and a lot more not shown in pics.

The Eagle oiler and 3-1 metal can goes in my oil can collection. The wife claimed the Rickel tools for the yard (after I clean them up of course) She likes the green handles. I'll start looking around to finish filling the S-K metric set. The rest I'll sort thru to keep or let go.

What's the brand of drill to the left of the B&D jigsaw? I have one identical to it under the Westline brand for Western Auto and I have been trying to figure out who made it.

 

[Motorman55]

What's the brand of drill to the left of the B&D jigsaw? I have one identical to it under the Westline brand for Western Auto and I have been trying to figure out who made it.

'Hurricane', with a 3/8" Jacobs chuck. Made by Leeds-Fox, Geneva, Ill.

 

[LesserSon]

HEY! There are less than 18-1/2 hours remaining to cast your VOTE for the 2020 PICKER of the YEAR! Don’t leave the decision to this Erectoral Collage! You can see for yourself, the results will be scewed. Don’t let it be dysfunctional - POLL CLOSES Friday at 9:30am EST. VOTE NOW!

 

[Lesserstore]

'Hurricane', with a 3/8" Jacobs chuck. Made by Leeds-Fox, Geneva, Ill.

Thanks.

 

[Nexoidian]

Picked up this drill press today. I’ve been looking for a bench top drill press, so when I ran across this I had to have it. I didn’t realize there was such a fan club for these and the craftsman counterparts.


The thing that intrigues me the most is the motor. Everything I’ve been able to find in just about an hour of research says this GE type SA motor was from the 1920s-1930s. If anyone has any info on these old motors I’d appreciate it

 

[Outlawmws]

Nex, have you found the Craftsman DP thread?

 

[bmwrd0]

The days and time are getting short, so I was happy to hit this sale today, even though it was a little out of my normal radius. It looked like the house had been vacant but cared for over the last few decades, as all the normal stuff was gone but the house was still full of treasures, although not much in the way of tools. But it was packed with books, mostly juveniles from the interwar period and pop fiction from the late '40s onward with not many real gems. But I did pick up a few things:

A Red Head detachable barrel shotgun bag, chassis punch in the box, Plomb speeder, misc. sockets, PowrKraft t-bar handle, OK brace adaptor for dies, and a Champion sparkplug box. Also,

and those are what made me travel so far, or at least one of them. The City of Trembling Leaves is a novel about Reno from its greatest author, the man who wrote the wonderful The Ox-bow Incident. I spotted the cover in one of the online ad pics and was lucky enough to snag it, along with yet another copy of Cannery Row.

I also had the great fortune to meet GJ member Stormking, as the hunt for Plomb can take you far afield.

 

[Nexoidian]

Outlaw,

I have found the 200 page thread(I assume that’s the one). Just haven’t had time yet to go thru it all. I’ve kinda skipped around it a bit. It’s definitely on my list to read thru it.

 

[Provincial]

Since the Craftsman drill presses were sold separately from the motors, it is likely that someone had the GE motor available to mount on the newer machine.

Nice drill press!

 

[LesserSon]

Outlaw,

I have found the 200 page thread(I assume that’s the one). Just haven’t had time yet to go thru it all. I’ve kinda skipped around it a bit. It’s definitely on my list to read thru it.

You might post it on the Dunlap thread, too. I think it’d be only the third one posted there, and the first in over a year. Dunlap motors there, too, if you consider swapping. I’m sure it works just fine, but you might eventually want one with more than 1/4hp.