2021 Garage Sale Thread

[3jakes]

Garage/Estate sale this morning, guy had a huge Snap-on triple bank toolbox. Got there early and myself and a guy & his kid were the first to go through the box. Lucky for me they’ve never seen a Snap-on drawer grip latch before so I was the only one who knew how to open a drawer...... also the only guy with a flashlight!

I'd like to hear more about how you worked out "who got what, & how price was determined".
Were you bumping shoulders with "guy & kid"?

 

[LesserSon]

HeelSpur,
Yes, that does look straight. I guess mine has been altered.
There’s a diamond forgered in after the model number. If I can figure out what is inside the diamond, it may lead to identifying R.M.CO. I saw another in an online sale that suggested tractor/agricultural use. And a search for the name suggested Robert Morris Corp, which apparently manufactured some components of rail switching equipment. IDK.
Here are two more clues:
a WWII web belt (so a contract) Russell Mfg Co in Alabama (Fruit of the Loom), or Russell Mfg Co in Conneticut (HKPorter), assignee of Browning machine gun belt

Neither very convincing, but the Conn-based company did get into brake linings. Either could have required wrenches for loom maintenace.
Also, a pocket knife sold on etsy.

 

[ForrestT]

Good bulk buys today and some nice pieces. Good first flea market. Sorting through junk and cleaning now.

Update: Plenty of fun stuff today. Favorite find was the Tool Box Inc. GMTK case. It’s in great shape and is a unique piece. Very clean inside. $60 total on it which included partial sets of Craftsman sae and metric combo wrenches, Napa 1/4” drive sae/metric standard and deep socket set as well. 1/2” drive sae K Tools socket set, bondhus Allen wrenches, channellock 337’s, odds and ends sockets and rail, and miscellaneous other tools and junk tools.

Nearly complete SK set which is now filled out. 2 Plvmb Pebbles wrenches, Klein linesman’s and screw drivers, channellock linesman’s, 326’s, craftsman bent nose pliers, 6” pump pliers, ball pein hammer, and craftsman sockets that I bought for the box

Blue metal socket box is well made. Would love to know what originally came in it. Thick metal. No label or marks. Blue paint appears to be original. Anyone know brand that used that?

Allen flex head 3/8” ratchet was a nice piece too. Lots of good deals and tools at the first of the season flea market.

 

[alinc100]

I'd like to hear more about how you worked out "who got what, & how price was determined".
Were you bumping shoulders with "guy & kid"?

Oh that's an easy one Rick is a fierce competitor, well prepared with cash,batteries and flashlights. It was a frequent sight to see Rick coming out of a garage at a sale as we were pulling up to get in line. Also we were all friendly enough to point out things, wait our turn, and be respectful. I can only imagine the amount of Snap On still here in Metro Detroit that hasn't had a early,deep dive from Rickster now that he calls PA home.

 

[RedVise]

Pretty day out Friday and Saturday !!
That odd piece is a Grafting Froe, neat piece.
The red box held a pitch pipe and the promotional hammer is from Eli Witt Cigar Co. which is from this area.
Had to grab the Key and Bore Gage with the Muncie name on it.
Also grabbed a back up pressure washer hose for $2 and a Snap On puller for $3.
One sale yielded a unopened tube of caulk and a unopened quart of red paint for $4 !!

Good times! Better that the two days I spent trimming an overgrown section of my yard this week.

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

RV, that tray is WAY more organized than the baggie of bolts I have with my puller! I think it came with 3 or 5, and I've been adding to it ever since...

The tuner - "Hawaiian" I wonder if its for a Hawaiian electric steel guitar, or for Ukes? probably the former (6 notes)

 

[RedVise]

The tuner - "Hawaiian" I wonder if its for a Hawaiian electric steel guitar, or for Ukes? probably the former (6 notes)

I cant find anything on the B.& J. Co. Must be importers as the pipe is marched as made in Czechoslovakia.

I did find this, also with 6 pipes:
WK Wm. Kratt Co. SN-9 Hawaiian Guitar Pitch Pipe Tuner

Brian

 

[mikeinri]

Pretty day out Friday and Saturday !!
That odd piece is a Grafting Froe, neat piece.
The red box held a pitch pipe and the promotional hammer is from Eli Witt Cigar Co. which is from this area.
Had to grab the Key and Bore Gage with the Muncie name on it.
Also grabbed a back up pressure washer hose for $2 and a Snap On puller for $3.
One sale yielded a unopened tube of caulk and a unopened quart of red paint for $4 !!

Good times! Better that the two days I spent trimming an overgrown section of my yard this week.

Brian

Snap on puller for $3? You ****!

Mike

 

[HeelSpur]

HeelSpur,
Yes, that does look straight. I guess mine has been altered.
There’s a diamond forgered in after the model number. If I can figure out what is inside the diamond, it may lead to identifying R.M.CO. I saw another in an online sale that suggested tractor/agricultural use. And a search for the name suggested Robert Morris Corp, which apparently manufactured some components of rail switching equipment. IDK.
Here are two more clues:
a WWII web belt (so a contract) Russell Mfg Co in Alabama (Fruit of the Loom), or Russell Mfg Co in Conneticut (HKPorter), assignee of Browning machine gun belt

Neither very convincing, but the Conn-based company did get into brake linings. Either could have required wrenches for loom maintenace.
Also, a pocket knife sold on etsy.

I take it its not a defunct auto manufacturer then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_automobile_manufacturers_of_the_United_States

 

[LesserSon]

Ha-ha. Yeah. Plenty of RMCos to choose from there. I think the diamond logo is potentially the best hope.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Here's one in this auction from 2012, it looks straight but doesn't tell the maker.
http://www.greatplanestrading.com/MSWA/MSWA12_CB071PH.jpg

This worthpoint listing "seems" to show the same offset?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/model-wrenches-ford-rm-co-14330-1881718763

Also, if you look at the unbent side, it has the offset. The bent side just looks odd with the bend added in and maybe kind of stretched. This of course, is if I am seeing it properly and it isn't a manifestation of the photographs.

 

[Rickster]

I'd like to hear more about how you worked out "who got what, & how price was determined".
Were you bumping shoulders with "guy & kid"?

It was OK, had the guy over my right shoulder and the kid on my left. I’d open a drawer where they weren’t fighting with the handle of and find a few items and when they’d swoop in I’d shut the flashlight off. Then the guy running the sale needed to pivot the box against the wall so he could pull out two empty lockers from behind. I helped him move it and left myself just enough room to forage through half the drawers by myself. Afterwards I stopped by their truck tailgate where they were loading up and I explained how the drawer locks work and we had a good laugh.

Oh yea pricing. Guy had a mechanic friend that did all the pricing. We had to stand around for about a half hour until he showed up but he was pretty fair with prices.

 

[Provincial]

I hit the local monthly Flea Market early so I could be back for a big family Easter gathering. The Fairgrounds building had been under repairs for months, but was now back in use, so the venue was heated! Mostly toys and knick-knacks and few tools inside. I did much better in the overflow area outside under the porches.

Photo 1: small lots from several vendors
$4.00 -
Lectolite Tru Fit 3005 DBE 13/16 x 7/8
Knipex Alligator pliers
Wiliams M-110 1/4 drive spinner

$0.50 -
Crescent (Barcalo) scoop 9/16 combo

$5.00 -
Thorsen T-100 1/2 drive torque wrench
17-19 MM DOE to modify for a project

$8.00 -
Lectrolite 500 Flathead Ford valve spring compressor
Proto LA 6523 9/16 special Ford connecting rod socket
two 1/2" electrical knock-out punches
California Tool Company feeler gauge
? spanner tool, maybe for windshield wiper control nuts
Diamond Caulk 6" adjustable, surface rust but works well
Wizard coping saw blades in the paper sleeve

Photo #2: All from one vendor that I favor, $12.00:
New Britain 1/2 dr. 1-1/8 deep socket
Vise Grip 6R welding clamps
Corn-on-the-cob pincers (the curve in the jaws is important!)
Barcalo DBE 3/8 x 7/16
Craftsman BE 1/2 dr. (female) ratchet, works good
Vlchek W1416 DOE 7/16 x 1/2
Proto LA 1140 DBE 13/16 x 7/8
P&C 2232 DBE 15/16 x 1"

Walden Worcester:
2718 T-handle 9/16
2714 T-handle 7/16
5810 5/8
2514 7/16
494 1/2

Photo #3 is the feeler gauge
Photo #4 is are the coping saw blades

I made it home by 09:30!

 

[3jakes]

It was OK, had the guy over my right shoulder and the kid on my left. I’d open a drawer where they weren’t fighting with the handle of and find a few items and when they’d swoop in I’d shut the flashlight off. Then the guy running the sale needed to pivot the box against the wall so he could pull out two empty lockers from behind. I helped him move it and left myself just enough room to forage through half the drawers by myself. Afterwards I stopped by their truck tailgate where they were loading up and I explained how the drawer locks work and we had a good laugh.

Oh yea pricing. Guy had a mechanic friend that did all the pricing. We had to stand around for about a half hour until he showed up but he was pretty fair with prices.

Strategic gorilla picking tactician techniques.
Glad the mechanic friend in charge of pricing didn't start out with the words we hate to hear..... "Well, ... I know how much he paid for these tools...".

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I hit the local monthly Flea Market early so I could be back for a big family Easter gathering....[ ]...I made it home by 9:30!

Some nice finds, Jock. Particularly the Williams rotating grip spinner/extension, the Calif Tool Co feeler gauge, and the Lectrolite 500 Flathead Ford valve spring compressor. I have never seen one before. What is on the other end? Photo is cut off.

/// BREAK ///

I did the same thing, for the same reason. My haul (Lugz 2021_23) was much smaller. And so rusty (all three came out of the box in Pic 3, believe it or not) that I forgot to take a before pic.

 

[RTM]

Dang, doesn’t finding a box like pic #3 just break your heart. I’ve put back so many rusted to heck tools, missing chunks etc from those boxes.

 

[LesserSon]

After a better clean-up, I decided the diamond held a Herbrand “H” indicating production in “1921 or earlier,” as Alloy Artifacts says. Comparison of the forged-in numerals tends to confirm, but AA doesn’t seem to have a DBE from that era.
More inspection shows vise tooth marks (red arrows) at the bends, but I think, from the few blurry examples found on sale sites, there could have been a less-extreme factory offset that a PO further modified. One box end has been ground (yellow arrows) on both sides of the neck to gain some degrees of turn.
I still have no idea who R.M.Co may be, but I’m pretty sure they contracted this wrench from Herbrand.

 

[gpw_42]

I did the same thing, for the same reason. My haul (Lugz 2021_23) was much smaller. And so rusty (all three came out of the box in Pic 3, believe it or not) that I forgot to take a before pic.

Lugz, my hat's off to you for digging into that box...feel sorta like I got tetanus, just from looking at your pic Which reminds me to check if my tetanus is up to date, so thanks for sharing! They came out looking great.

Don, thanks for the shout-out on that Mossberg FSN-marked bar. I'll add it to my list.

 

[Provincial]

Lugs, the hidden end of the valve spring compressor is almost identical to the end you can see, only slightly larger. I was surprised to see the Lectrolite logo on it. I need to put together my Lectrolite and Tru-Fit pile for a photo shoot and post it in the Lectrolite thread.

I was very pleased to find the Williams M-110. It was stuck when I found it, which lowered the price, but a little light oil brought it back into well-functioning condition. I feared the detent ball would be stuck, but was lucky!

Once I saw the California Tool Company name, I couldn't let the feeler gauge get away. CTC stuff isn't often seen here.

I can't believe the same vendor keeps dragging in Walden stuff. I now have a full set of the T-handles, less the 1/2 inch (2716) but have extras of the 9/16 and 5/8 sizes to trade. All the other Walden from yesterday are part of a Model T Ford set.

 

[steaks&anvils]

After a better clean-up, I decided the diamond held a Herbrand “H” indicating production in “1921 or earlier,” as Alloy Artifacts says. Comparison of the forged-in numerals tends to confirm, but AA doesn’t seem to have a DBE from that era.
More inspection shows vise tooth marks (red arrows) at the bends, but I think, from the few blurry examples found on sale sites, there could have been a less-extreme factory offset that a PO further modified. One box end has been ground (yellow arrows) on both sides of the neck to gain some degrees of turn.
I still have no idea who R.M.Co may be, but I’m pretty sure they contracted this wrench from Herbrand.

Great job identifying that it is really modified. Tool archaeology at it's finest.

 

[ForrestT]

NOS S-K Goodness found in an old small town hardware store that is going out of business and a freebie Stihl Screwdriver! $6.44 including the government’s share!




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mikeinri]

Wow, You **** Forrest!!!

Mike

 

[ZackN]

FB Marketplace purchase. I responded when the posting was only about 5 minutes old. The seller said his son used it and it didn't spool wire after that. Only had about 3 hours on it total. A new spool of flux core and a good cleaning and it works great! $35.

That's a you **** right there. Great find!

 

[Outlawmws]

So this one took almost 2 months of patience but I brought this one home this evening - a 1974 Type E 78-001 in pristine condition - if used at all VERY lightly! It looks like it just was pulled from the box: I found 2 TINY fly specs of paint that popped off with a fingernail... other than that, a little dust:

This is the ORIGINAL Work mate with aluminum folding legs, (they look funky when opened) - My second, so i have two matching height WMs! (I have 2 others, but one has the jaws beat, and may get converted to a welding/Fab WM...)

Not a USUCK deal however - $80

 

[mikeinri]

I think that's a You **** find, even if not "stolen" Outlaw!

Mike

 

[RTM]

I paid $75 for a fairly pristine Type 1, when I was starting my type study work, and figured I did good. Mine came from an antique restorer in DC. It lives folded up in the house, so I don’t get tempted to use it for ugly jobs, like painting or circular saw work. It gets the miter box, or other easy jobs.

What is the oddball sticker on the back jaw?

 

[Southern83]

Two dollar pawn shop find. They were mostly interested in the pliers. The largest wrench doesn't have any manufacturers markings other than the size.

The hammer and axe came from an antique store. I have a weakness for a Plumb hammer with an original handle. The axe caught my eye because I think they mispriced it. They were asking $15. They had $12 on the hammer. I like to think I gave $5 for the hammer and $22 for the axe. I have seen several True temper axes but this is the only one I have seen with Kelly Works on it.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Congrats Outlaw! You **** even at $80. I've yet to see one in the wild!

"Two months of patience..." What's the back story on this?

 

[3baygarage]

Steak- Thanks. I’ll have to post some more of the Gorham hammer.

Provincial- nice pick ups. I think Lugz called out the same things that caught my eye.

Strategic gorilla picking tactician techniques.
Glad the mechanic friend in charge of pricing didn't start out with the words we hate to hear..... "Well, ... I know how much he paid for these tools...".

Or worse, “Put all the tools back, I haven’t picked through them myself yet.”.

After a better clean-up, I decided the diamond held a Herbrand “H” indicating production in “1921 or earlier,” as Alloy Artifacts says. Comparison of the forged-in numerals tends to confirm, but AA doesn’t seem to have a DBE from that era.
More inspection shows vise tooth marks (red arrows) at the bends, but I think, from the few blurry examples found on sale sites, there could have been a less-extreme factory offset that a PO further modified. One box end has been ground (yellow arrows) on both sides of the neck to gain some degrees of turn.
I still have no idea who R.M.Co may be, but I’m pretty sure they contracted this wrench from Herbrand.

Thanks for posting pics, I could tell it was an oddball. Looks like Herbrand from here. I wonder if it’s “something Motor Company” after seeing it with those Ford wrenches.

 

[Outlawmws]

Congrats Outlaw! You **** even at $80. I've yet to see one in the wild!

"Two months of patience..." What's the back story on this?

Thanks guys!

The back story is; I contacted them 2 months ago, made an offer, and was declined (but i could have a different one for my offer, which I declined.)

Later I increased my offer a little and indicated I was topped out. They said they would think on it then went silent.

Sunday I said "I see its still for sale? My offer still stands" A little back and forth, and they accepted. I drove 20 miles, inspected, and paid.

So I'm guessing mine was the highest offer...

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks guys!

The back story is; I contacted them 2 months ago, made an offer, and was declined (but i could have a different one for my offer, which I declined.)

Later I increased my offer a little and indicated I was topped out. They said they would think on it then went silent.

Sunday I said "I see its still for sale? My offer still stands" A little back and forth, and they accepted. I drove 20 miles, inspected, and paid.

So I'm guessing mine was the highest offer...

Persistence pays off!

 

[Fred Knox]

This weekend, I picked up a few items at a garage sale. Although they need some clean-up, I thought it was not a bad haul for $25.
1) an early Columbian No. 503 1/2 Bench Vise
2) a vintage Stiletto hewing broad axe
3) a Clean Cut clover hatchet head with a great logo
4) an old PLUMB broad axe hatchet
5) an antique Thor copper hammer (Made in England)
and a 1/4" jaws jeweler's hand vise.

 

[mikeinri]

Or worse, “Put all the tools back, I haven’t picked through them myself yet.”

Saw an estate sale listed recently, the description alluded to that mentality. Something along the lines of "There are tools, but I haven't determined what is there or the pricing yet."

Which I took to mean, "I'm going to research all of this and charge top dollar."

Mike

 

[Outlawmws]

Fred, you got the vise at a USUCK price, and everything else was free...

Yeah, you doublesuck...

Well Done!

 

[Old Radar]

This weekend, I picked up a few items at a garage sale. Although they need some clean-up, I thought it was not a bad haul for $25.
1) an early Columbian No. 503 1/2 Bench Vise
2) a vintage Stiletto hewing broad axe
3) a Clean Cut clover hatchet head with a great logo
4) an old PLUMB broad axe hatchet
5) an antique Thor copper hammer (Made in England)
and a 1/4" jaws jeweler's hand vise.

Oh, you definitely ****! You probably would have had to pay more than $25 just for the weight at a scrapyard! Everything looks great, too!

 

[RTM]

2) a vintage Stiletto hewing broad axe
3) a Clean Cut clover hatchet head with a great logo

Nice, the house brands of the two big NorCal tool distributors, going back to the Gold Rush era ( the company, not those tools or logos). Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden And Huntington & Hopkins started things.

Some great local history behind those two, one with railroad barons and other famous names.

I was cleaning up one of each a few weeks back, and found the Clean Cut had a crack running perpendicular to the cutting edge. IT is now destined to wall hanger fate

 

[Provincial]

Another **** for Fred!

 

[Fred Knox]

I have to admit I have been envious of others when they received the “You ****” accolade. Other compliments are good, but the You **** somehow brings a new level of pride, and I even received the coveted doublesuck award too! Thanks guys.

 

[AK4570]

A recent Craigslist score.

The SK Imperial set is complete (was missing the 3/8 and 13/16 deeps which I was able to add). The SK metric is all over the map with most of the sockets, neither of the extensions, and some random toss-ins by the PO. The Duro Universal set is complete (7/16-3/4) and there are three Indestro additions. The Duro Imperial set is only short... well, a lot. As far as sockets go, it only needs 3/8 and 7/16 in 12pt. Unfortunately, no drive tools (3” extension excepted) with that set.

$30.

An additional $10 got
-a pair of Snap-on tongue in groove pliers
-2 pairs of US made vicegrips (one Dunlap, one ViceGrip)
-a pair of Diamond slipjoints
And a handful of others thats I can't lay my hands on currently... need to do some digging and sorting!

Best regards,
John


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice sets. I really like the decals on the Duro sets.