The crack of dawn comes early, and is a necessary part of life when one is heading out to one of the only auto swaps that have been going on these days. Surprisingly, Starbucks was open as I drove past, so I stopped for a coffee as I headed the hours away to that lonely show.
It was a small show, not much in the way of tools new or used. But I managed to find a nice and very complete Hinsdale 13B set that even included the screwdriver bit, which I didn't even know existed. But, as I was driving so far out of my normal path, I made sure to find a few sales in the area I was travelling in to make it worthwhile. And at the first of these, once the seller and I started to talk about what I was really looking for, I found this nice Winchester jack plane. Sadly, I forgot to check the back side of the blade, and it turns out it is a Stanley and not the original. Oh well, should be a good user.
The next stop, in the heart of Portland, was a sale I first noticed on Thursday, and in the pics I saw an old Blackhawk toolbox. Well, that peaked my interest! What else could be hiding? But I was not able to get there until today, and I was sure that anything of interest be ong gone, as the ad now said that everything was free, just come and get it... Well, I figured what the heck, see if there is anything still there, and it was right in my way.
So, as I am parking, an older gentleman is heading back to his truck down the driveway. We not to each other, and I head up the to the house. Not much there but a trainwreck, so I head out back. And it is even worse, **** everywhere and it is obvious at this point it was a horders house, confirmed by the brother keeping an eye on things, smoking a cigar. And just as obvious was the tool box having been taken. Not surprising.
But backing his truck up the driveway was that older man I saw earlier, to grab whatever he could. Now, at this point I had found an SK ratchet and as the brother was saying "take it, I just want it all gone" I decided to keep looking, see what I can find. Well that old man is now talking to the brother, who I hear say, "Well, ask him"
"Hey" looking at me, "do you want an old tool box?" Sitting in the back of his truck is that very Blackhawk chest I saw in the ad pics. And he is offering it to me, for free. See, he had bought if for any tools in it, and had no use for the chest, just wanted to get rid of it.
"Sure, I'll take it."
Post-war Blackhawk 100W chest, all original except one crome strip and the emblem. A little scabby (OK, a lot scabby) but I always liked patina. And you can't beat the price!
niceoldtools.com
