Show your Vintage Boy Scout Tools

[gpw_42]

@driftpin thanks for kicking the thread into gear again. Always enjoy others' recollections of days in Scouts, but your Marcy Summiteer coin is SWEET! My troop was in NJ, but we always started the summer the weekend after school let out with a long canoe trip on the Delaware River, from Skinners Falls to Port Jarvis. One year we followed with a backpacker which went up and over Mt. Marcy. Day 1 of that trip it snowed on us (July 4, IIRC) during lunch. I'm STILL glad that my scoutmaster had been doing it long enough that he took along an extra chamois shirt, as I hadn't packed one: HS knucklehead "it's July, won't need anything heavier than a t-shirt in the Adirondaks." I sure learned a lesson that trip! And distinctly remember that Marcy was a tough hike...in part b/c my arms were by then covered with blisters, from 2nd degree sunburn obtained on the canoe trip. But Mirror Lake was one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen!

AreBeeBee and GTO, thanks for adding to the thread, too.

 

[driftpin]

gpw_42, those are great memories. I recall that in the instructions our leader gave us for the overnight trail to My. Marcy, was "bring something to keep you warm when the temperature drops!" Snow in July??? But our leader made sure we all had extra sox & something warm, including long pants. "If we go through brush, off the trail there's poison sumac and poison ivy, you need long pants to help protect yourself." No snow for us, that would be memorable. We moved, and I have to locate my leather 50 mile hike badge, one of the things I most cherish of my Scouting time.

 

[555]

@driftpin My oldest son and I did a "Wintering Over" and Klondike Derby at Camp Massawepie in 87 or 88. We lived in NY while I was establishing a government funded health clinic on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. We were in the troop from Westville, NY. My oldest was a Life Scout and I was the assistant scout leader. The troop was sponsored by the Westville Volunteer Fire Department which was called the Westville Call Firemen in those days.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I didn't go here but maybe someone else.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I didn't go here but maybe someone else.

But we had these BB guns when I was in the club. And I did help teach throwing Tommo Hawks latter in life. I think they gave me the wrong knife Tho. Can't find mine.

 

[555]

I should have posted this on Father's Day but I had forgotten about it. This was my Father's Boy Scout First Aid Kit. The company made a lot of kits including military, automotive and for the BSA. He was born in 1914 so I'm guessing he used this between 1924-1930.

 

[mikeinri]

Is there anything still inside of that, @555?

Mike

 

[555]

Is there anything still inside of that, @555?

Mike

I'm pretty sure it has some of the kit left. Maybe all of it. I've never opened it. The top is on there tight and I didn't want to force it. The next time I have it out I'll give it a try.

 

[gpw_42]

555, you may want to get it out and put time to work, on your side. Turn the box over and place some penetrating oil around the flange and give it a few days to soak around. Should help to open gently. Good luck, and cool FAK!

 

[555]

@GPW-42 That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

[RTM]

Will any penetrating oil that's doing it's job stain the contents?

 

[555]

Will any penetrating oil that's doing it's job stain the contents?

I'm also considering that possibility. I don't think it is rusted, just tight. If I think it will be damaged, I just won't try to open it.

 

[RTM]

What about using those plastic pry bars used for taking iphones apart? Spudge bar? Spudger?

 

[555]

What about using those plastic pry bars used for taking iphones apart? Spudge bar? Spudger?

Funny, I just bought a set of those things. They were in a sale bin at the local Ace Hardware. They were cheap and looked like they might be handy for something. That may be a possibility.

 

[cgrutt]

OK was never a boyscout but did put in some hours with my kid. Particularly proud of these...

WoodBadge knot and beads... if you don't know I really can't explain.



Firearms instructor yeah a lot of hours outside of Scouting to get that...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

New addition to the collection from the flea this morning.

 

[mikeinri]

New addition to the collection from the flea this morning.

Wow, great find!!!

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wow, great find!!!

Thanks. It was a persistent one, that's for sure. House liquidator was just starting to unload a panel truck my first pass, around 645AM. Second pass I can see it's a lot of paper, so I keep going. You may have seen me say on the 'Garage Sale' thread or the 'Books' thread that I'm not fond of dallying at "paper" tables, because it's way more time consuming than tools to go through it. When I go back I decide to dig in in earnest. There was a lot of interesting stuff laid out on 5 tables - couple pics below just for context, but nothing that would've indicated Boy Scouts. Happy to come across it in the middle of a pile.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this book, published by the Boys Scouts of America, at the flea market this morning. Who knew?!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Used to be heavy into collecting knives, not anymore. Pretty sure I sold these at some point.







Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Eric Brown]

My 13-year-old brother (David Brown) and some of his troop carved an old telephone pole into a Totem pole in 1958. They worked on it in our garage. I was only three at the time and they would kick me out anytime I opened the door to take a peek. After the carving and painting was done, they took it to a jamboree at Cricket Holler, Dayton Ohio. Afterward it was planted in my parents' backyard. It stayed there until 2000. My father had died, and my mother was moving. So, my brother and I pulled the totem, and I took it home. The plan was for my brother to come get it but then he died before he had time for it. Years later I decided to do the restoration. I put it on a frame with wheels and stripped what was left of the old paint. Then I used six bottles of waterproof glue to fill all the splits. Afterward I painted it using colors similar to what they had used. I replicated my dads trick of using glass beads on the red and white areas so it is reflective. Not a true totem, but a caricature. At the top is Chief Cricket. Below him is Medicine man (Rub his belly for luck). At the bottom is Warrier, for protection. Enjoy.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I told the wife to get ready. It's like the day I put it up. Back in the 1970s.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ratty 1936 on left, decent 1944 on right. I've lost count, but between my own and the even older vintage editions I have collected, I have at least one for every grandboy.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

 

[lolaetype]

I still have my uniform, pack and cook kit.



Somewhere, I also have a few neckerchiefs and slides for them, and my Boy Scout NRA marksmanship medals I earned at summer camp.

I'd have liked to make Eagle but I turned 16 and discovered cars and girls.

My trip To Philmont in June 1965 was cancelled due to intense flooding in the area.