2020 Garage Sale Thread

SWMBO and I ventured forth for a pick, the first one together since the start of the pandemic. We chose the second day of a three day estate sale that showed lots of interior pics of household stuff, and a single picture down the driveway of the garage "full of tools". Usually a good sign when the sellers don't even bother to go in and take pictures! However, in this case, the seller was the contractor who had been working with the recently deceased owner to renovate the place, and so she was reasonably familiar with the tools and would probably have taken them home herself at the end of the sale. In the end, I got some bargains, but not the screaming deal I had hoped for.

The place was deserted shortly after opening. I was alone in the garage for much of the time. Many of the tools were Harbor Freight quality--I left a lot behind. I did grab a few items to fill holes in my tool cabinet, or as dupes for existing tools.



Chicago Electric Oscillating Tool--don't have one of these yet!
Drill Master 1500W heat gun
Caulk gun--because I can't seem to find the ones I already own.
WD-40
Three rolls of packaging tapes for the Ebay sales gig
Two rolls of teflon tape
One Craftsman tool bag with the shoulder strap still attached.
Husky Allen wrench clamshell with SAE on one side and metric on the other
Two spare extension cord plugs
Three-to-one outlet adapter
Three Craftsman flat-blade screwdrivers, 941582, 941584, 941588
Johnson Pitch and Angle Locator
Craftsman 932190 Guide Master push shoe
Two featherboards for a table saw or router
Skil electronic angle finder/level--kinda cheapy, but the batteries still work!
Large scissors
Gardner Bender GS-88 crimpers
Diamalloy NN56 needle nose pliers
Williams PL-1519 midget slip joint pliers
Air Ace pneumatic impact hammer
Aluminum guideplate--it had a part number on it, so I'll try to look it up later
Seven bar clamps--five were Chinese made, but one is a Jorgenson 3712 and the other is a Craftsman 36767
A box full of pneumatic fittings, distribution bars and pressure regulators



Is there any doubt who made the bar clamps for Craftsman?



SWMBO found two Wearever pots to add to the kitchen arsenal, as well as several shirts for our son at a dollar apiece.



Craftsman roller stand
Three plant stands



Low time wet tile saw, missing the mitre slide.

The contractor/seller threw me out a price of $100 for the tool pile alone, and we settled at $90 for everything.

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seber said:

I did that once for what seemed like forever. Then I go smart and used a bench vise.

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Tried it one year long time ago. I prefer the hammer. Turned just right, I can get 4 pieces with one or two smacks. And I find that it goes quicker.

Some days you just step in something lucky... In addition to a few smalls I guess today was super speeder Saturday for me. I was digging through a huge box of speeders and came away with this lot of 10.

- 2 Snap-on 3/8" drive Ferret F-4-D (one 1941, the other 1942)
- 1 Indestro 3/8" drive 2786
- 1 Plomb 1/2" drive 5480
- 1 Williams 1/2" drive S-15
- 1 Williams 1/2" drive S-15P
- 1 S-K 1/2" drive 40181
- 2 Snap-on 1/2" drive K4 (1939, 1941)
- 1 Snap-on 1/2" drive A-2003 industrial style with wooden knob - no date code










Bill

Story time: I drove fifty miles today to a garage sale out in the country to buy a Kennedy riser I saw in the photos. I’ve been looking for the 22” wide model for some time now and this guy had three. I got there about five minutes after they opened, only to find a guy loading all three in his truck. I joked with him for a minute about buying all the good stuff and looked around. I bought a small handful of stuff for a dollar and back to the truck. On my way out, the guy flagged me down at the gate. He happened across three more Kennedy risers on the trash pile, but the 28” models. “I can’t use them all” he says and gives me one of the 22”ers. Wouldn’t even take payment. Sometimes people are cool!

PierceA said:

...
When I returned, I was shown into the basement workshop, and handed a roll of blue painters tape. I was to put a short piece of tape on each item I'd like.
The family member told me that they had to clean out the house for it to be sold. Everything in the basement had to go.

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Pierce,

EPIC FAIL on you part. Shaking head.

When you hit the bottom of the stairs the only words out of your mouth should have been, "How much for all of it?"






Seriously, great score.













.

Private Lugnutz said:

I spent my day putting an anvil, a hammer, and an antique awl to good use!

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What are those Lugz? NM. Saw...black walnuts.

Old Radar said:

Large S-K group. The 1/4" ratchet in front (40970) is shaped like an early '40s version but it does not have the S-K diamond logo--only S-K. Did they do a retro edition?

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I haven’t seen many beaver tails marked S-K and your 1/4” drive one is the first I’ve seen in that size.
-Don
PS. Bill and Dan, Nice finds!

Old Radar said:

Had a busy couple of days. Met tin medic at a sale that turned out to be meh. Only came away with a Walden 4032 3/8 flex handle and 3168 ¼ 6” extension (not pictured). Tin medic bestowed some more JH. Williams goodies upon me including a NX-1260, 1”dr 1-7/8” socket—Thanks TM!! Since TM is still a working stiff, he couldn’t accompany me to the next sale, but once I saw the scope of the sale, I texted him to make sure he didn’t miss it.



The PO was a big ammo reloader and had a truly impressive amount of tools. He had a bank of eight four-drawer filing cabinets in his garage—almost all the drawers were piled deep with tools. One drawer had at least 200 ¼” ratchets from just about all eras and makers. I’m slapping my forehead for not taking a picture.



Here’s the first day’s haul:







All the boxes are shown with what was in them from the sale.

Lot of Snap-on in the Proto Pro box. The Indestro set is unused.







Photos continue in next post.

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Major suckage for those 1/4 drive sets! That is a great price on them. You cleaned up!

Pm sent to you,fyi

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Holy ****! Old Radar and Pierce A killed it! You both ****!

Lugz, nice speeder haul. Wasn’t there just a conversation about the Snap On wood knob speeders?

Oak Park- nice ratchets, a couple harder to find too.

So about that sale Old Radar, there may be some salivating thinking about the 8 file cabinets piled full of tools, and a drawer of 200 1/4” ratchets? How much were they asking?

Went to my favorite little junk store today. I can't seem to pass up these little tool carriers. I guess from the 70's based on the logo. It is pretty light duty but it will work great for my around the house fix it box. Also picked up this DOE craftsman underline wrench.

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So this wont draw much attention from OR and Pierce (should we rename him Hawkeye? ), but I feel mostly good about today!

Only 2 planned stops and all expectations were ion the Estate sale I tried to hit not once but twice yesterday!

First try about 2-1/2 hours after opening and the line STILL went to the side walk and beyond... I didn't even slow down other than to turn around in the cul-de-sac. Second try and they had already closed. I should have checked the ad batter. (but gimmie a break; closed at 2? )

Today that was stop #2 (9:00 opening)

Estate sale #1 I took my time and while "shopping", chatted with the guy selling his parents stuff (in prep to sell the family Honer stead, he lived there from 2 weeks old!)

There was a Coleman 425B stove in very nice condition, (the lantern had been sold at a prior Sale, told it was like new...), but the Stand was what attracted my attention. As users I prefer the aluminum stands, but the older Steel stands have supports for the lid to lay flat. that helps if you have a large pot or pan... AND they are worth $$.

I found a few other things, and that was $5, I asked if he would sell the stand separate since it was something that was sold as an accessory, and he verified with his sister, and she said "Fine" so I offered $10 for everything and we had a deal:

The Stand:



And the rest - An Eastwing hatchet with sheath, a Quart of M1 the grade the Bird uses, a wood handled driver with "something" and "Tempered" on the shank, and a set of "Action" brand sockets with a Thorsen 1/4" driver (probably original) with one orphan SO socket.




At the second estate I for there a little early and they were already open.

Not too crowded; everyone had masks, BUT "Rude" people that would crowd you at times... I had a shower and put my clothes in the laundry after I got home...

In any case this thing was LOADED. I passed on some things and held off on others for tomorrow and "half off day" I missed a NICE Swiss made 24" lathe. I'd class this as a tool room lathe and it had extra stuff EVERYWHERE! The buyer clearly had no clue and the "garage dude" said he'd already picked up the "tooling that went with it" (not even close...)

VERY few Asian tools but loads of lapidary watchmaking, and other small/miniature tooling for other tools besides the lathe. even a late 50's Craftsman 150 drill press and similar vintage table saw...

In anycase: A watch makers screw plate, all dies present only two taps; Knob for a Craftsman power tool, A chome plated Jacobson clamp for a DP table, micro Collets marked "microscope collets" (there was a really nice boxed Microscope, industrial quality), and an aluminum framed clamp on vise. No name, but this is clearly a Speedmaster Vise out of Oakland. Its been repaired, and this is a VERY common break point (I broke my Speedmaster first time I used it...), this is a GOOD repair! I'm doing the same for my Speedmaster...




A (Cedar?) box I used to hold some of the smalls above





Crown Craftsman Mortising set with 1/4" and 3/8" drills and punches, (still in the boxes, and with the "bill of lading" and instructions!) and a set of micro drills, he ones in the tubes have a "Spade bit" tip and may be carbide and for glass or hard stone? The paper has micro drills, on a heavier shank. also in there is a pin vise for holding the drills.




And inside the house I found, in a closet, this Machinists box! The guides for the bottom drawer need replaced as they are broken, but the door is there and other than the bottom drawer guides, it's in pretty decent shape, and wonder of wonders, the keys were in a small plastic box inside!

I was at $40 for he stuff from the garage, and I didn't see a price on this box. I cornered the lady that runs this show who I know pretty well and have a good relationship with and she came, and acknowledged the drawer damage and said 60, then dropped to 50. I said I had another forty out front so how much for all, and she thought a few seconds and came in with 80, and we had a deal!


The box: Details of the contents to follow:

The Oak Box contents - by the drawer:







And the Cream of the crop:

he was sort of split between B&S and Starrett - the mics and thread gauge were Brown & Sharp, the Wire gauge, outside calipers, and protractor and Vee heads are Starrett, (not sure who made the try square head or blades)




Williams ignition wrenches (I think I have a Spare 3/8 for the broken one and I think the 1/4 is missing and I may have that), Pratt and Whitney lapping steel, A Jacob's chuck with modified shank, a home brew gear puller, tap and die holders (the die holder is painted army green? may be its was surplus?) The KEYS! and his company badge with a different ID ring for Sheet metal, (the complete one says "bench", and both say he was foreman.)




Drill bits, a box of dies a couple of taps, the "Platform" is LS Starret, No 129, and patented Jan 16, 1923, a Starrett drill gauge, some cheap plastic but pretty nice magnifiers, 3 boxes of abrasives.




and last and probably least, was a TOO and a pair of tongs:

Outlaw, Old Radar, Pierce Arrow...

Fantastic scores you guys.
I gotta start going out and bagging some cool stuff.

A neighbor put out a few things to be scrapped. I picked up this two stage vacuum pump. It doesn't look good but turns out it's just dirty. Surprise, it works perfect. In fact, it appears it was never hooked up or used.

I hit around six sales today, zero TOO's. The first sale was a bust, but the next was the second day of a two-day sale.

One whole dollar got me; a New Britain 1/2 ratchet, complete 3/8's NB socket set, A Powr Kraft 1/4 flex, a Proto LA p#2, and this:

A blasting galvanometer! Couldn't pass that up.

The third stop (Rusty Gold! they advertised as) was a lot of household junk and a few tools, marketed poorly. I mean, who tapes a pair of pliers to a bent screwdriver? In any case, I picked up the Rusty Gold Walden socket set and moved on to the fourth sale. Which was a dud. But the fifth was good, and here I picked up the book on Lugers, the Armstrong combo, and a Snap-on G code for six bucks.

And the inside of the Walden box. The ratchet is frozen, but the sockets are good


After that, I went and got a burrito. And as I was eating, I decided to check CL if anything extra popped up close to home. And low and behold a tool sale! From the same guy, I picked up the counsel radio a few months ago. So, knowing he is cheap, I headed over. Not much to my taste, but I did pick this up for $3


It's a Simonsen, and I am guessing the Vietnam era. I am going to put my bicycle tools and extras in it.

Old Radar said:

Had a busy couple of days. Met tin medic at a sale that turned out to be meh. Only came away with a Walden 4032 3/8 flex handle and 3168 ¼ 6” extension (not pictured). Tin medic bestowed some more JH. Williams goodies upon me including a NX-1260, 1”dr 1-7/8” socket—Thanks TM!! Since TM is still a working stiff, he couldn’t accompany me to the next sale, but once I saw the scope of the sale, I texted him to make sure he didn’t miss it.

The PO was a big ammo reloader and had a truly impressive amount of tools. He had a bank of eight four-drawer filing cabinets in his garage—almost all the drawers were piled deep with tools. One drawer had at least 200 ¼” ratchets from just about all eras and makers. I’m slapping my forehead for not taking a picture.

Here’s the first day’s haul:



All the boxes are shown with what was in them from the sale.
Lot of Snap-on in the Proto Pro box. The Indestro set is unused.





Photos continue in next post.

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Oh my. What a pick. Well done!

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

bmwrd0 said:

It's a Simonsen, and I am guessing the Vietnam era.

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MIL spec, so no earlier than late 1950s, and Pre-Zip Code, so no later than 1963.

Traded my buddy a bunch of old Klein stuff for this!

I assumed you had a key cutter by now?

I did but this one is 1000 times better than what I had!

PierceA --
That instant vise collection is an incredible haul! I thought I had pretty much all the Colton pattern Phoenixes, but I've never seen one like yours. It it a hand vise, or meant to be screwed to the front of the bench? Move pix would be most welcome!

PierceA & Outlaw--no flies on you guys! Nice scores! Outlaw, that mechanic's box had some really nice treasures!

3baygarage said:

So about that sale Old Radar, there may be some salivating thinking about the 8 file cabinets piled full of tools, and a drawer of 200 1/4” ratchets? How much were they asking?

Click to expand...

They were priced at $10 a pop, but several of the $5 & $10 sets had 2-3 ratchets in them. Also, once you got a pile of tools up to the check out they were pretty good about bulk pricing.

Tin medic and I are #1 & 2 on the list for the final frenzy tomorrow. Hope they still have some goodies left!

Old Radar said:

PierceA & Outlaw--no flies on you guys! Nice scores! Outlaw, that mechanic's box had some really nice treasures!




They were priced at $10 a pop, but several of the $5 & $10 sets had 2-3 ratchets in them. Also, once you got a pile of tools up to the check out they were pretty good about bulk pricing.

Tin medic and I are #1 & 2 on the list for the final frenzy tomorrow. Hope they still have some goodies left!

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...........................................................................................................................

Wow! Congrats in advance. Head of the line is a well earned honor not to be squandered. Bring plenty of $$$

I can feel the excitement from 2000 miles away.

.

This isn't a garage sale find but it is related.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-collector/202010/collecting-urge-s-hard-resist

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I don’t know what that article says about me but I’m showing it to my wife.

Arne73 said:

This isn't a garage sale find but it is related.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-collector/202010/collecting-urge-s-hard-resist

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Thanks so much for posting this, Arne. Totally related. I don't know if you remember the article I posted about the people in London who comb the Thames at low tide, but it touched on the preservation of antiquities jones.

tin medic said:

I don’t know what that article says about me but I’m showing it to my wife.

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That was my second thought! This doctor is my new hero. It justifies why we do what we do - scientifically. My first thought was, every person on this thread already knows all this - it's in every host's intro post, and we didn't drop $500,000 for medical school. HAHA.

Seriously, everyone really should read it. It's perfect, and short.

But if you want it even shorter...
A Psychiatrist just basically bailed us all out of the doghouse and into the bedroom again, for these reasons...
- Up to 40% of the population collects something
- The urge is scientifically natural, normal, and healthy, and they used an MRI to prove it (certain collected objects light up parts of the brain connected to our pleasure centers)
- The pleasure instigates:
* Pride in owning rare, exquisite objects
* Thrill of a bargain
* Visceral feeling holding artifacts of history
* Intellectual satisfaction (i.e., research!)
* Social networking (i.e., GJ forum)
* Organizing, arranging, and rearranging a collection shows off your taste and knowledge

Outlaw,
I like the hatchet, & absolute major suckage on the machinist box & other stuff.
Things have slowed up in my neck of the woods.
Yesterday I drove an hour to pickup a Starrett 4" level & a Crescent nail puller that I won through an online estate auction.
I had bid on 10 other Starrett & Snap-on items that I lost out on in last minute sniping.
Frustrating experience, but still learning the ropes on that.

Private Lugnutz said:

Thanks so much for posting this, Arne. Totally related. I don't know if you remember the article I posted about the people in London who comb the Thames at low tide, but it touched on the preservation of antiquities jones.


That was my second thought! This doctor is my new hero. It justifies why we do what we do - scientifically. My first thought was, every person on this thread already knows all this - it's in every host's intro post, and we didn't drop $500,000 for medical school. HAHA.

Seriously, everyone really should read it. It's perfect, and short.

But if you want it even shorter...
A Psychiatrist just basically bailed us all out of the doghouse and into the bedroom again, for these reasons...
- Up to 40% of the population collects something
- The urge is scientifically natural, normal, and healthy, and they used an MRI to prove it (certain collected objects light up parts of the brain connected to our pleasure centers)
- The pleasure instigates:
* Pride in owning rare, exquisite objects
* Thrill of a bargain
* Visceral feeling holding artifacts of history
* Intellectual satisfaction (i.e., research!)
* Social networking (i.e., GJ forum)
* Organizing, arranging, and rearranging a collection shows off your taste and knowledge

Click to expand...

Lugz, et al: You guys summed it up nicely.
This is by far my favorite thread on this site. It satisfies a desire to participate in the hunt for unique mechanical items without filling up my (overcrowded) place with more stuff. The community here is knowledgeable, helpful, and respectful.

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Flashlight flea finds this morning (Lugz 2020_51) included a primitive clamp-on vise and a tiny single open end wrench. That's a quarter on there for size. I will post more photos after clean-up, but later. Last baseball game of the year in an hour.

Thanks for the post Arne!



I'm out the door to get some more!!

OMG, Lugz! I saw that exact same model of vise on the first table at Jake’s this morning! I toyed with it, but then set it down without asking a price. The next vise I looked at was halfway across the field, a 4” Wilton the guy said was from the 1940s. He gave a specific date, but the price made me forget: $500. I can say with some certainty that he won’t get that at Jake’s.
Next to it was a box of 2/$1 DOEs, including five Bonney 825A pre-1921 thin wrenches with the logos all ground off. Just enough of a corner of the B-shield remaining on a couple to identify. I bought one, plus the Bridgeport.
I threw away a dollar on a P3 SK screwdriver, because I wasn’t wearing my glasses and didn’t notice the buggered tip, despite scrutinizing it for wear. Stupid.
A =V= 1/4dr sliding tee, 1927 S/O 5/16 4pt socket, S/O dikes, pack of solid brass hinges w screws, two Bonney 4095 universals of different ages, Zenel 3723A, Streamlined Whitworth combo, #25 DOE, 10” Stillson, Flaring tool, HDSmith perfecthandle 14” pipewrench, and a nice Champion DeArment 10” Stillson.
I think $25 for all.
A pleasant morning out with MrsLS before the return of forecast rain.

While the article is interesting from an academic standpoint. I don't need a bunch of "in-depth analysis" to summarize collecting and the search that goes with it. It is a far more basic instinct that drives it:

Animals (of which man is one) are either predator or prey. Its pretty easy to say which is which. Its in the eyes: Prey animals have eyes in the sides of their head to better watch for predators. Predators have eyes in front and use them to zero in and have great depth perception.

Where are our eyes located?

Given that we are predators, we have a hunting instinct. That hunting instinct can be satisfied only in the hunt. The hunt for food, the hunt for money, the hunt for anything...

A successful hunt for food gives you something to eat and you get a satisfied response with the anticipation of a full belly. Eating it is an anticlimax, but has its own learned satisfaction response. Its in our DNA, and its instinctual. Everyone has it. It just may not always be the hunt for food that scratches this instinct.

• Hunting as I was doing a couple of weeks ago
• Fishing
• I mentioned the hunt for $$
• shopping (the ladies love this whether its in a store or on line)
• SWMBO and one of my daughters use Zillow to "house hunt" and criticize, what they find (and tell each other what they would have done different for the house) all just for "Amusement" but in reality, its a hunt.
• Games, particularly computer games; most are based on some sort of hunt or competition. (the phone version of Poke'mon is a good example of this)
• I could go on and on...

The point being that the "collecting" hunt, satisfies this instinct and does so very well. From the planning, to the execution, to the "victory dance" of a successful hunt (this whole thread!)

If I didn't do the weekend hunt for tools, I'd likely be fishing every weekend like my dad did...

Even my racing days were part of a hunt: The hunt for more speed, and winning a race was a hunting victory, including the "victory dance!" (See the sports teams after winning a World Series or championship...)

So it's far more basic that the psychoanalysis shows. It's an instinct. I know "science" likes to claim that man has had instinct bred out of him. I think its there; we just don't recognize it, as we over-analyze so much. It (analysis) is both our strength, and our weakness...

With that, I'm gearing up for another hunt!

I like those pseudo BS vises! Nice find Lugz!

Old Radar said:

PierceA & Outlaw--no flies on you guys! Nice scores! Outlaw, that mechanic's box had some really nice treasures!









They were priced at $10 a pop, but several of the $5 & $10 sets had 2-3 ratchets in them. Also, once you got a pile of tools up to the check out they were pretty good about bulk pricing.



Tin medic and I are #1 & 2 on the list for the final frenzy tomorrow. Hope they still have some goodies left!

Click to expand...

Good luck on the hunt today! Sounds like it will be another great outing. When you have time at your convenience could you check your pm’s? Thanks and good luck!


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Wow! you guys are killing it out there!
PierceA
instant vise collection! wow!
misterbill
instant speeder collection!
Anre73
loved the article! It certainly captured my obsession. Connecting with the past and family.
Outlaw
good stuff (great hunting!) but the machinists box is a you **** and I hope you did a victory dance after that hunt!

Thanks guys. I'm planing on going back for half off day and see about a few more things I would like to get cheaper.

Tools post - I picked up these two tool boxes that seem to be exactly the same other than color for $5 each with contents at two different sales a week apart. I like the heavy construction, but would like to know more if anyone knows maker, etc.

One of the boxes had a nice collection of swivel sockets in it, Bonney, Craftsman, etc. They will be users.

And I will NEVER buy another push drill or brace is what I always tell myself - till someone says take all 3 for $1 - OK! From this point on, I will never by another push drill or brace. They are currently being used as weight to flatten out some old photos.

Desk chair - $4 bought me a rough Heywood Brothers and Wakefield desk chair. So far, I cleaned it, applied some paste wax and got it ready for recaning. The mechanism is actually really cool. Couldn't leave it behind for that price.

(the mechanism picture is not mine - I forgot to grab one)

oil/kerosene lamp?

I am hoping someone can help me ID this. It has no makers info.
There is an upper reservoir to hold fuel. It says only "close valve after filling" . once you fill it, you close the valve and it is sealed until you put it in the lamp.

Not much of the burner/lamp is there. The plating on the fuel canister is very thin and a cleaning as well as removing the price sticker is causing it to peel. It is resisting a simple cleaning, so I want to know what it is before I destroy the patina, or ...shudder... electrify it.

Outlaw? do you have any pointers on where to look?