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Private Lugnutz
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No worries. In our typical synchronicity, I was just letting you know the same thing on your Barc-Buff thread. HAHA.
The Lugzsonian - A Virtual Tour
- Thread starter Private Lugnutz
- Start date
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks to a hot tip from Shiftless to the Acquisitions Dept, who don't shop online, and normally don't buy there unless they are directed, the Curator is pleased to announce that the Lugzsonian's Southington Manufacturing Company "S" wrench collection, which was only three (3) non-sequential wrenches (Nos. 500, 501, and 503) just a few days ago (see posts #342 and #4343 on page 18), is now a set of five (5) sequential wrenches (No. 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504). 
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Private Lugnutz
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Yessir! Thanks, Leg. I think some of them were black japanned. Maybe all of them. The ads certainly indicate that. But I am just going to leave them "as is." They earned it.
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Private Lugnutz
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Time for...
CURATOR'S CORNER #3
So what could an 1862 Thayer’s Patent combination tool (left panel, top), a 1940’s era HOL-SET wrench set and a 1970’s era multi-purpose campers’ shovel (right panel) have in common?
In a word, efficiency.
The Curator is going to kick this one off with an acronym: SWAP. Pronounced swop, just like it sounds, just like the word for a trade or exchange spelled the same way, in DoD engineering jargon it stands for Size, Weight, and Power. It is often extended to SWAPC or SWAP-C, representing Size, Weight, Power, and Cost. For most of my career in the Army, reducing SWAP (and SWAP-C) has been a design principle or requirement of nearly every R&D project I have ever been involved with.
To be sure, we’re always making things more accurate, more lethal, more better, more more. But making them smaller, lighter, and less fuel-, battery-, or otherwise energy-hogging – as well as less expensive, has always been an overarching goal. Sometimes it is prioritized as more important than the capability improvement, where we are willing to literally swap capability in increments on a range from “threshold” to “objective” for inches, pounds, and circuit load. These are known in the community as “good enough” standards and “85%” solutions.
The swaaaa.. and the cee part of the SWAP-C principle is a very handy analogy (and as I was telling LesserSon on the Garage Sale thread, perhaps part of the reason…) for my admiration for efficient hand tools. Some are multi-tools and some are just self-contained. Granted, sometimes the efficiency principle in the hand tools domain reduces the quality, and sometimes it reduces the effectiveness, and sometimes it puts the tool in the gadget-y, mass marketing bucket. And I’m okay with that, too, because that is the point, entirely. If you can make 3 tools in 1, sell it for a third of the price to three times as many people, who can store it in a place requiring three times less space, and they use it with minimally sufficient success on appropriate jobs, instead of needing three different tools, three times as expensive, and taking up three times as much space, it has merit. To an extent.
Frankly, I just like them as a collectible category, a niche, on principle, and I threw some of mine up on the board as examples.
CURATOR'S CORNER #3
So what could an 1862 Thayer’s Patent combination tool (left panel, top), a 1940’s era HOL-SET wrench set and a 1970’s era multi-purpose campers’ shovel (right panel) have in common?
In a word, efficiency.
The Curator is going to kick this one off with an acronym: SWAP. Pronounced swop, just like it sounds, just like the word for a trade or exchange spelled the same way, in DoD engineering jargon it stands for Size, Weight, and Power. It is often extended to SWAPC or SWAP-C, representing Size, Weight, Power, and Cost. For most of my career in the Army, reducing SWAP (and SWAP-C) has been a design principle or requirement of nearly every R&D project I have ever been involved with.
To be sure, we’re always making things more accurate, more lethal, more better, more more. But making them smaller, lighter, and less fuel-, battery-, or otherwise energy-hogging – as well as less expensive, has always been an overarching goal. Sometimes it is prioritized as more important than the capability improvement, where we are willing to literally swap capability in increments on a range from “threshold” to “objective” for inches, pounds, and circuit load. These are known in the community as “good enough” standards and “85%” solutions.
The swaaaa.. and the cee part of the SWAP-C principle is a very handy analogy (and as I was telling LesserSon on the Garage Sale thread, perhaps part of the reason…) for my admiration for efficient hand tools. Some are multi-tools and some are just self-contained. Granted, sometimes the efficiency principle in the hand tools domain reduces the quality, and sometimes it reduces the effectiveness, and sometimes it puts the tool in the gadget-y, mass marketing bucket. And I’m okay with that, too, because that is the point, entirely. If you can make 3 tools in 1, sell it for a third of the price to three times as many people, who can store it in a place requiring three times less space, and they use it with minimally sufficient success on appropriate jobs, instead of needing three different tools, three times as expensive, and taking up three times as much space, it has merit. To an extent.
Frankly, I just like them as a collectible category, a niche, on principle, and I threw some of mine up on the board as examples.
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Private Lugnutz
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On the left panel (See Pic 1) we have...
Pic 2. The Civil War era (Thayer’s Patent) combination tool, with a hammer, puller, pry bar and steel rule. (It is missing its wooden handle.) If you want to read more about it and see more photos, it has its own GJ thread here.
Pic 3. A c. 1884 Sargent & Company patent self-contained multi-tool with several kinds of awls, screwdrivers, chisels, and pry. Link for more photos and info here, and check out others owned by me and other GJ members in the same thread while you’re there.
Pic 4. A more modern (c. 1940’s) version with a composite handle, made by Standard Pressed Steel (yes, the “UNBRAKO” company), and branded “Hallowell”, that hinges for offset work. These have a small cultish following here n GJ, so you can see mine and much finer examples owned by other GJ’ers linked here.
Pic 5. An antique era combination tool with DOE wrench openings, a saw, and a tapered square in the middle for taps. Other than mine I have seen a photo of one in the Friedman collection in Kansas City and a photo of one in an antique store on Formby road directly opposite the river from the SPIRIT OF TASMANIA berth in Devonport, Tasmania. Thread linked here.
Pic 6. A classic “4-in-1” set of nesting screwdrivers. You can't get much more self-contained than this idea, matrushka-ed into the hand tools domain, and they are not junk, made of brass and forged steel. (Just as classically, I am missing two!) An example of this tool inspired a short discussion on the Garage Sale thread, which in turn inspired this "Corner".
Pic 7 An all-steel version of the type of hollow-handled multi-bits tools shown in Pics 3 & 4, but this one has an all-steel handle, it includes a little hammer head that screws on and off the bits chuck, and the bits are high quality tempered, heat-treated steel. Not branded.
Pic 2. The Civil War era (Thayer’s Patent) combination tool, with a hammer, puller, pry bar and steel rule. (It is missing its wooden handle.) If you want to read more about it and see more photos, it has its own GJ thread here.
Pic 3. A c. 1884 Sargent & Company patent self-contained multi-tool with several kinds of awls, screwdrivers, chisels, and pry. Link for more photos and info here, and check out others owned by me and other GJ members in the same thread while you’re there.
Pic 4. A more modern (c. 1940’s) version with a composite handle, made by Standard Pressed Steel (yes, the “UNBRAKO” company), and branded “Hallowell”, that hinges for offset work. These have a small cultish following here n GJ, so you can see mine and much finer examples owned by other GJ’ers linked here.
Pic 5. An antique era combination tool with DOE wrench openings, a saw, and a tapered square in the middle for taps. Other than mine I have seen a photo of one in the Friedman collection in Kansas City and a photo of one in an antique store on Formby road directly opposite the river from the SPIRIT OF TASMANIA berth in Devonport, Tasmania. Thread linked here.
Pic 6. A classic “4-in-1” set of nesting screwdrivers. You can't get much more self-contained than this idea, matrushka-ed into the hand tools domain, and they are not junk, made of brass and forged steel. (Just as classically, I am missing two!) An example of this tool inspired a short discussion on the Garage Sale thread, which in turn inspired this "Corner".
Pic 7 An all-steel version of the type of hollow-handled multi-bits tools shown in Pics 3 & 4, but this one has an all-steel handle, it includes a little hammer head that screws on and off the bits chuck, and the bits are high quality tempered, heat-treated steel. Not branded.
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Private Lugnutz
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On the right panel (see Pic 1), we have…
Pics 2 & 3. A 70’s vintage Globemaster No. 63130 All-Purpose Camping Shovel. These are popular with survivalists. You can see all the tools it includes printed on the sheath as well as stamped into the tool itself.
Pic 4. A c. 1940’s socket set, 1/2-inch Hex Drive, where all the pieces - including six standard sockets, a spark plug socket, a valve lifter, and a universal joint - are all stored on the shank of the speed wrench, which even has a convenient hook for hanging. Made by HOL-SET in Rochester NY and advertised as “44 tools in 1”. GJ’ers Boringgeoff, leg17, and twertsy have these as well. See HOL-SET in the Index in the Sticky.
Pics 2 & 3. A 70’s vintage Globemaster No. 63130 All-Purpose Camping Shovel. These are popular with survivalists. You can see all the tools it includes printed on the sheath as well as stamped into the tool itself.
Pic 4. A c. 1940’s socket set, 1/2-inch Hex Drive, where all the pieces - including six standard sockets, a spark plug socket, a valve lifter, and a universal joint - are all stored on the shank of the speed wrench, which even has a convenient hook for hanging. Made by HOL-SET in Rochester NY and advertised as “44 tools in 1”. GJ’ers Boringgeoff, leg17, and twertsy have these as well. See HOL-SET in the Index in the Sticky.
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y'sguy
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Back in my younger days we used those shovels occasionally around the campsite. Usually for a firepit.
Today, after seeing your examples I am very grateful that I don't have to attempt to use one of those to work on my car with or my house. For survival only.
Today, after seeing your examples I am very grateful that I don't have to attempt to use one of those to work on my car with or my house. For survival only.
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Private Lugnutz
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Or in a pinch. Or the apocalypse. Something like that. I have a few. Only one with the sheath. 'A Time to every purpose under the Heaven.' Ecc.3For survival only.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Bible, Pete Seeger or the Byrds?
Here is a multi tool missing from the display due to the Curator’s lack of appreciation of it’s appearance! Many offers have been made for its inclusion in the Lugzonian.
-Don
Here is a multi tool missing from the display due to the Curator’s lack of appreciation of it’s appearance! Many offers have been made for its inclusion in the Lugzonian.
-Don
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3baygarage
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Probably holding off until the Lugzonian expands into the kitchen wing exhibit.
I'm really enjoying seeing your collection presented on display. Very cool.
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Private Lugnutz
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Haha! Well, to be fair, Don, that was a loooong time ago, before the Curator was a Curator, and you may be conflating or overstating two separate reactions on the Barcalo 7-in-1 into cause-and-effect. One, it does remind me of Kokopelli, or, alternately, a sort of skinny Alien, but two, I was probably just refusing to accept it out of politeness and not wanting to take it out of the hunt.
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, 3bay. It was a long time coming. And now that "the Tour" is complete, I'm enjoying the Curator's Corners as a way to pull a few things out by topic area, major or quirky, planned or spontaneously.
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Private Lugnutz
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Private Lugnutz
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Welp, it ain't the Lugzsonian, but the Curator is putting "Randyland" on his list of future road trip stops. The Curator likes his personal pickins preserved in private as original historical artifacts, but in the 'One man's trash is another man's...zany re-purposed Folk Art extravaganza' category, this looks like a neat place to visit.
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Farmer J.
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It's OK Lugz, now you have heard about that, Randy he can be a role model. You don't ever have to move again, just keep collecting stuff and your beautiful family home will evolve to become 'LUGZLAND'..
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Private Lugnutz
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Haha. I'm literally, figuratively, and nominally too Private for that, J., preferring the virtual operations for the Lugzsonian. At least for now. (I have had in-person requests!) But I appreciate the thought.
y'sguy
Well-known member
Lucky for all of us that you continue to share. Thanks again Lugz!
Farmer J.
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Shiftless
Well-known member
I hope all of us can respect that decision. I enjoy seeing all of those priceless treasures so well and artfully displayed. Actually, sharing virtually enables those of us thousands of miles away to get a glimpse into greatness whenever we log onto GJ.
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Stillgottimefor1
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Never said anything about the collection because I don’t feel worthy. It is wonderful.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, guys. Just lucky to have a house as old as some of my tools and some play time on my hands! 
I am working on another "Corner" by the way. It's a love/hate chicken/egg topic (no more hints shall be forthcoming) and I am just looking to complete a few trades to make it more comprehensive with examples.
In "Permanent Non-Human Guest List" news, I am happy to report that Mr. Wise Old Laser Beams has easily outlasted two snowstorms, a mob of bluejays who finally discovered his whereabouts in the neighborhood, and droves of overly inquisitive townsfolk. He shrugged off the weather like a champ, allowed me to think that I had come to his aid with a few stiff handclaps with the jays, and probably has no idea how rudely I admonished my neighbors for spreading the dang word too far and too wide that Mr. Lugnutz has an owl living in his tree. People are literally driving here, parking, getting their kids out, pointing, and taking pictures like they have never seen an owl "in the wild" before.
I am working on another "Corner" by the way. It's a love/hate chicken/egg topic (no more hints shall be forthcoming) and I am just looking to complete a few trades to make it more comprehensive with examples.
In "Permanent Non-Human Guest List" news, I am happy to report that Mr. Wise Old Laser Beams has easily outlasted two snowstorms, a mob of bluejays who finally discovered his whereabouts in the neighborhood, and droves of overly inquisitive townsfolk. He shrugged off the weather like a champ, allowed me to think that I had come to his aid with a few stiff handclaps with the jays, and probably has no idea how rudely I admonished my neighbors for spreading the dang word too far and too wide that Mr. Lugnutz has an owl living in his tree. People are literally driving here, parking, getting their kids out, pointing, and taking pictures like they have never seen an owl "in the wild" before.
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Private Lugnutz
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Baseball season is in full swing (I am an umpire), and I've been waiting for something from a GJ'er to complete my next Curator's Corner. Consequently, I haven't posted in a while, and we don't really have a good thread for antique C-clamps as a topic, so I'll just leave this recent flea market find here.
Alva M. Colt patent 237,431 granted February 8, 1881, which is forged ("PAT. FEB.8.81") into the frame. It's a "No. 1," which is forged into the other side. That eccentric lever provides just enough force to cinch up the ball-jointed foot on the end of that little plunger on a work piece, and it releases in the other direction. The adjustable jaw is prevented from sliding off the frame by a little stopper.
Alva M. Colt patent 237,431 granted February 8, 1881, which is forged ("PAT. FEB.8.81") into the frame. It's a "No. 1," which is forged into the other side. That eccentric lever provides just enough force to cinch up the ball-jointed foot on the end of that little plunger on a work piece, and it releases in the other direction. The adjustable jaw is prevented from sliding off the frame by a little stopper.
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JoCoSawdust
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The owl gives me flashbacks. I opened a barn door as a kid and was immediately physically assaulted by an owl. Pretty sure it was a hate crime.
Seriously though, (but it WAS a hate crime), nature is great. I had a mockingbird fly into my shop not long ago, perch on a vise and go through his full repertoire of sounds for me as I was soldering on a motor. He was a big show off and I loved every minute of it.
Seriously though, (but it WAS a hate crime), nature is great. I had a mockingbird fly into my shop not long ago, perch on a vise and go through his full repertoire of sounds for me as I was soldering on a motor. He was a big show off and I loved every minute of it.
RTM
Well-known member
Love the look of those Colt style clamps. Heard they work well. I’ve never found one in the wild.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Private Lugnutz said:
see your P/M
I've been adding these in as I see them here and referencing the post in which they appear, as the threads become almost impossible to find a specific item in when one is searching for a particular brand:
Colt / Colt Clamp Co., 33 Swan St., Batavia, NY / C-clamp / patent 237431 Feb 8 1881 Alva M. Colt / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9031840#post9031840 /
That is an interesting design, illustrated well in the patent document.
I'm fascinated by the garage. That thing would have kept me busy all day long when I was 4 or 5. It's what... about 48" high?
Obviously well thought-out by the man who built it.
Nice shot of the owl. Ours are pretty elusive here.
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Private Lugnutz
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Haha. I am afraid of roosters to this day after being attacked by one as a child. I know they're all looking at me exactly like that one did.
Here, too, usually. This one decided he liked a nice elbow hole a fallen limb had left in our linden tree many years ago, which was thrilling while it lasted. You can page back for many more photos.four.cycle said:
He or she has not been back in weeks and he or she has probably and wisely settled on a better nest. Eastern screech owls will have several temporary holes until they mate up in April. I think I said in one of my reports how popular he or she had gotten, and was probably tired of playing glockenspiel every time someone walked past with their dog. Near the end of March we wouldn't see it for days then it would be back, then gone again, and finally it was gone for good.
Thanks. Sure caught my eye.
Thanks for the tip, 4.c. I will bump Drives' thread, too.
It's only 2' high, but plenty of parking levels. I am not totally convinced it's not a vintage commercial product. For those who are confused by 4.c's comments, see the Automobile Paraphernalia thread.four.cycle said:
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Private Lugnutz
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Private Lugnutz
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For those who haven't been following along, that was from a few months ago when I posted my WWII GMTK upthread with some self-gigs (see post#79 on page 4, and posts #90 and 91 on page 5). At yesterday's flea market I found a 1-1/4" spec correct Red Devil "Irvington, N.J." putty knife to replace the postwar ("Union, N.J.") example. As the other GMTKer here can attest, this is how we do it sometimes, getting that 85% 'good enuff' solution together and upgrading one nitnoid nuance at a time.
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...this is how we do it sometimes, getting that 85% 'good enuff' solution together and upgrading one nitnoid nuance at a time.
Chisels and punches... groan...
Nice snag on the putty knife. Mine is United Sates Cutlery.
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Private Lugnutz
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Private Lugnutz
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As I first reported on the 2021 Garage Sale thread, being amiably hosted by bmwrd01 this year, I found an opisometer at the flea market yesterday. This one is a Model 331 made by Hamilton Watch Company and it dates to WWII. Also known as a map measurer, curvimeter, or meilograph, it is used to measure the distances of crooked (not straight) lines on a map representing roads, trails, rivers, mountain outlines, etc, for calculating travel, predicting rates of advance, and other tactical considerations. It has a fine-toothed wheel of a very precise circumference on a handle. The wheel is placed on the line feature on the map (e.g., road, river, etc) and run slowly along its length from one point to another. The dial reads out the distance in centimeters and inches and can then be converted into kilometers and miles.
There’s really no appropriate thread (I briefly considered the ‘Tape Measures and Rules’ thread) so I decided to set up a little “Living History Display” to demonstrate it in context as my next Curators Corner.
Enjoy!
There’s really no appropriate thread (I briefly considered the ‘Tape Measures and Rules’ thread) so I decided to set up a little “Living History Display” to demonstrate it in context as my next Curators Corner.
Enjoy!
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Farmer J.
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Nice choice for the latest display Lugz.
I posted my old one in the Automemorobilia thread, link here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8656835#post8656835
Fascinating little device, when I was a little kid I used to drive it all over the map and find out the distances of my imaginary journeys.
I still use a modern one, much better than that ridiculous sat-nav nonsense!
I posted my old one in the Automemorobilia thread, link here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8656835#post8656835
Fascinating little device, when I was a little kid I used to drive it all over the map and find out the distances of my imaginary journeys.
I still use a modern one, much better than that ridiculous sat-nav nonsense!
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, J. I didn't think of that thread, but navigation aids definitely fit! - and I must have missed yours. Thanks for reposting.
I plucked this one out of a mess of machinists' tools, so someone may have been using it to measure things in actuality. The seller thought it was watchmaking related, I didn't feel it was my place or in my best interest to correct her, and she threw it in for nothing with some other tools I bought from her. Made my whole day. It really accents the map reading manual and stereogram goggles nicely.
I plucked this one out of a mess of machinists' tools, so someone may have been using it to measure things in actuality. The seller thought it was watchmaking related, I didn't feel it was my place or in my best interest to correct her, and she threw it in for nothing with some other tools I bought from her. Made my whole day. It really accents the map reading manual and stereogram goggles nicely.
thehorse13
Well-known member
I love the new display but probably for an unlikely set of reasons. The antique brickwork is like looking at art to me. There is something soul pleasing when seeing how the old timers set those bricks. I guess it would be a good time to mention that my grandfather and his brothers were master stone masons. I suppose that may be part of the influence.
I love your virtual tour.
I love your virtual tour.
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Private Lugnutz
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thehorse13
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As an 8 year old helper, I witnessed this exact scene over and over again. I still have one of the 4 foot long levels that was spared. It's out in the horse stable right next to a dynamite box full of stone mason hammers.
I could sit in your basement for hours and soak in the pleasing sight of that old brick work. Horse stable 2.0 will certainly have a wall like yours with the intent of displaying old gas and oil signs. I've already stock piled vintage bricks so that I can create what you have there.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Oh, well done keeping the old bricks to re use. Are you going to use period correct lime mortar? Look forward to seeing that.
I'm also an admirer of the walls in the Lugsonian. Very similar to the bricks on my farm in Hertfordshire, maybe made by the same people!! These were made on site from clay dug a few yards away, then stacked and fired in a 'brick field' by building a kiln out of the dried clay bricks then firing a load of brushwood within it.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Introducing...
CURATOR'S CORNER #5: THE CASKET KEY
CURATOR'S CORNER #5: THE CASKET KEY
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Private Lugnutz
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As first reported in the Garage Sale thread, I found an antique casket key at the flea market this morning. To be honest, I had no idea what it was until I googled the Crane & Breed name that is cast into its fancy handle.
I knew it was a hex key or hex wrench, of course. Why is it brass? And why such an unusually ornate handle?
Finding it in this mess....
...just a small part of a huge load of wrenches, pullers, service manuals, etc, from an old service station did not help.
I knew it was a hex key or hex wrench, of course. Why is it brass? And why such an unusually ornate handle?
Finding it in this mess....
...just a small part of a huge load of wrenches, pullers, service manuals, etc, from an old service station did not help.