Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Like fishing holes and tree stands, I'm usually ultra protective about the locations of my favorite tool picking spots, which are almost exclusively flea markets in NJ. In this case, I am way out of my territory, and I'm sort of paying it further forward.
Thanks to a casual offhand reference by MR. X to a tool shop in Tucson that he picked several years ago, I asked him for the name of the place, and I hit it on my way to the airport yesterday morning on my return trip to NJ after a week of TDY at Fort Huachuca.
Cool place. Located on East Grant. Take Exit 256 off the I-10 near old town, go about seven or eight blocks on West Grant until you see it in your left, do a U-turn, and the PL is right there.
Lots of stuff outside, and out back, too.
Someone was loading a 70's Sportster out of the fenced in lot out back when I arrived. (And I had to work a photo of the lone saguaro cactus in!
)
Hand tools were in the front of the shop as soon as you walk in. In the back were grinding stones, abrasives, files, and all kinds of vintage power tools.
In addition to that Rotobin, there were three rows of wrenches, drive tools and socketry to the left. Also all kinds of puller sets, bushing tools, and special tools. Mainly chrome, lots of 50s and 60s. You have to dig for the 40s and earlier.
Here are my pickings.
Left row: Happy to find the miscellaneous OTC, Plomb, Wright, and NB ignition/electrical wrenches. That OTC is a first for me, and it appears to perhaps be Bonney made, although I am not certain of that.
Middle row: I probably dumped out and went through the ignition wrench bin three times to make sure I didn't miss any of the very early CRAFTSMAN logo wrenches. I have never seen these in all my years of picking before, nor have I seen them posted here on GJ, or on TA or AA, so I was thrilled to find four (4) from the same set. Guessing 1930's. Guessing one of the Skinny Shank Hex Throat consortium in Ohio.
Right row: Also happy to find some early style wrenches with the magneto makes (Berling, Northeast, and Eisemann) on them. Love those, and I'm certain they were also part of a set. If you've never heard of Berling before, they were made by Ericsson in Buffalo, NY, and were used on everything from tractors (e.g., Gravely Model L) to airplanes (e.g., 1928 Lincoln-Page LP-3).
The other wrenches are a nice 1929 Bluepoint single offset Boxocket with typical oldtimer's style owner's markings (wrenches w/ 1 notch are Frank's, 2 notches are Billy's, etc), and a 1931 Bonney CV flare nut wrench.
I definitely did not give myself enough time to fine tooth comb the shop, and I will be returning next month.
Kent’s in Tucson doesn’t have the volume of Charlie’s in Denver (most recent roving reportage from leg17 on travel here) or the sophisticated antique panache of Liberty Tool in Liberty, Maine (most recent roving reportage by LesserSon while on vacation here), but it has its own unique sort of hardscrabble high mountain desert personality.
Lest there be any doubt about its proud pedigree, even the bathroom was “decorated” to theme!
Thanks to a casual offhand reference by MR. X to a tool shop in Tucson that he picked several years ago, I asked him for the name of the place, and I hit it on my way to the airport yesterday morning on my return trip to NJ after a week of TDY at Fort Huachuca.
Cool place. Located on East Grant. Take Exit 256 off the I-10 near old town, go about seven or eight blocks on West Grant until you see it in your left, do a U-turn, and the PL is right there.
Lots of stuff outside, and out back, too.
Someone was loading a 70's Sportster out of the fenced in lot out back when I arrived. (And I had to work a photo of the lone saguaro cactus in!
)Hand tools were in the front of the shop as soon as you walk in. In the back were grinding stones, abrasives, files, and all kinds of vintage power tools.
In addition to that Rotobin, there were three rows of wrenches, drive tools and socketry to the left. Also all kinds of puller sets, bushing tools, and special tools. Mainly chrome, lots of 50s and 60s. You have to dig for the 40s and earlier.
Here are my pickings.
Left row: Happy to find the miscellaneous OTC, Plomb, Wright, and NB ignition/electrical wrenches. That OTC is a first for me, and it appears to perhaps be Bonney made, although I am not certain of that.
Middle row: I probably dumped out and went through the ignition wrench bin three times to make sure I didn't miss any of the very early CRAFTSMAN logo wrenches. I have never seen these in all my years of picking before, nor have I seen them posted here on GJ, or on TA or AA, so I was thrilled to find four (4) from the same set. Guessing 1930's. Guessing one of the Skinny Shank Hex Throat consortium in Ohio.
Right row: Also happy to find some early style wrenches with the magneto makes (Berling, Northeast, and Eisemann) on them. Love those, and I'm certain they were also part of a set. If you've never heard of Berling before, they were made by Ericsson in Buffalo, NY, and were used on everything from tractors (e.g., Gravely Model L) to airplanes (e.g., 1928 Lincoln-Page LP-3).
The other wrenches are a nice 1929 Bluepoint single offset Boxocket with typical oldtimer's style owner's markings (wrenches w/ 1 notch are Frank's, 2 notches are Billy's, etc), and a 1931 Bonney CV flare nut wrench.
I definitely did not give myself enough time to fine tooth comb the shop, and I will be returning next month.
Kent’s in Tucson doesn’t have the volume of Charlie’s in Denver (most recent roving reportage from leg17 on travel here) or the sophisticated antique panache of Liberty Tool in Liberty, Maine (most recent roving reportage by LesserSon while on vacation here), but it has its own unique sort of hardscrabble high mountain desert personality.
Lest there be any doubt about its proud pedigree, even the bathroom was “decorated” to theme!
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