1st day back in USA, found tools at flea mkt

[Lump]

Took wife on vacation to Europe, and first day back I went to local flea market (I needed my “fix” for hunting old tools!). Anyway, I took wife with me, since I rarely find much at that market, and told her I would be just a few minutes. But almost immediately I started finding tools at pretty good prices. There were several vendors with tools, and not all Chinese imports, either. I ended up shopping there for 2-3 hours, and wife was stuck waiting in car. Following are some photos of the stuff I bought.

I found several good tools in this first tray, and asked seller for price if I took quite a few of them. He said, "Heck, just give me $30 for everything, tray, sign, and all!" The tools isolated at right side of tray are imports. All others good brands of USA-made tools, including nut drivers and side cutters in middle area. How could I say no?

This next pile cost me $26. All made USA. Very good brand names. I'll post some close up photos of tools later in post, if anyone wants to see individual brands, etc.

I found these tools at .50 each, but when I filled the cardboard tray and asked for price, I got them all for $15. Lots of good brands in there. I tried to group them by brand name for the photo. That big Bonney socket in upper left corner is 3/4 drive 1-1/8, part number R36. Upper right corner all New Britain, top center with little wrench is Mac, etc, etc.

This was my highest-priced tray, at $30. But the group of sockets in upper right corner are all Snap On, including a little knurled piece with an on/off mechanical switch? Lower right corner is Cornwell, top center Proto.
Whew, there was a LOT more than this in the pile I bought on Sunday, but it's late and I'm still not yet adjusted to USA time. I'll add more to this post tomorrow. Sorry!

 

[Lump]

Suffice it to say that I took 63 photos of the stuff I bought.

 

[Scout Driver]

Lump, those are some great tools that you got! My question is....did you at least take your wife out to dinner or supper afterwards?? She must be a patient woman.

Scott

 

[panel pete]

The "little knurled piece with an on/off mechanical switch?" looks like a ratcheting head that you would attatch to a breaker bar to use it as a ratchet.

Did you by chance aquire a Snap On FM8A? It's a 3/8" drive 12 point shallow 8mm socket. I lost mine some time ago and my replacement Snap On FM8 is shorter than the original (by 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch).

 

[selohssa]

Great deals.

 

[Mickey O]

Nice haul, I see Model T Spark Plug / Head wrench.

This was my highest-priced tray, at $30. But the group of sockets in upper right corner are all Snap On, including a little knurled piece with an on/off mechanical switch?

That's an expensive ratchet adapter.

 

[Lump]

Nice haul, I see Model T Spark Plug / Head wrench.



That's an expensive ratchet adapter.

The ratchet adapter is part number F-67-B. It is 3/8 drive. When the seller gave me a price, I just paid and moved on, rather than figure out what it was, etc, while the seller was watching. Years ago I made that mistake, and sellers actually raised their prices on items, when I figured out what the item actually was. So today, if I am pretty sure the item is well worth the price, I just pay and move on, and figure it out later. And in this case, I needed to get back to the car and take my wife shopping, like I had promised.

 

[Lump]

Nice haul, I see Model T Spark Plug / Head wrench.

Mickey,
That particular wrench is a Bonney brand tool. You can just see the writing on it at the very bottom of this new photo (the rusty looking open end) I probably would not have bought it if it were a Ford script wrench, 'cause I have too many, and they really aren't worth too much. But right above it are 4 opther OEM specialty wrenches that came in this assortment. I am hopeful that these may be more desirable.

The top one is a very desirable FORD wrench. It's a stamped-steel ratcheting wrench, Ford script, with a "5-Z-324" part number. My understanding is that "Z-numbered" Ford tools were used by assembly line workers in the factory. These are much more rare than cast iron Ford-script wrenches.
The next one down is also Ford script. This flat steel tool is a Model T hubcap wrench, and they are fairly uncommon today.
Next is an old cast iron International Harvester (IHC) wrench. I haven't seen too many exactly like this one...most are designed a little differently. I suspect that this one may be pretty old.
Finally, the bottom one is marked, "254 MFD by Frank Mossberg Co, Attleboro, Mass, USA." I am hoping that it was made by the famous gun company, and that maybe someone collects these? I haven't seen too many others like it.

 

[Lump]

There were two Bonney wrenches in that cardboard tray. Here is a photo:

 

[Lump]

Two Plomb wrenches also:

 

[Lump]

Two Herbrand:

 

[Lump]

One Blue Point:

 

[Lump]

Here are three "None Better" brand wrenches from that box. Anyone know who made "None Better" tools? I have several very old sockets of that brand. Maybe New Britain (just wondering, because of the "NB" initials?)

 

[Lump]

One Blackhawk:

 

[Lump]

Here is a shot with four MAC wrenches, a large MAC punch or drift pin, a Millers Falls box knife, and a 1/2" drive Snap On socket which was temporarily stuck on a misshapen cheapo extension. After this photo I popped the socket off with a drift pin, and it looks great. These tools are all from that one same box, bought from one vendor that day. That little 3/8 Mac wrench is like new!

 

[Mickey O]

Nice haul, I see Model T Spark Plug / Head wrench.

Mickey,
That particular wrench is a Bonney brand tool. You can just see the writing on it at the very bottom of this new photo (the rusty looking open end) I probably would not have bought it if it were a Ford script wrench, 'cause I have too many, and they really aren't worth too much. But right above it are 4 opther OEM specialty wrenches that came in this assortment. I am hopeful that these may be more desirable.

The top one is a very desirable FORD wrench. It's a stamped-steel ratcheting wrench, Ford script, with a "5-Z-324" part number. My understanding is that "Z-numbered" Ford tools were used by assembly line workers in the factory. These are much more rare than cast iron Ford-script wrenches.
The next one down is also Ford script. This flat steel tool is a Model T hubcap wrench, and they are fairly uncommon today.
Next is an old cast iron International Harvester (IHC) wrench. I haven't seen too many exactly like this one...most are designed a little differently. I suspect that this one may be pretty old.
Finally, the bottom one is marked, "254 MFD by Frank Mossberg Co, Attleboro, Mass, USA." I am hoping that it was made by the famous gun company, and that maybe someone collects these? I haven't seen too many others like it.

This one is the Model T plug/head wrench.

 

[Lump]

Here is a shot of that 1/2 drive 3/8" Snap On socket after I got it off that cheapo extension. Part number SW 120.

 

[Lump]

There was a KD puller tool in this tray too. Marked as, "KD NO 2079 Made in USA". Anyone know exactly what it is for? Bushings or bearings, maybe?

 

[Lump]

There were two 1/2" drive ratchets, Husky CS 45 and SK 42470. Looks like the Husky handle has been slightly heated (chrome is blued a little...but no bends). The nut driver handle is marked Snap On TM V4. It is caked in dirt, and I am hopeful it will clean up a great deal.

 

[Okie Pete]

IHC made tools that were sold with a tractor or with the piece of farming equipment . Farmers at the time had a limited amount of tools . Other Farm equipment manufactures did the same thing. Some tools had a special use .

 

[Lump]

Last photo from this particular box. Rusty adjustable wrench is marked, "Williams Superadjustable 8 in, Made in USA". Groove pliers are marked with a brand I never heard of: "Fuller No 114, Drop Forged." Very heavily built. These last two tools from this tray (see photo spread out on my tailgate at start of this post) are not so special, but the seller said he would make me a package price if I bought several tools. So I threw lots of marginal tools in, to help amortize cost per piece. Final price this box: $26.

 

[Lump]

Same day, different vendor, TOTALLY different type of deal. Right down the aisle from the guy with the .50-per-piece-price for dirty old rusty tools was a vendor with nice tools in beautiful condition...for top prices. I wanted to buy lots of his stuff, but prices too high. But as I have said before, tool sellers around here (southwest Ohio) usually demand top prices for Mac, Snap On, and Craftsman, but tend to think nothing of Matco, Cornwell, Bonney, etc. So when I saw his display, I picked out three tools and asked for a package price. He thought about that for a minute and said simply: "$17, FIRM!" Hmmm...lots of bucks compared to other tools I had bought earlier....but... I REALLY liked that Cornwell AJ 12B adjustable wrench, in like-new condition. That $10 price tag seemed fair, but you should have seen his prices for similar Craftsman units! And while his Snap On sockets were pretty high, this one-inch socket in top condition seemed reasonable, especially since it had such a cool part number: "SW 320 1/2". Finally, how could I turn down a beautiful adjustable wrench marked, "77-8 Billings Vitalloy". It seemed to be a bargain to me at his sticker price of $5.50. So after thinking it over for just a minute, I just handed him his $17, and walked away happy.

 

[Lump]

By the way, I just looked up the date code on that 1" Snap On socket with the weird part number in the photo above with two adjustable wrenches, and it is for 1935. Cool, huh?

 

[Lump]

Next vendor was lady trying to sell 1/2" drive craftsman sockets out of a plastic tackle box for $2 each. Not TOO bad I suppose, but they had engraving on sides. I kept trying to scrounge through the chino tools, searching for good stuff, until she said, "Oh, quit rooting through there and just give me $20 for the whole box." The stuff in center bottom of tackle box is all imported. The rest is pretty good. I just gave her the money and moved on. Ooops. Gotta go to work now. More pix later.

 

[Lump]

I'll be at the Springfield Car Show and Swap Meet here in Ohio this Memorial Day weekend. Anyone need any old tools? If you're in the area, this would be a great chance to avoid those pesky shipping costs!

www.ohioswapmeet.com

 

[KEH]

As you suspected, the "None Better" was made by New Britain.

Some nice tools there. Don't remember seeing a Cornwell adjustable wrench.

KEH

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

The KD tool is a puller for stuck lifters; I believe it can also be assembled with that sideways thing loose so it acts as a slide hammer.

 

[Danglerb]

Tools with price tags I usually don't bother looking at, more of a weekend tool display than a sale most of the time.

Buying by the box, now thats the way to roll.

 

[Lump]

Tools with price tags I usually don't bother looking at, more of a weekend tool display than a sale most of the time.

Buying by the box, now thats the way to roll.

Yeah, I agree. He had a similar sized Craftsman brand adjustable wrench, for like $29.00! And even his Snap On sockets, at $4 each were too much for me. But that one-inch Snap On socket of older design seemed worth it. His total sticker price would have been $19.50, so he wasn't giving that much of a discount. But to me, Cornwell is one of the top premium brands, and you can't get too much better quality than a Billings wrench. And ALL of his tools were in top premium condition, which makes a big difference in value also. So while I left MOST of his tools sitting there, these three went home with me.

 

[Burgerkong]

Could you tell me the brands of the nutdrivers? Been looking for some 'colorful' drivers

 

[bonneyman]

There were two 1/2" drive ratchets, Husky CS 45 and SK 42470. Looks like the Husky handle has been slightly heated (chrome is blued a little...but no bends). The nut driver handle is marked Snap On TM V4. It is caked in dirt, and I am hopeful it will clean up a great deal.

I thought that ratchet looked like an S-K from the original pic. Sad to see such a great tool in this bad a shape. But it's an older series - the "S-K" in a triangle gives it away - and hopefully it will clean up nice.

 

[Indy_500]

wow... Lump you buy a buttload of old tools! what do you do with all of them?

 

[Lump]

wow... Lump you buy a buttload of old tools! what do you do with all of them?

Ha! Now THERE is the question!

Some I sell on eBay...but Bull and other GJ members have urged me to offer them first to our own folks first. So I plan to try that next. I've sold a very few already to some members, and I owe responses to several other members who have asked me for prices on some of these tools I have recently acquired. Frankly, I need to clean these tools up and combine all the various purchases into one big lot, and then sort them all by brand names, and then further sort them by style, drive size, etc. Several people have asked me for lists of all the extra tools I have in one brand or another, and I need to get this done.

I would really like to trade some of these for tools which I really need to fill out my own assortment of tools in my shop. I have tools from my great grandfather, my grandfather, an uncle, and my own Dad, and it would be cool to fill out their sets a little. Plus, I wrenched for a living myself a little in the early 70's, and have lost a few tools of my own. I also own a 23 Hupmobile and a 70 LS6 Chevelle project car, and do use my tools on hundreds of crazy projects.

I keep thinking perhaps I can trade some of these tools for assistance I need with tools and equipment of my own. Who knows?

Also, I have two adult sons who now have homes of their own...and no tools to speak of. Every time I go to their houses, they ask if I will look at some project/problem or another, and I wish they had tools there for me to use.
Additionally, I have some cabins deep in rural southern Ohio, where I deer hunt, fish, and fool around with my old 1958 Ford tractor and my new Polaris quad. So I need some more tools there, too.

Notice a pattern here? It's easy for me to make many excuses for buying old tools. I really have loved these cool old tools for many years, and learned to appreciate the quality of brand names like Mac, Snap On, Cornwell, Craftsman, Bonney, New Britain, and others from my dad. (He HATED imported Asian tools!) But until I joined Garage Journal, I truly thought I was alone in this appreciation for old USA-made tools. So until recently I would only buy tools of exact sizes, etc, which I needed at the moment. But I would gaze at old New Britain, Bonney, Billings, etc tools...and feel like I should not be passing them by.

Then, when I joined Garage Journal and found other people who were buying and restoring old tools, floor jacks, vises, hoists...and even whole garages, I stopped trying to hold back, and started looking for old tools again. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to buy every tool in the world. But when I find brand name USA-made sockets and wrenches for pennies on the dollar...it's hard for me to resist.

 

[Lump]

Could you tell me the brands of the nutdrivers? Been looking for some 'colorful' drivers

Brendan,
Top left nut drivers in photo are two Klein Tools 1/2" red/clear units, #19486. (Someone painted a green stripe around the chrome shaft.) Next is another Klein, size 3/16, black and clear handle...again with painted green stripe. Next are three older Vermont American drivers, all 1/2" size, red/black handles, #51016. Next is Vermont American 7/16" size, black and olive green handle, # 51014. After that are two more Vermont American drivers, both 3/8" size, black and blue handle, #51012. Below these other drivers are two Xcelite USA brand drivers...both with dabs of that same green paint. Blue one is #12, size 3/8", and green one is # 11, size 11/32.

I have other miscellaneous nut drivers in various colors and sizes in my own tool boxes. Are you wanting anything particular? Maybe I can help.

 

[Lump]

Now for some photos of individual tools from that orange tackle box. Here are two pairs of USA-made groove pliers. Upper pair is Channelock, which is a brand I really like. The Husky tool below it is in pretty darn good shape.

 

[Lump]

The long-nosed pliers in that tackle box were marked in the middle shaft. "Anschutz German" is the name of a German gunmaker company, I believe. But I note that the cutting jaws are shot. Hopefully these are collectible pliers. Anyone have any idea about that?

 

[Lump]

Here is a close-up of the other pair of pliers in that tackle box assortment. Of all the tools in it, this is the one tool I wanted to collect for myself. That name is very close to my family name, and I have never seen it on a tool before. This pair of pliers is in pretty good shape, and appears to be pretty old. It will look fine in my box.

 

[arkangel06]

I think you need to take your wife with you more often!