2020 Garage Sale Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

Herbrand?

That would be cool! Even though I don't any. HAHA.

 

[tin medic]

Thats a Herbrand box.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, TM. Yeah, Bill emailed me a photo of one that's a little later, with a plastic insert instead of a socket trough. But clearly the same faux wood grain and clasp.

 

[6 & 7/8]

These 2 Sears catalogs from 1960 were free for the taking couldn't say no.
Take a look at the prices back then.

 

[Old Radar]

It was a feast of estate sales today. I hit four and agonized over the best route--sad to say my not hitting the second one first (it opened 30 min later than the others) cost me a couple of CM Heritage tool boxes with untold treasures. Oh well, you can't have everything.

1st stop: Williams!! MC (metal case)-3 with a mixed load of 1/4" sockets and accessories--but no ratchet. MC-16 with an apparently unused flaring set. TT-4 carrier with four deep 3/8" sockets.
Evans 75' white tape.
North Bros Yankee Push Drill with five bits.
P&C 8" Pipe Wrench, #1808, and P&C 4" Adjustable Wrench, #1704.
Rawhide Mallet. $8 for the lot.




2nd stop:
I had to wait for the second group to be let in and by that time the garage looked like it had been swarmed by locusts! All I got was:
Plomb 14" Pipe Wrench.
Dietzgen 50' Steel Tape, but the leather is shot.
Lectralite 6" Pliers.
Soabar Machine Oil Can and a No-Name Oil Can.
Waller Machine Products Pocket Scribe. $3 for everything.




3rd stop:
H. Disston & Sons No.7 24" Butcher Saw.
P&C 8" Clikstop Adjustable Wrench.
Wire Cup Brush.
Box of Drawing Charcoal for Mrs. Radar. $8 all in.



Continued Next Post.

 

[Old Radar]

Had to drive about a half hour north to get to the 4th sale, but scored nicely:
Atlantic Container Corporation Cantilevered Tool Box and everything in it for $20.





I arranged the sockets by brand.
At the top are four Fleets. Next to them are two Challengers and the rest in that row are Proto Challengers. The group of seven are all 3/4". No idea why anyone who wasn't a professional would need that many of the same socket. Oh well--it's trading material!

Next group are Bonney. Below them are three Powerkraft and then five Proto--all 1". The 4" adjustable and pliers are Proto also.
The next two are P&C followed by three Wrights and then some Husky's. The most numerous and by far the most varied are Thorsens.
At the bottom are KALs (Japan). The speeder and universal are Walden.

There are a lot of odd ducks (at least to me) that I'll have to look more closely at and show them in a later post.




Of course with the good, comes some bad. Most--but not all--of this came from the bottom of the box where it looked like the PO had a water issue in his garage, or left the box open in a downpour. Luckily, most of this pile is India and Taiwan made--but those sockets at the bottom left are a P&C and a Thorsen.

 

[TOTO]

Old Radar, Very impressive haul. Really like the Williams and the Atlantic Container Corporation Cantilevered Tool Box deserves a "YOU ****".

 

[LesserSon]

COVID-19 temporarily closed my place of employment, so I patrolled two antique shops. Picked up a JPDanielson 10” all-steel Stillson wrench and a Shakespeare 5-1/2’ bait-casting rod (missing a cap/screw on the **** of the handle). $14 total. Spotted a clutch of five handsaws marked $18, but only one was of any interest - a Bishop with the greyhound-gryphon logo medallion - so didn’t bite.
I was planning to attend the Super Gigantic Garage Sale Saturday at the Allentown Agriplex, but the virus has postponed that to May 30.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was planning to attend the Super Gigantic Garage Sale Saturday at the Allentown Agriplex, but the virus has postponed that to May 30.

How many times per year is that held, LS? And if I ever went there as a seller with high-quality "collectible" vintage tool-sets and tools, would it be worth my time and expense? Are there buyers there looking for collectibles? Or just looking for cheap users?

///BREAK///

UPDATE:
I took a few of those rusty fixed offset socket wrenches I found yesterday out of the Metal Rescue bath this morning and scrubbed them down for a quick peek. If I am right, I think it's going to be an even better story than I imagined. I put them back in while I do more research.

 

[LesserSon]

How many times per year is that held, LS? And if I ever went there as a seller with high-quality "collectible" vintage tool-sets and tools, would it be worth my time and expense? Are there buyers there looking for collectibles? Or just looking for cheap users?

I don't know the vendor fee. It’s $4/day or $5/Sat+Sun to get in as a shopper. It does seem to be several times a year. I am a cheap *******, so I look much more than I buy. The percent of tools-to-froufrou strikes me generally as low, which would make each vendor who has tools that much more attractive. As for collectors v laborers...my guess is this is not a great market. I see the same vendors with the same goods at multiple events.
Plus, the delay means a LOT of outdoor fleas will be open, draining the buyers away. The Agriplex is heated in winter, AC in summer - but neither will be especially preferable to being out under the sky in May. I’ll be at the peak of pollen allergies then, but I’ll probably be outside at a community yard sale or flea market anyway.

I took a few of those rusty fixed offset socket wrenches I found yesterday out of the Metal Rescue bath this morning and scrubbed them down for a quick peek. If I am right, I think it's going to be an even better story than I imagined. I put them back in while I do more research.

THAT looks promising. Mossberg? Hinsdale? Come on, give us a hint!

 

[r_olson_06]

How many times per year is that held, LS? And if I ever went there as a seller with high-quality "collectible" vintage tool-sets and tools, would it be worth my time and expense? Are there buyers there looking for collectibles? Or just looking for cheap users?

///BREAK///

UPDATE:
I took a few of those rusty fixed offset socket wrenches I found yesterday out of the Metal Rescue bath this morning and scrubbed them down for a quick peek. If I am right, I think it's going to be an even better story than I imagined. I put them back in while I do more research.

Don't be a tease.

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[Private Lugnutz]

THAT looks promising. Mossberg? Hinsdale? Come on, give us a hint!

Don't be a tease.

I'm about to post a thread. Truly nothing I ever would've imagined. But here's a hint if you guys want to have fun between the time I post this and the time I post the thread: they were hand-forged at the site of what is today a National Historic Landmark in Pennsylvania. And I've already had a phone call and a flurry of email exchanges with the director, who used to be the site manager, and the new site manager, who is arranging a non-seasonal visit for me (it's only open from May to October) and the wrenches.

 

[Shiftless]

Only one sale this morning. Just a mile from my house. I picked through a couple of boxes full of **** and found these. Paid 5 bucks. Included in that price was a 12 inch Irwin quick clamp with a blue plastic handle. ($20 new at Lowe’s)
That didn’t deserve being in this picture.

Any vise grip experts? The USA Peterson 4wr seems to be a rare bird.

And that’s a Palmer diagonal cutter. That’s a new brand to me. From Meadville PA.
My research says it’s from 1940-1955
It was Palmer, then Meadville tool co, and ultimately Channellock.

The slipjoint pliers say forged in the USA but don’t otherwise bear any marks. For $1 I couldn’t leave them behind.

.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

LS, Roy, and anyone else who may be interested:

"Rusty Relics from a National Historical Landmark".

 

[madison069]

I'm about to post a thread. Truly nothing I ever would've imagined. But here's a hint if you guys want to have fun between the time I post this and the time I post the thread: they were hand-forged at the site of what is today a National Historic Landmark in Pennsylvania. And I've already had a phone call and a flurry of email exchanges with the director, who used to be the site manager, and the new site manager, who is arranging a non-seasonal visit for me (it's only open from May to October) and the wrenches.

Modern Tool Company in Erie, PA?

Nevermind, I see your post now.

I got a buddy in Reading, PA so I'll have to go see this place!

 

[Matt XYZ]

I was looking forward to the full start of flea market season this weekend but Covid-19 has a good portion of Europe shut down. I guess I will have to wait a few weeks or months, hopefully things settle down soon. Any impacts on tool hunting back in the US yet?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I got a buddy in Reading, PA so I'll have to go see this place!

I am really excited to visit. No idea it was even there.

I was looking forward to the full start of flea market season this weekend but Covid-19 has a good portion of Europe shut down. I guess I will have to wait a few weeks or months, hopefully things settle down soon. Any impacts on tool hunting back in the US yet?

Good luck, Matt. No impact yet here in NJ, but other guys in other parts of the country have reported a decrease in action.

 

[BlueBomber]

Very cool find, Lugz!

My organization is on "highly encouraged" telework, and all work travel is suspended unless "mission essential". Even then, it must be approved at a senior leadership level. The Boston St Patick's Day Parade was cancelled up here, and the Boston Marathon will likely get postponed, too.

As for sales, they are still advertised, but I don't see any tempting enough to make me want to go rub elbows, knees or backsides in grungy basements, garages or barns with crowds of people from all over the region. I'm staying home this weekend and working on taxes and SWMBO's T-bird. Good luck, and happy virus-free hinting to the hardy souls that do go out!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[ChiefBeef]

These 2 Sears catalogs from 1960 were free for the taking couldn't say no.
Take a look at the prices back then.

Love that they have a widowmaker saw right on the cover.

 

[d42jeep]

We were planning not to go but decided to go late to a couple of sales. I’m not willing to wait in any lines. We were the only customers at an estate sale in San Rafael. I picked through some really well used Kennedy and Snap-on boxes and found a few items of interest, at least to me. The second picture is of the Snap-on tools plus my third Par-X. Next is Proto and Plomb. I liked the Herbrand half moon DBE and the little None Better Stillson. The second sale in Berkeley had very few tools but was saved by the presence of a Barcalo Buffalo DBE wrench!
-Don

 

[BFBOB]

I was looking forward to the full start of flea market season this weekend but Covid-19 has a good portion of Europe shut down. I guess I will have to wait a few weeks or months, hopefully things settle down soon. Any impacts on tool hunting back in the US yet?

Some places yes, mostly no. I'm near the middle of USA and went grocery shopping yesterday. No panic buying, nothing out of the ordinary. The only impact here is from the cancellation of many major sports events, which has been done nationwide.

 

[Outlawmws]

I skipped an Estate sale that had some tools showing but not good enough for me to risk any exposure - and we have placed a moratorium on eating out for while...

My work has closed all US offices (3) and everyone is working from home - some as best they can as some have lost daycare as well, and of course the kids are an interruption...

We have a DevOps team outside the US (in a less impacted country) and they have been asked to WFH to reduce exposure and the likelihood of common exposure.

West Coast keeps locking down any large events, and sports are impacted:

Basket ball ended their season
MLB is Postponing theirs...

Even "The Donald" finally had to admit this is serious...

But lets not go down that path...

 

[Outlawmws]

Many of our stores are sold out of TP and hand sanitizer and wipes... SWMBO reported shortages of some things and crowded stores...Not panicked, but some serious stocking up is going on...

 

[wtn1271]

Recent find (along with some regular tools that have yet to be sorted and cleaned), dont really need it but the price was right. A Keystone K964 cross cut saw. Supposedly made by Disston as a value level saw. Seems sharp and serviceable. Also picked up a Morrills saw set kinda by accident as I didn't know what it was but the patent date was 1897 and it looked interesting.

 

[BlueBomber]

Many of our stores are sold out of TP and hand sanitizer and wipes... SWMBO reported shortages of some things and crowded stores...Not panicked, but some serious stocking up is going on...

I bet estate sales for the next few years will feature garage shelves full of TP and hand sanitizer....

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[bmwrd0]

So, over the last couple days I hit a few sales and a Restore, picking up many treasures. I didn't see people acting worried, but I don't stand in lines in any case. I did wear gloves for part of today, but that was because it was snowing(!) When I went grociery shopping the other day, the store was in full form, just a little bit low on TP. Anyway, people don't seem to be panicking here (though the wifes university is going full on-line.)

In any case...

The P&C adustables were a buck at the first sale, which sounded good, but was a let down. The unmarked (but very nice) socket box, the Whitworth Ko-Ken socket, and some other things were from the Restore, and everything else was from an estate sale I wasn't going to hit at first, but ended up being great. WWII SK rat, long shaft WWII Xcelite, Pennens 3/8 breaker and speeder, and a Blackhawk baldie that someone jammed an SK breaker bar up the hole.
And, along with all that was:

First of all, the power hacksaw blade and rework boxes are from the Restore mentioned above. But the little devil resistor case came from the estate, and I spent a bit to get it, as it is full of unused resistors! Yay! Everything that day cost about $45

Today, I went to a digger sale two hours away, due to it looking so good. That and I love these kinds of sales. Multiple outbuildings, buried in sawdust, one shed falling down, stuff everywhere. Heaven. Anyway, here is what I found:

So, a Williams 1/4 socket box, two SK sockets, Snap-on test lamp, Williams DBE, Proto hex key set (very dirty, but you can see how one cleans up) a Blackhawk 3/8 socket set, Hoppes oil bottle, and two vintage cartrige boxes, both full; 300 H&H and 35 Rem. But the best thing was this:

A mostly complete 1/2 Proto set;

Missing a couple sockets and the extensions (probably buried in the mess) but it will clean up nice. $31 for everything.

And on my way home, I remebered another sale that was the second half of a Mustang restoration shome. Here I picked up these:

A small Armstrong tool holder, Lufkin caliper and P&C extension. I only had $8 left in my pocket and they were happy with that.

A good couple days.

 

[Old Radar]

I bet estate sales for the next few years will feature garage shelves full of TP and hand sanitizer....

Wrong. When they feel like they won't need them anymore, the idiots return them to the store for a refund. Happened the same way the last time--if you remember, the Big Box stores were sold out out of Duct Tape and plastic sheeting, then after they restocked their shelves, they were inundated with returns. Idiots.

 

[Outlawmws]

So BMW, now you get to learn the resistor color codes so you can make sure they are in the right bin!

 

[bmwrd0]

Re-learn. I had to learn them in trade school. Never used it, most of my work was with relays, but I jumped to the phone company pretty quick (no resisters that I delt with, everything was 47vdc.)

 

[BlueBomber]

Wrong. When they feel like they won't need them anymore, the idiots return them to the store for a refund. Happened the same way the last time--if you remember, the Big Box stores were sold out out of Duct Tape and plastic sheeting, then after they restocked their shelves, they were inundated with returns. Idiots.

I guess we'll see. This isn't going to be over quickly like a snow storm or a hurricane.

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[Private Lugnutz]

Also picked up a Morrills saw set kinda by accident as I didn't know what it was but the patent date was 1897 and it looked interesting.

Cool old find. Our host will appreciate it, too.

 

[Davefr]

I bet estate sales for the next few years will feature garage shelves full of TP and hand sanitizer....
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Funny story. I thought we only had one bottle of "good" hand sanitizer so went to Ace hardware and bought a jug of 99% IPA. Then got home and asked wifey to look around to see if we had any Aloe Vera. Not only did she find some aloe but she also found about 5 king size pump bottles of Purell sanitizer. All from previous g-sales. (probably free pile stuff)

I skipped an Estate sale that had some tools showing but not good enough for me to risk any exposure - and we have placed a moratorium on eating out for while...

Same here, we won't go to professional estate sales when they first open the doors and encounter a swarm of people elbow to elbow. I think g-sales are pretty safe and more fun anyway. However they're pretty dead. (virus + weather)

 

[RTM]

Funny story. I thought we only had one bottle of "good" hand sanitizer so went to Ace hardware and bought a jug of 99% IPA. Then got home and asked wifey to look around to see if we had any Aloe Vera. Not only did she find some aloe but she also found about 5 king size pump bottles of Purell sanitizer. All from previous g-sales. (probably free pile)

And now people are all calculating drive time to Oregon.

Do you guys still have good denatured Alcohol up there? Need some for shellac soon.

 

[LesserSon]

Recent find (along with some regular tools that have yet to be sorted and cleaned), dont really need it but the price was right. A Keystone K964 cross cut saw. Supposedly made by Disston as a value level saw. Seems sharp and serviceable. Also picked up a Morrills saw set kinda by accident as I didn't know what it was but the patent date was 1897 and it looked interesting.

Lugz is right: I think that saw set is really cool! I saw a set a couple months ago that was a bench-mounted and spring-actuated - you pulled a chain and the mechanism did the rest. The vendor didn’t know what it was and neither did I until I looked up the patent number cast into it.
The Keystone saws were, yes, value line, but the etches are cool and there’s nothing like them being made today. Clean it, wax it, and hang it up. I used two J-hooks through the auxiliary handle holes. This method works on 2-man saws as well, but you have to remove the long upright handles, then reattach them after the blade is on the wall.

 

[LesserSon]

...bought a jug of 99% IPA...

Dang, I bought a 15-pack of 12oz 8.2% IPA...different words in the acronym, though. I’ll use it for oral irrigation, but I’ll probably get some on my hands when I crack ‘em open.

 

[wtn1271]

Thanks for the info gents. There were a couple of 2 man saws that I missed out on. The guy, a contactor, bought 3 for wall hangers in his office. An Internet/YouTube search revealed some great info for future sales, interesting stuff. I really want to try it out on some ash logs that need to be cut to useable length just to see how well it works but will probably just use the Stihl. LS: cool collection you have there, especially with the different types of teeth.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up these two boxes (Lugz 2020_19) at the flea market this morning. Wartime Signal Corps spare parts box (that front panel clasps off to get at the two drawers) and a "GMTK Junior" as I have dubbed it (it's several inches shorter than a standard GMTK).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This flea market was really hoppin' here this morning for the first time this year. Here are some cool leave-behinds. Pic 1 is a partially-complete Snap-on board I didn't want. Pic 2 is a big *** warehouse truck with rollers that I wanted in a real bad way, but it was way more than I was willing to spend. Pic 3 is a two-man operation pedal-powered grinder which I would've bought, but it was already sold.

 

[Jack84]

Not a tool this time.



The guy my dad named me after.




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[M-EGT]

last week's Flea Market Find:

Knipex needle nose - 6in1
3x Plvmb WF swivel sockets
7/8 Bonney swivel
Bonney 0010 screwdriver
Easco drag link socket
Craftsman circle H socket