2020 Garage Sale Thread

[gpw_42]

RTM, let's see the bottom (back side) of your skillet. I carried a Gerber like in your pictures for the first 10 years or so I was in the Army. Always on a 550 cord dummy cord so it never got far out of my BDU pocket. Soft steel made them easy to sharpen.

3Bay, you **** for a $5 Griswold.

 

[Old Radar]

RTM, I carried a Gerber like in your pictures for the first 10 years or so I was in the Army. Always on a 550 cord dummy cord so it never got far out of my BDU pocket. Soft steel made them easy to sharpen.

Legendary Blades, baby! I flew with this clipped to my boot for a couple of decades.

 

[b.well]

I hit a couple sales today. One called a garage sale one called an estate sale but the estate sale was run by the family. Both had tools. No Vises which I've become addicted to lately. Found these little pieces to bring home.

The crescent wrench was the lady's grandfather's. She said he took better care of his tools than her dad did. This could be 70 years old and looks great.

Haven't seen a ratchet wrench like the Devco before. For one it's 4 point. But the one wrench has 4 sizes. Each box end is a different size on the flip side.

Most light duty "vise" I've seen. Probably not called a vise. What is it called?

Each item was $1.

 

[Outlawmws]

OR I have a similar Gerber only it has serrations on the straight part of the blade edges.

 

[bmwrd0]

B.Well, that ratchet is for opening valves. Most commonly in HVAC.

It is newer than more common and interesting refer ratchets, but it is the style that you see these days.

 

[Outlawmws]

BW, Herter's made mostly reloading or gun stuff. I'm not recognizing that for its use however.

Apparently for wrapping fly rods per a quick Google search?

 

[mdfergus]

Nice finds guys.

Mdfergus- Welcome. Is that a New Britain ratchet in there? Might be worth going back for the IH sockets if possible.

The 1/2" ratchet is a Challenger, I do keep thinking about those IH sockets, hopefully someone scooped them up

Mdfergus, welcome. Nice find on the Belden crimpers, and a You **** price out of the gate!

There we go!

They've shown up before, but pretty rare. And everybody drools over the cool grip and how robust they are. Nice find. Probably 1930's or 40's. Consensus was the huge electrical wire company, as 3jakes alludes to, but I don't recall that we ever figured out the OEM. Google Belden Manufacturing, Chicago (original location), or Richmond, Indiana.

mdfergus -
Welcome aboard!
Great first post!

Thank you both, appreciate the comments

 

[RTM]

I paid a fifth as much for the tools as I’m going to have to pay for the damn Berkeley parking ticket.

Argh, that hurts. I have gone across the bay for other things, and done a bit of sailing, and almost always had trouble parking there. More than once left someone guarding the car while the other shopped, just in case it needed moving.

RTM, let's see the bottom (back side) of your skillet. I carried a Gerber like in your pictures for the first 10 years or so I was in the Army.

I've carried a Gerber as my EDC since about 1990, almost always the MicroLST. Too small for serious stuff, but light enough that it doesn't try to pull your pants down on one side. I buy any reasonably priced ones, to keep as spares when I lose them. The bigger ones get weekend duty, hiking duty, or yardwork duty for the really big ones. Easy to sharpen, and hold an edge for a reasonable amount of time.

This is the back of the skillet, think its a vintage one by the heat ring, and I think BRS from a quick bit of research. Hoping it cleans up easy. I have 3 others queued up, but waiting for the heatwave to break, and make it worthwhile to run a self clean cycle.

 

[bargainhuntingking]

There was a Craigslist advertised sale from 11:00 to 1:00 today in Berkeley so we checked it out since it was about 10 minutes from home...

...I paid a fifth as much for the tools as I’m going to have to pay for the damn Berkeley parking ticket.

-Don

Bay Area parking can be brutal. Not as bad as downtown Philly in the early 2000s, nor NYC in the 80s, but still. The car break ins in the late 80s early 90s were so annoying I built a plywood wood lock box in the back of my VW Rabbit, re-forced with sheet metal, while I lived in downtown Oakland. I learned a lot of shade tree mechanic skills on the streets there. First on my ‘67 VW bus then on a succession of 3 beater Rabbits. I loved those John Muir Idiot guides. Replacing a drive axle on the street at 15th and Jackson, hoping my C-Man toolbox wouldn’t get stolen while I was wrenching under the car. Good times!




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[bcschief]

"Haven't seen a ratchet wrench like the Devco before. For one it's 4 point. But the one wrench has 4 sizes. Each box end is a different size on the flip side".

That Devco ratcheting wrench is an AC tool for service valves on ac compressors like York and Tecumseh compressors

 

[d42jeep]

Bay Area parking can be brutal. Not as bad as downtown Philly in the early 2000s, nor NYC in the 80s, but still. The car break ins in the late 80s early 90s were so annoying I built a plywood wood lock box in the back of my VW Rabbit, re-forced with sheet metal, while I lived in downtown Oakland. I learned a lot of shade tree mechanic skills on the streets there. First on my ‘67 VW bus then on a succession of 3 beater Rabbits. I loved those John Muir Idiot guides. Replacing a drive axle on the street at 15th and Jackson, hoping my C-Man toolbox wouldn’t get stolen while I was wrenching under the car. Good times!




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I can’t argue with anything you say. If you had early VWs, you must have gotten plenty of practice at repairing them. I had a series of early VW buses and learned a lot during that period. I spent some time cleaning up yesterday’s finds and the Craftsman -v- 3/8” deep metric socket set was a pleasant surprise. I also finally found a picture of my Snap-on chisel holder that was discussed upthread.
-Don
-

 

[Outlawmws]

RTM, do you have an E-tank setup? that will get the Skillet to bare CI also.

 

[RTM]

Not currently set up. It is typically used for plane parts, so better at long and skinny. The oven lets me knock off 3-4 at a time, and warms the house just a bit, which the rest of the household enjoys.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Would've been a good day (in my own book) at the flea market this morning if the only thing in this haul (Lugz 2020_54) was my first ever original Masterrench (Turlock, CA, not Heller Bros).

The original owner liked his self-adjusting wrenches, because I also found a Cleveland Wrench Co Auto-Grip in the same load. Per the seller, no spring chicken hisself, the PO was a 90-year-old WWII vet. The seller had bought a Signal Corps compass from his son in a wood box at a yard sale at his house on Friday and they got to talking. The WWII vet's son told him to come back the next day, which was Saturday, and look in the garage if he wanted old stuff. HAHA! So he filled up a trailer, kept the stuff he wanted, and brought the rest to the flea market this morning. The unmarked Duro female nonreversible ratchet, the drive plug, the -D-I- 15/16" socket, the Duro universal joint, the deep Long C Craftsman Circle-H socket, and that Barcalo-Buffalo ISN 25 DOE wrench were all from that load. And some of it was in a wartime unmarked McAleer 41-B-1840 toolbox. See Pics 2 & 3.

Also happy to find a new halfmoon wrench (GILLER) for the no-dupes halfmoon collection from a different seller.

I don't know exactly what the brass thing in the front is, but it's square, thick, and heavy, has a loop on the end for a line, a pointy nose, and it's marked out for 1 foot in inches one one edge and quarter inches on the other in two different directions, with the 1 foot and 0 inches mark mark being dead center with the loop for the line. So it's for making depth measurements of some kind. Probably a tank, I guess. That, the ignition set (pouch marked Clark Mfg Co, Buffalo, NY wrenches marked "foster" (just like that), and the G.M. Co. set (metal case, cool little sliding see-through lid) were from a third seller. I am hoping 3bay may know something about the Clark/"foster" set, otherwise it's research time.

I know it may seem counterintuitive for someone with a big stash of rare high quality antique and 1920's wrench sets in wooden boxes to enjoy these sorts of economy line sets from the 50's, but there's just something about them I like.

Quick backstory is kind of funny, too. You guys know I don't like to talk about money, but I'll make an exception in the case of this story. It ends with me coming home with a one dollar bill in my pocket! The funny part of that is that I left home with only $17 in cash (a ten, a five, and two ones), which is all I had to my name this morning. I almost didn't go, because as you guys know, there's nothing more cruel than finding something good and not being able to afford it. Glad I risked it!

 

[Outlawmws]

Lots of cool finds Lugz! you ****, and not just for price!

The Turlock MW - what size? 8"? looks like for hex and and not pipe I have an 8" for nuts/bolts

 

[d42jeep]

Would've been a good day (in my own book) at the flea market this morning if the only thing in this haul (Lugz 2020_54) was my first ever original Masterrench (Turlock, CA, not Heller Bros).

The original owner liked his self-adjusting wrenches, because I also found a Cleveland Wrench Co Auto-Grip in the same load. Per the seller, no spring chicken hisself, the PO was a 90-year-old WWII vet. The seller had bought a Signal Corps compass from his son in a wood box at a yard sale at his house on Friday and they got to talking. The WWII vet's son told him to come back the next day, which was Saturday, and look in the garage if he wanted old stuff. HAHA! So he filled up a trailer, kept the stuff he wanted, and brought the rest to the flea market this morning. The unmarked Duro female nonreversible ratchet, the drive plug, the -D-I- 15/16" socket, the Duro universal joint, the deep Long C Craftsman Circle-H socket, and that Barcalo-Buffalo ISN 25 DOE wrench were all from that load. And some of it was in a wartime unmarked McAleer 41-B-1840 toolbox. See Pics 2 & 3.

Also happy to find a new halfmoon wrench (GILLER) for the no-dupes halfmoon collection from a different seller.

I don't know exactly what the brass thing in the front is, but it's square, thick, and heavy, has a loop on the end for a line, a pointy nose, and it's marked out for 1 foot in inches one one edge and quarter inches on the other in two different directions, with the 1 foot and 0 inches mark mark being dead center with the loop for the line. So it's for making depth measurements of some kind. Probably a tank, I guess. That, the ignition set (pouch marked Clark Mfg Co, Buffalo, NY wrenches marked "foster" (just like that), and the G.M. Co. set (metal case, cool little sliding see-through lid) were from a third seller. I am hoping 3bay may know something about the Clark/"foster" set, otherwise it's research time.

I know it may seem counterintuitive for someone with a big stash of rare high quality antique and 1920's wrench sets in wooden boxes to enjoy these sorts of economy line sets from the 50's, but there's just something about them I like.

Quick backstory is kind of funny, too. You guys know I don't like to talk about money, but I'll make an exception in the case of this story. It ends with me coming home with a one dollar bill in my pocket! The funny part of that is that I left home with only $17 in cash (a ten, a five, and two ones), which is all I had to my name this morning. I almost didn't go, because as you guys know, there's nothing more cruel than finding something good and not being able to afford it. Glad I risked it!

How much was the McAleer? Did you leave it behind? It looks pretty decent with maybe original paint. I thought I found one yesterday but it was postwar with no corner supports and no oiler hole.
-Don

 

[ChefRex]

Lugz, I was really excited when I saw the brass rule so I would finally know what the one in my box was for,
Only the markings on one side and I suppose the name of the original owner on the opposite,
If you find anything out please share.


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[Outlawmws]

I got a few hits on "J. H. McCabe Jr. Brass" for:

Brass Oil Dipstick Square Plumb Bob - all may be from one source however?

 

[Provincial]

The brass measuring sticks are interesting in that the markings are graduated from the eye end, rather than the "point." This argues against them being used to measure the depth of liquid in a tank, or other use where they were dangled from the eye end.

If the flats of the eye end are machined, perhaps they were attached there as a hinge point to another part or frame?

 

[LesserSon]

Not to be deterred by yesterday’s ho-hum experience at Jake’s, I returned this morning with MrsLS. Pulling into the parking area, I could see there were barely any more vendors present than yesterday, many repeaters. But, looming threat of rain notwithstanding, it all turned out well.

Part I
$16 (I kid you not, Lugz) brought home everything in the first pic but the Craftsman quench tray (more on this in Part II).
vPLVMB^ WF-79, vPLVMBv 2006 (brake tool?), WWI M-1910 wire cutters, brass “U.S.” American Lock (sans key), Bridgeport stubby P2, 1/2dr SO ext, gooseneck lamp (looked C’man benchgrinder-y, so why not?), Japan puller, rusty broken breast drill (for parts), unidentified ballpein head, Stanley softface hammer, wood handle tool holder, small table vise, Billings ballpein, Bonney all-metal Stillson...and a 18” wood-handle Stillson. I picked up and set back the last several times. I could not make out any markings, but it sure looked Bonney (or any of a half-dozen other manufacturers). While I deliberated, the vendor, who had been watching the sky darken, announced everything was 2-for$1, which is how I came to own the Japan puller. When I got home, I scraped the rust from the 18incher, and could not be happier: it’s a BONNEY! The only remaining size of this type I didn’t already have, so that set is finally “complete.” Plus, it’s early - Bonney Vise & Tool instead of Bonney Forge & Tool. Yay!

The toolholder is intriguing. Seems like it might grip a square-shaft with a retaining notch in it. Have to free it from rust to see if there’s anything stamped in it.

Part II
I amost didn’t stop at Bob “the Toolman”’s shed. Out on his tables, I fiddled ambivalently with a small Dunlap vise for a while. It’s marked $24, with a sign above that offers 20% discount. He tells me he’ll let it go for $15, then turns to help another customer. I start rubbing three fives together in my hand, but when I glance into his shed, there is a Craftsman 1/2hp flattop benchgrinder staring right back at me from atop its stand. I bite my tongue while Bob shoots the **** with a sequence of other vendors who pick this very moment to snoop around. Finally, I ask.
“Oh, yeah, I just got that,” he says, plugging it in. After it purrs to life, then slowly rolls to a stop, he winds the cord around it like a fisherman taking up slack and tells me his plan to put $60 on it and take it home for himself if no one will pay that. “The stand is worth $30,” he says. I can’t argue. It’s not the best deal I could hope for (3/4hp...1hp), but I’ve wanted one of those stands, and 1/2hp is a modest upgrade from my two 1/3hp roundtops. It has all its parts...except the gooseneck lamp is broken off...now where can I get one of those?
I probably should have angled to get him to throw in the Dunlap vise, but I didn’t. So, with MrsLS’s assist at the ATM, I handed over the $60 and added another member to the Craftsman family.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lots of cool finds Lugz!...[ ]...The Turlock MW - what size? 8"? looks like for hex and and not pipe I have an 8" for nuts/bolts

It's a 6-incher, and yes, for nuts and bolts. I will post in our Masterrench thread later.

How much was the McAleer? Did you leave it behind? It looks pretty decent with maybe original paint.

It was in decent condition with rust on the lids as shown only, but even if I had more cash I probably would've left it behind. I already have too many boxes that need some work. If it was a Hamilton or even a marked E.J. McAleer I might've went for it.

Lugz, I was really excited when I saw the brass rule so I would finally know what the one in my box was for,...[ ]...If you find anything out please share.

Mine has the same marking. Brotha' from anotha' motha'!

And will do!

I got a few hits on "J. H. McCabe Jr. Brass" for...Brass Oil Dipstick Square Plumb Bob - all may be from one source however?

I was going to look it up later, so thanks. Good to know there's something out there.

The brass measuring sticks are interesting in that the markings are graduated from the eye end, rather than the "point."

As I tried to explain, perhaps hamhandedly, mine has both, Jock. The inch graduations start at the point and end at the eye. The 8th graduations, on an adjacent edge, start at the eye and end at the point. The other two edges are blank except for the marking. That black strip is not brass, by the way. It is laid in there. I will post photos later. Check back.

$16 (I kid you not, Lugz) brought home everything but the Craftsman quench tray.

What a koinkydink!

When I got home, I scraped the rust from the 18incher, and could not be happier: it’s a BONNEY! The only remaining size of this type I didn’t already have, so that set is finally “complete.” Plus, it’s early - Bonney Vise & Tool instead of Bonney Forge & Tool. Yay!

Congrats!

 

[jeffmoss26]

LS, is there a code on the bottom of the padlock?

 

[ChefRex]

I am wrong, mine also has the reverse markings on the side, been in the box so long, i forgot and I only took a quick glance as I took the pics.
Hardly a precision tool as the lines on both sides don't align.
Pushed on the insert to see if it would move at all, nope, was machined in place as the markings extend lightly into it.

 

[TOTO]

Lugz, ChefRex, I believe what you have is for gauging the amount of a liquid in a tank by using "The Outage Method"

Found this on the web.

The Outage (or Top gauging) method will tell you the measurement of the part of the tank that is NOT filled with liquid (the level that has been taken out, or the “ullage”). Because the exact top of the liquid is hard to find, the graduated plumb bob is lowered slowly from the reference point just until it comes into contact with the liquid. Outage gauging tapes are used with an Outage plumb bob.

The graduations on the outage plumb bob start at the point where the bob is attached to the swivel end clip of the gauging tape, and then get higher. The zero point on an Outage gauging tape is where the plumb bob and the end clip of the gauging tape meet. The reading on the bob (marked by the liquid) is added to the reading on the tape at the reference point (at the top of the tank). This will give you the total empty portion of the tank. Knowing the total depth of the tank, you can subtract the space NOT filled, from the total tank depth to determine the depth of the liquid.

The Outage gauging method is helpful when measuring caustic or thick liquids, as the actual tape measure blade never gets submerged but it is not as accurate as the Innage method for determining the actual level of liquid in the tank.

 

[LesserSon]

LS, is there a code on the bottom of the padlock?

Yes - 3780

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, ChefRex, I believe what you have is for gauging the amount of a liquid in a tank by using "The Outage Method"

Interesting. Thanks. Here are more photos of it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And for those looking for more photos of other items, I posted photos of the G.M. Co Mfg. Inc. midget set in the 'Midget' thread, Masterrench in the 'Masterrench' thread, Auto-Grip wrench in the 'Oddfellows' thread, Duro stuff in the 'Duro' thread, and I started a new query thread on the Clark Mfg "foster" ignition wrench set.

Here's that bottle of Carstairs Blended Whiskey!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

ChefRex,
Well, there is a reason you and I have the only two (2) "J.H. MCCABE, JR." outage indicators on GJ. The company has been located in Short Hills, NJ for a very long time.

It's called McCabe and Sons now, they are still in business, and they are known mostly for a chemical-sensitive paste that is smeared on plumb-bob like dipsticks and indicators dropped into petroleum tanks to test for water. 3rd generation family owned. Their website has a neat history section. Link here.

 

[jeffmoss26]

ok will see if I can make a key!

 

[BFBOB]

First Estate Sale in quite a while in the pix I saw what I hoped would be my entree into the Craftsman 519X club! Alas, it was not to be. The vise in question was still there half price Sunday, but it was the older bullet-nosed brother, a 5169. Still, it's a solid 4 incher that tips the scale at 33 lbs. No, I didn't pay the marked price.
I got the Craftsman sabre saw, a variable-speed scroller with box, manual, rip fence and center pin for half the $14 tag, and since the pad sander didn't work, I offered a buck to get the box. We settled for two. And I grabbed a couple of heavy canvas drop cloths, a 12x12 and a 16x16 in used but thoroughly usable condition. The total tab was $40.
When I got home, I pulled the brushes out of the pad sander, blew the sawdust out, and it fired right up. Brushes are maybe 10% worn!

...and I was glad to mask-up even standing in line because it was COLD and WINDY!!

 

[b.well]

B.Well, that ratchet is for opening valves. Most commonly in HVAC.

It is newer than more common and interesting refer ratchets, but it is the style that you see these days.

BW, Herter's made mostly reloading or gun stuff. I'm not recognizing that for its use however.

Apparently for wrapping fly rods per a quick Google search?

Thanks for the intel!

Google is great. Don't always get to it before I post something and whatever is in my head comes out on the post

I think the ratchet will work for some square bolts I have around on things. If not, good to know the HVAC use.

 

[Outlawmws]

Bob, is the jig saw the version that has the "steering" in the top knob? I think I see the lock on there?

 

[Arne73]

ChefRex,
Well, there is a reason you and I have the only two (2) "J.H. MCCABE, JR." outage indicators on GJ. The company has been located in Short Hills, NJ for a very long time.

It's called McCabe and Sons now, they are still in business, and they are known mostly for a chemical-sensitive paste that is smeared on plumb-bob like dipsticks and indicators dropped into petroleum tanks to test for water. 3rd generation family owned. Their website has a neat history section. Link here.

Water indicating paste, part of the shipboard damage control investigators kit.
Interesting gages, I had never heard of that type of tank sounding before.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[LesserSon]

ok will see if i can make a key!

thanks!

 

[LesserSon]

Lugz, ChefRex, TOTO, Arne73
WHAT is the geometry of these tanks? Are they only 12” deep?
Otherwise, I don’t understand what these water-indicating plumb bob dipsticks actually measure. Water would collect at the bottom of the tank, whether the other contents were fuel or air or both.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

WHAT is the geometry of these tanks? Are they only 12” deep? Otherwise, I don’t understand what these water-indicating plumb bobs actually tell. Water would collect at the bottom of the tank, whether the other contents were fuel or air or both.

I don't think the brass dipsticks or graduated plumb bobs that ChefRex and I have are for that purpose, LS.

From the drawings I found on the McCabe site as well as an EPA site (for checking buried tanks in a well shaft that is drilled next to the tank), those indicators are similar in purpose, shape and weight in the sense of being suspended by a line, but they are slathered in the paste (which is green), dropped all the way to the bottom of a tank, left to sit there a sufficient amount of time, and hauled back up. If the paste is pink, you've got water leeching into the tank.

These brass dipsticks appear to be for measuring the amount of a liquid in a tank, either ullage or outage. What liquid, what tank, I haven't figured out. Something related, in the same field (i.e., petroleum), perhaps. Perhaps not.

I was merely making the connection to the company, which went, without much forethought for progeny (HAHA!), by the name of 'J.H. McCabe, Sr,' then 'J.H. McCabe, Jr,' and finally simply and more effectively, McCabe and Sons. They've been in business a long time, and I am speculating that these are older gauges.

EDIT: Sorry for the confusion.

 

[gpw_42]

RTM, thanks for showing the other side of the skillet. It's a "3 Notch Lodge," made by the same Lodge which is the big modern cast iron skillet foundry. You're right that it's vintage - probably 50s or early 60s, before the Made in USA incising became common. Some degree of controversy in the cast iron collector world about when that became common/obligatory. A Birmingham Stove and Range (BSR) would have a solid heat ring, and the number would be low on the skillet - see pic. #3 skillets are about perfect size for cooking 2 eggs.

Lugz, you had a heckuva haul! That Duro u-joint may need a new home. When you say Short Hills, I think about the mall there; back in the 80s, it was the shizzle. A long way from industrial manufacturing!

On Saturday, I hit the flea about 8:30, which I thought was late. Most of the vendors were still setting up, so I breathed a sigh of relief. I spent the $1 to get in the gate, and nothing else. Then hit a TOO, with the same results. Then a church yard sale, which one of the flea vendors told me about, and found these three C-man socket rails. Fortunately, I managed to drive past the Krispy Kreme store twice, without stopping!

 

[BFBOB]

Bob, is the jig saw the version that has the "steering" in the top knob? I think I see the lock on there?

Yes...and no. It does scroll, does lock straight ahead, and turning the top knob does rotate the blade. But unlike other C'man scrollers I have or have seen, the blade is centered on the drive plunger, so it is not an auto-scroller. The scrolling action is pretty well damped, so it only goes where you point it. First one like it I've seen.

Edit: And it's not a jig saw, it's a Sabre Saw. Says so right on the front of the box .

 

[Outlawmws]

That's the "Steering" I was talking about. I have one so thought I recognized the grip.

And everyone else still calls 'em Jigsaws...

 

[ZackN]

I forgot about this estate sale I went to over the summer. I got this box of miscellaneous electrical stuff, two smaller isolation transformers, a huge what looks to be isolation transformer, this 2.25" diamond core drill bit (about 20" long) a cable crimper (coaxial I think?) and some other miscellaneous tools and parts that have already found new homes. I think I paid about $25-30 for everything. I have already sold about $20 worth of items. I felt bad about getting such a steal, but the guy running it didn't want to take it to the dump and kept telling me to "make him any offer, reasonable or not". The gentleman who passed was some sort of communications guy on the local military base and had no relatives. I tried to save as much as I could and find new homes for it. Rest in peace Eric, your tools live on.