This is a bit of a long drawn out story, kinda bittersweet, because it involves getting a lot of tools from a friend, before he packs up to leave for the Midwest to be closer to his daughter and family. This guy has been a friend and mentor for over 40 years, he helped me write my first resume, way back when I had to drive to his house to show him a copy. His father had been around back then, a friendly guy with great skills, able to fix anything, and a quick wit. Dad used to be on the maintenance staff at CalTech (Pasadena based school), and brought that skill home to many of his personal projects. Some of his projects and tools were included, as well as some stuff from an uncle that I never met. My buddy was an outdoorsman from early on, CJ owner, backpacking fisherman photographer sports fan kinda guy. We played softball and volleyball together back in the day, took Photography and wine tasting trips. So there was lots of stuff to be handled. And then to add to the excitement, they received an offer on the house, but they needed to move out in 30 days. So, after a kind of panicked call to discuss timing, I jumped in the truck and drove 250 miles to his house one week later, with no idea what I was getting myself into. The night before I left, he drops me an email saying he might have a cabinet, built be dad, that I can take if I want. Hmmmm. take the furniture blankets
After dinner, we took a quick walk thru the garage. As he is pushed for time, he’d really appreciate if I could make everything disappear, and sort it out at my end, so after a quick walk around, we make a plan. Early Monday morning, we hit the garage, where it’s about 25F, and start looking at things with the truck and a measuring tape nearby. The cabinet, a chest of heavy duty drawers, won’t fit without leaving the truck bed cover open, and we were expecting snow on the way home, so that was a no go. Later he realizes he had no plans or home for a dad built cart, 2’ x3’ x3’ tall, and did I want that. Again, I had to leave it behind.
Most of Monday was spent pulling stuff out of drawers, from behind doors, and stacked on the floor, and packing it into the mish mosh of tubs and crates I had brought with me. A couple of bulky things messed with the cubic Tetris game I was playing, including a miter saw, a Workmate, and a folding TS table. By mid afternoon, the tools were set aside, and we moved other stuff about, some stuff to a neighbors for pick up by his son after the 30 days had expired, other stuff going to a neighbor’s daughter to take in a different direction. She was taking her dads Gerstner with her, so I snagged a few pix, just cuz it was pretty. Emptied a few cupboards in the house, pulled heavy stuff down off high shelves and ledges, and moved boxes into the garage.
So here is the haul, 500 or so pounds of new crammed into the bed of the truck. The stuff on the tailgate was inside the cab, to make it all fit. I also grabbed some retail goodies for friends at home, which included 20# of foodstuff, not shown. I had a little space left for low profile items, but not too much otherwise.
Some of the highlights, not obviously visible in the mess in the truck bed, included 5 or 6 pairs of misc sized quick clamps, many still with tags, a Rigid 10" miter saw, and handful of straight edges, include 2 plexiglass, and one that attaches together to make a bigger one, and stuff like that
I packed a lot of the heavy dense stuff into the smallest boxes, and managed to get 50# into a tiny tote.
This expanded out into the next two pix. The combo square is a Lufkin, the tap handle a Starrett, the chisels mostly Stanley, Todd's patent nipper, Big yellow screwdriver is a Proto, next to it is a monster Reed & Prince The clamps are both Cincinnati. Think top right is a chunk of lead.
The center finder here is a Goodel-Pratt, and a General **** marking gauge, Stanley #18 Eureka bevel gauge, with Dad's initials engraved.
These handsaws came home bundled in cardboard, and protected by other long things. Top is an unknown, middle is a well loved Disston Phila, bottom is a Warranted Superior, etched for Simmons.
In the heavy hitting category, 4 axes and a sledge, (R - L ) sledge is unmarked, then Collins Commander, Plumb, unmarked and American Ax.
A different 30# tub had this handful of trowels and other tools on top.
And then some joys on the bottom of the tote, PLANES!! The planes, starting lower left, Stanley #71, pre 1910, #78 with blade adjuster, US made #4-1/2, #10-1/4 with tilting handles and a repaired cheek, Millers Falls #14, #607 with a partial decal, #80 scraper from early, with partial decal, #80 painted red, with Dad’s name, a bit later. The 607 was dismantled for the trip, to protect the wood, and transported in a bigger tote.
I was pointed to a drawer with a bunch of knives in it. I was surprised he didn't want to keep those for his kids or grandkids. Turns out these were collected when he was a wild teenager, mostly from Mexico, and I think KSO is the proper term for those with the sheaths.
Dull as a froe is a bit too sharp for these. A few look like they may have had an edge, others are like a knife's back on both edges. The interesting pair in the middle, the knife is marked Utica Sportsman, the axe is unmarked, but has the same scales. It appears the loop on the axe sheath is to hold the knife. The little one to the left of the Utica is a USA made, but the sheath strap broke while trying to open it. Note the "trench art" bullet knife top left. The folders are nothing special, tho the topmost has an interesting mechanism holding it closed, that's not a bottle opener near the pivot. Below it has a scissors, and a broken off third appendage. The survival knife on the right is ridiculously big, and not very sharp, holds matches etc in the handle.
Finally the real treats out of the trip, some goodies made by Dad. I'm not certain if he made the stone case, but the nail box, and the spade bit box are both his doing. Way overbuilt to be a hack job, well thought out so you can grab a nail or bit without having tiny fingers or being a contortionist. I don't really need either, but wasn't leaving them behind.
In the also ran category (getting tired here), there was the table that all this was displayed on, a mat board cutter for framing pictures, 20+ pounds of mat board, some real old cameras and flash stuff, 1/2 and 1/3 sheet sanders, a Craftsman by Ryan shiny metal belt sander
Ryobi cordless drill saw combo with 1 dead battery pack (used during the removal of a brass Pyrene extinguisher, which he kept), Workmate 200, portable table saw stand. Non tools stuff included 2 pairs of Bose sound cancelling headphones, lots of cleaning chemicals and rags, and a few pieces of fishing gear he was going to donate. I suspect I know someone who may be interested.
I have not photographed everything yet, and may never, and won't be posting every bit of tool with brand and size anytime soon. Some of the fun pieces will show up in the other threads, like Bernard, and handplanes. But way too many chisels, punches and files to give them too much time right now. I spent most of yesterday unpacking the truck, then the tubs, then finding spots for them in the garage. I even tossed a few pieces.
Enjoy
. I have a ***** tally book with find notes and am recording comments as they come. Keep up the great work. Pictured is the book and no, you can’t see who’s ahead so far(BD55 edged out Alinc100 by 1 tally so far). As we hit sale season in full swing remember to post your finds as well as comment on others finds as well to keep the thread going.
on the *****!
