Liberty Tool

[Ryan]

Another week, another video... This week, it's a beautifully done documentary covering the business of Liberty Tool. Watch it - this guy and guys like him is exactly why I love tools, garages, and everything that comes with them. I want to go to Libe...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[mattygee]

Enjoyed the video.. A business like that couldn't exist just anywhere..Lots of places in this country where there is almost nothing that's actually old.

M

 

[gricegear]

What a well done video. I would love to go there someday. When I visit family on east coast, I'll make sure to get up there next time. I could spend a day in there!! Thanks for posting.

 

[07travis]

This is an amazing video! I really would love to go there!

 

[RatchetMan]

Nice video and certainly the type of place I'd stop in. But, if I may get philosophical for a moment, something strikes me about the use of tools these days. So many of them are being used by "artisans" and not necessarily full-time practitioners.

I think we'll still see a decline in practical know-how unless people can actually make a decent living working with their hands vs. doing it on the side and selling their wares at flea markets, art shows and Dollywood.

Fact is, health insurance, retirements plans and stock options don't generally come along with jobs where you're repairing old wooden chairs or hand-crafting candle sticks but the world isn't getting any cheaper and you gotta make money when you're able. So, for me, that means I won't be playing in my workshop full-time until I'm retired........at age 85

 

[woodgate]

Find all the broken Craftsman stuff in there and turn it in!

 

[Tman]

I chuckled and shed a tear......................there is hope in the world. I think I will go make some shavings with one of my planes that is older than me x 2

 

[Falcon67]

I'm go tomorrow - if it wasn't a 4304 mile round trip.

However - they are a 21st century antique seller, the web site is pretty good. First thing I see is a real Jacob's chuck, 1/4" - for $12. That's pretty good.

 

[KSwiss]

Hmmm.... I know a place similar to that. But not a well organized!!! It's a pain to sort through.

 

[Strouty]

I have been there many times, they have been around for a long time. We used to take family trips there over 20 years ago.

 

[RIVERWEST AUTO]

If more Americans would make things we would be on top of the world. Love it.

 

[Zeke]

Find all the broken Craftsman stuff in there and turn it in!

Yes, that's the sprit.

 

[Jim C.]

What a GREAT place!! I'd really like to go there some time. Several years ago, there was a store that opened in a strip mall by my house called "Re-Tool." It was basically the same type of place. I was more than happy to see that store open up so close by. The guy who ran the business bought and sold used hand tools, corded and battery operated tools, and some machinery. I enjoyed going in there, and he had some good stuff, but he was EXTREMELY unwilling to "bend" on any of his prices and he wanted nearly full retail for everything, particularly tools that could be warrantied. I remember picking up a few Craftsman sockets and commenting that they were priced as high as new tools. The guy responded by saying that I was just going to take them back to Sears and warranty them for new ones. He rationalized his statement by saying that he could just as well take them back to Sears too, and therefore deserved full retail price for them. I didn't buy the sockets, or anything else for that matter. Everything was just way too overpriced. The store was gone in less than a year. Anyway, I like Liberty Tool and hope that people who are close to it appreciate it, and support it. I hope I can make it there some day.

Jim C.

 

[farmerdude]

Not to rub it in but it's a 20 min. drive for me and I plan on going again tomorrow. Nice video, but it shows very little of what they really have. There are three floors of untold goodies. No matter how small the item you will not find anything without a price on it. Awesome place.

 

[Jim C.]

Not to rub it in but it's a 20 min. drive for me and I plan on going again tomorrow. Nice video, but it shows very little of what they really have. There are three floors of untold goodies. No matter how small the item you will not find anything without a price on it. Awesome place.

You're lucky! How are the prices?

 

[Exceller8]

I really enjoyed the video. I'd love to go there as well.

 

[farmerdude]

You're lucky! How are the prices?

The prices are pretty reasonable on most stuff. Their not lawn sale prices but still not bad. I think things have gone up since I first went years ago but I guess thats normal. They have two more stores that are in a more "touristy" location and the prices show it. If anyone is interested just google Jonesport wood company, the info on all three stores is there.

 

[DHS]

Ryan, Thank you for a great site! With out any doubt it is the best. You have great moderators and fair rules.

Two weeks in a row with your great mini videos have me hankering for a project to do in the shed.

 

[Fire&Steel]

I live in Maine and I have been to 2 of the 3 stores. I did not even know they had a 3rd. Liberty is by far the best. Its realy a place you need an hour just to look at one wall. He just has so much stuff that you cant see it all. I dont realy think he makes a ton of money. I think the last time I was in I spent $20 and walked out with a few cool old things to put on my walls. I kind of have a feeling once the owner dies that will be the end of the store.

 

[maks8489]

I was vacationing in New England last month and someone told me about Liberty Tool. I made a detour to go check it out and it is awesome, three floors full of tools in an old house and more in the old Mobil filling station across the road. They had tons of cool stuff I wanted to hang on the wall, but in the end I just loaded up an arm full of old, U.S. made tools that I actually needed. All were in perfectly serviceable condition and very reasonably priced. If you're ever in the area do yourself a favor and check them out. I'll post the pics my wife took in there when I get the chance.

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

With part of my family in Maine for the past 30 years I have been fortunate enough to go to Liberty Tool on many occasions. Maine is a beautiful state and Liberty Tool is one of their beauties for sure. Liberty Tool is well worth the road trip.

 

[uniballer]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128181&highlight=liberty+tool
And other thread cant find it, been around for long time in maine.

 

[DynoDave]

Nice story.

I've been enjoying trips to Mr. O'Tools here in the Detroit metro area since I moved here in '89.

 

[ed_v]

Ryan,

Thank you! This and the making of an axe video have been so inspiring. Can't thank you enough for featuring these.

Ed

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Great looking shop.
I'd love to browse

Adam

 

[taterdog]

thats a great video. i wish it had been posted about 3 weeks ago. im from georgia and i took a trip to Maine and went right past liberty tools.

 

[GTO]

Great video.
That place reminds me of some of the old Hardware stores my Father used to take me to in the sixties.

 

[bobkentnova]

The video's production value is very high. I love the mission of Liberty Tool. I get such a charge out using tools of my father and my grandfathers that I've refurbished. The Liberty Tool people must get an incredible charge in doing this on a much larger scale. Unfortunately the current tools of my trade (computer hardware and peripherals) will all be obsolete and recycled into something else in just a few years -- no so sustainable.

 

[farmerdude]

Went today as planned and picked up a few things. Lots of new stuff since my last visit. I took a few pics. but i **** with computers and can't figure out how to post them. I poked around for more than an hour but didn't make it upstairs before SWMBO got itchy feet and wanted to get some lunch. They close for inventory Jan. 1st and reopen Mar. 1st. so maybe I'll hit it again in the spring. If anyone gets the chance to go it is well worth the trip.

 

[lowbucktruck]

What a cool place! I could hours in a tool store like that. Does take you back to a time of the old hardware stores, doesn't it?

 

[walrus]

Its about 30 or 40 miles from me, went by it about 3 times last week for work. Haven't been in years but have a few tools from there. Guess I should go over sometime

 

[RC KID]

Excellent business plan! I am extremely happy to see places like this succeed. Where I am at I am forced to utilize Ebay.

 

[KMinAF]

What a profound statement on how so many are only able to be consumers and how those who have the knowledge to use tools will have the ability to sustain themselves during hard times.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Wow. This video makes you think about our disposable society and where things are headed.

If this does not inspire you to do it yourself, with your own hands, I don't know what will.
Maybe Chinese street signs?

 

[cruzer75]

I have not been to liberty in a long time. Used to go in the summer with my family! I know for sure that I bought a very nice micrometer there and my 1/2in breaker bar(sk brand) also. Can't remember what else! Man that would be a great place to have locally! Deffinitly brings back some memory's.

 

[sr71]

I feel the same way as you "scotty"......

 

[johno]

Where is Liberty tool?
I musta missed it.

 

[MSRTom]

As goes Maine, so goes the nation.

 

[Flathead Red]

If more Americans would make things we would be on top of the world. Love it.

Ain't that the truth. We have lost our way as the "entitlement society" continues to take over and things get outsourced because they are to lazy to try and do it themselves. Awesome video. It makes me think of better times.

Red

 

[OctoMan]

My kinda place! If there was a place like that here the MG club would definitely tour the place!