I would be broke. No joke. I could see myself spending quite a bit of time and money there. I love what he's doing with all of these old tools. If I had the money to do it, and could market it, I would love to save old milling machines from the scrappers, restore them, and sell them for a fair price.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
Had the opportunity to hit all three stores on a recent trip to Bar Harbor/Acadia NP. On the way up the Maine coast we passed Captain Tinkham's Emporium in Searsport. All I saw was a sign that said something about tools so i spun the Jeep around. This is by far the smallest of the three stores but I was still very impressed. Most of the men who came in while I was there were best described as giddy. Of course they told me about the other stores including Hull's Cove Tool Barn outside Bar Harbor. After seeing it, we had to make the trip to see the mothership in Liberty. Definitely worth the trip. Spent hours in there and didn't leave until they locked the doors for the evening.
I know how you guys are about pics and some were asking about prices so here goes.
Starrett surface gage. $18
GTD no. 6 tap wrench. $10
Card 1-8 lh tap. $1.50
Bay State 3/8 npt tap. $2.50
Ace (usa) 5/8-18 tap. $0.75
This is of course only a partial list.
View of Bar Harbor from the top of Cadillac Mountain
If you do go, make sure you get a lobsta roll from Red's Eats in Wiscasset.
I know how you guys are about pics and some were asking about prices so here goes.
Starrett surface gage. $18
GTD no. 6 tap wrench. $10
Card 1-8 lh tap. $1.50
Bay State 3/8 npt tap. $2.50
Ace (usa) 5/8-18 tap. $0.75
This is of course only a partial list.
View of Bar Harbor from the top of Cadillac Mountain
If you do go, make sure you get a lobsta roll from Red's Eats in Wiscasset.
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RoarkIndustrialSolutions
Well-known member
I spend almost every July 4th in Liberty on Lake St. George with friends. Every year we visit Liberty Tool and the t-shirt shop across the street. After years here on Garage Journal, it's so great to see a place like this featured. In the middle of nowhere but truely Americana!
Great feature Ryan!!!!!!!!
Great feature Ryan!!!!!!!!
smalltruck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2011
- Messages
- 333
I remember that place, used to live 5 minutes away from in Burnsville. And yeah some of his prices were high
KaiserM715
Member
If I had a place like that near me, I would be there almost every weekend...
RKSpeed
Well-known member
I was blown away to see Liberty Tool on the front page! I go here almost every week if I can. This is one of the best places to go in Maine if youre a tool junkie.
Ryan, how did you find out about this place? Did someone send you the video?
Ryan, how did you find out about this place? Did someone send you the video?
bobkentnova
Well-known member
I've never lived anywhere close to Liberty Tool. When I lived in N. Virginia, the large flea market (DC Flea ?) that came through every several months had a lot of good vendors of vintage tools. If anyone near Charlotte, NC is aware of a source similar to either in this area, please post details.
nismomans13
Well-known member
couldn't agree more. At some point we were taught that working with our hands is below us now. I see kids come on the job and don't know how to use basic hand tools because those skills aren't taught in schools anymore. Its sad, I take pride in the fact that none of the cars in my family has ever seen a garage other than for yearly inspection/emission testing.
People talk about being green and saving money and all that horse ****, you can save tens of thousands over the course of your life if you learn how to use common tools and perform common tasks on cars, in homes, and what not.
LoRollinLS
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2006
- Messages
- 211
What a great place, love old businesses. There seems to be alot of older businesses and houses up in that area. I dig it! Thanks for keeping a quality place running Skip!
power wagon
Well-known member
was up there yesterday great place
camarotoolman
Banned
Me and alot of other guys do the same thing only we sell at swap meets flee markets and on ebay.
saturdaymechanic
Well-known member
Really enjoyed the video. I wish there were more places like that around. He sounds like my father talking about tools when I was a kid. Being able to DIY, the feeling of satisfaction etc.
onemore
Well-known member
The videos are very inspiring! I have showed them to many people and it opens up their minds as to why I love tools. There are many local flea markets, estate sales, and second hand places I "pick" around for deals. To have a local venue to buy like Liberty tool is a rearity. I look forward to a Maine trip 1 day soon.
Whoa, I missed this thread. It looks to be an amazing place and I wish I was heading to Maine so I could stop by.
Grigg
Well-known member
Watching the video is almost as fun as being there, but without the pile of tools to take home...
I stop there every chance I get, going on 15 years now a trip to Maine isn't complete without at least one Liberty tool stop, if not all 3 locations. Have even made a few trips to Maine just for the tools, there are numerous other antique and junk shops up there too, makes for a fun long weekend or week.
Can't wait to go back soon,
Grigg
I stop there every chance I get, going on 15 years now a trip to Maine isn't complete without at least one Liberty tool stop, if not all 3 locations. Have even made a few trips to Maine just for the tools, there are numerous other antique and junk shops up there too, makes for a fun long weekend or week.
Can't wait to go back soon,
Grigg
Orionrising
Well-known member
stopped by last weekend, loved the place.
Spent a bunch of money, could have used it being a little more organized though, went around several times and kept seeing more and more as things were all mixed togethor.
Spent a bunch of money, could have used it being a little more organized though, went around several times and kept seeing more and more as things were all mixed togethor.
Man of Many Vices
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2012
- Messages
- 366
Still worth the drive.
rlitman
Well-known member
That depends on what you're looking for. Captain Tinkham's in Searsport is only worth my while, in that it is on the road between the other two. It ls more filled with antiques and books, than tools, but it still has a pretty good selection of old hand tools.
Liberty is by far the mother ship. Four stories of tools. A quantity that can only be compared to the Strand bookshop in NYC if you know the place. The number of tools is hard to comprehend.
Tool Barn in Hulls Cove is by far the jewel of the bunch. I hate to give away my best tool finding secret, but that's where all the best stuff ends up. Just hand tools, but some seriously nice antiques in the bunch. The place is pretty small, but it makes up for that in quality. Be sure to verify the hours before you show up. This place is not open every day, but it is like a museum you can walk into and buy stuff.
They're all about a 10 hour drive from me, and worth the trip. I've been to each several times now.
Sorry I know this is old, but I'm working in Maine and have been to all three locations recently.
The prices are great, long C BE and circle H sockets for 40-80 cents, almost any screwdriver, a buck or slightly higher, I paid 4-8$ each for 6 S shaped Keystone adjustable spanners. They have fordson and a few other brands as well. These shops are literally a museum for sale. You'll find some garage sale stuff, but the overwhelming majority, that I noticed anyway, is 1960's and previous. Which makes sense, because Skip buys everything from estate sales and people have been on the east coast for a LONG time.
Hulls Cove Tool Barn is next to his home, and it's where he processes all of the tools. This is also the location he keeps the better tools. I didn't see any asian made cheap junk there. Everything was vintage American quality or hand forged. This is also where he keeps a very large selection of planes. They range in price from 6-10 bucks to 1k+.
The downside is, he is ready to retire. He has his stores listed and offers training in tool picking and continued assistance buying to anyone who is willing to buy the business and keep it going. He really does love his craft and helping the community but is wanting to take it a little slower than his 70 hour work week picking and cleaning tools and start writing more.
If you are in the area I would HIGHLY recommend supporting this business and if you know anyone with (iirc) about $6m laying around that wants to buy a few tool stores and inventory, let them know that there is an established business waiting for the perfect owner to carry on this legacy.
The prices are great, long C BE and circle H sockets for 40-80 cents, almost any screwdriver, a buck or slightly higher, I paid 4-8$ each for 6 S shaped Keystone adjustable spanners. They have fordson and a few other brands as well. These shops are literally a museum for sale. You'll find some garage sale stuff, but the overwhelming majority, that I noticed anyway, is 1960's and previous. Which makes sense, because Skip buys everything from estate sales and people have been on the east coast for a LONG time.
Hulls Cove Tool Barn is next to his home, and it's where he processes all of the tools. This is also the location he keeps the better tools. I didn't see any asian made cheap junk there. Everything was vintage American quality or hand forged. This is also where he keeps a very large selection of planes. They range in price from 6-10 bucks to 1k+.
The downside is, he is ready to retire. He has his stores listed and offers training in tool picking and continued assistance buying to anyone who is willing to buy the business and keep it going. He really does love his craft and helping the community but is wanting to take it a little slower than his 70 hour work week picking and cleaning tools and start writing more.
If you are in the area I would HIGHLY recommend supporting this business and if you know anyone with (iirc) about $6m laying around that wants to buy a few tool stores and inventory, let them know that there is an established business waiting for the perfect owner to carry on this legacy.
http://www.libertytoolco.com/LibertyToolforsale2016.pdf
Liberty Tool - $600K
Captain Tinkham's Emporium /w inventory - $325k
Bank's Garage (if purchased with Liberty Tool) - $200k
Not really sure where the $6m figure came from...
Liberty Tool - $600K
Captain Tinkham's Emporium /w inventory - $325k
Bank's Garage (if purchased with Liberty Tool) - $200k
Not really sure where the $6m figure came from...