My father’s tools

[DGersic]

This little hand sledge was like the hammer of Thor when I was a kid.

Looks like it needs a new handle now.




I think he got these 7Up boxes in California. I should figure out how old they are. One has hammers. The other has files.

 

[micromind]

This little hand sledge was like the hammer of Thor when I was a kid.

Looks like it needs a new handle now.




I think he got these 7Up boxes in California. I should figure out how old they are. One has hammers. The other has files.

Looks like the kind of box that dynamite came in many years ago.

 

[BSWS]

Lost my father a half century ago. He engraved his name on most of his tools. Still tear up once in a while when picking up a wrench and seeing that..

Sorry for your loss...

That sounds familiar but it was only 6 years ago. I'm still finding my dad's SS engraved in just about everything I saved. Sometimes I have to laugh a little at his creativity in hiding the number on some things.

 

[sansbury]

Sorry to welcome you to the club. My father died suddenly 10 years ago at age 77 in otherwise pretty good form, he was starting to slow down a little but only thing he had given up was downhill skiing after he got a hip replaced a year earlier. One thing I have never felt any envy for are my friends who have watched parents go one piece at a time over months and years. That is a hard road.

When he died I didn't have much shop/storage space and he was a woodworker where I primarily did metal and electronics. So I only took a few tools that he really liked and that I thought I might use but would probably never buy. It was also something of a rough time mentally so I didn't really give it a lot of careful thought. The joke was on me as eventually I got more space and started doing woodworking again and ended up buying a lot of stuff he had. At least his wife got the $ from the sale, she needed that and by the time I came around I was doing very well financially so the purchase was no big deal for me.

But if I had the chance to do it over, I would probably at least keep more of some odds and ends, stuff that was going to sell for pennies on the dollar but would be easy to store and put a smile on my face every so often when I pulled it out. I know it would make him happy to see me using it, and it brings back memories of many happy days together on one project or another when we were both much younger. What I say to people is that the loss is something you never really get over, but with time you do get past it, and the memories grow sweeter.

 

[DGersic]

Way back when, he. Built his own tach/dwell meter from a magazine article. I haven’t owned anything with adjustable dwell in decades, but I can’t let this go.




The “calibrator” is a cardboard box wrapped with dried up masking tape. A wall plug is connected to two bolts that stick out one end of the box.




Back when magazines showed you how to build things.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

He always called this a monkey wrench.

"Auto" (for Automobile) type made by Vlchek.

Looks like it needs a new handle now.

Or not! I like a short handle on a small sledge. They fit in a toolbox better and I seem to have fewer "missed" strikes that way.

Crescent 1/4” drive socket set,

Made for Crescent by Wright.

I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

It looks to me like the original set is six point, and he must have added the eight points for something. I don’t know what prompted that addition, though.

That Crescent set did originally include the 8-points.

To elaborate on 4.c's call out, double-square midget drive sockets with 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" service openings were very common right up through the late 1960's from many mfgrs.

1/2” set that I rarely saw. It only came out occasionally.

The Crescent midget set is uncommon enough - but that 1/2-drive set is even rarer, and having both is really something special.

 

[Dave455]

That box/logo is great. I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

In 1/4” square drive sets, the 8 point (or “bi square”) sockets were typically included for the square adjusters on drum brakes.

I work on a lot of ‘70’s era vehicles and find them invaluable.

In bigger drive sizes they are useful for a lot of non automotive tasks - I use them on square shafts around the workshop, and also for coach screws / lag screws.

 

[DGersic]

The Crescent midget set is uncommon enough - but that 1/2-drive set is even rarer, and having both is really something special.

I’m not a collector, but that’s interesting. Thanks. The 1/4 drive set is going to be inside, basement shop. I don’t yet know where the 1/2 drive set is going to live. I already have 1/2 in the garage, but can’t think of a time that I’d need 1/2 in the house.

 

[danielbuck]

Glad you kept some of the tools. My father passed about 12 years ago, I still use some his tools that I took back with me after he passed. None of them were particularly expensive tools, but they weren't junk, just old. Mostly nostalgic and sentimental to me, but I do use them when a use case arrises that doesn't require abusing the tools. Any time I use them i think of him. And I'm sure he would have liked that.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Glad you kept some of the tools. My father passed about 12 years ago, I still use some his tools that I took back with me after he passed. None of them were particularly expensive tools, but they weren't junk, just old. Mostly nostalgic and sentimental to me, but I do use them when a use case arrises that doesn't require abusing the tools. Any time I use them i think of him. And I'm sure he would have liked that.

I know the feeling. I also have an old aluminum roasting pan, that he used to change oil. I have retired my plastic one, and use it now.

 

[3baygarage]

Hi, sorry to hear about your loss. It makes me happy to see you caring for the tools and keeping them. Thanks for sharing them with us. Some nice ones.

My father passed More than 5 yrs ago. I'm both happy and sad that he had zero tools. He wasn't handy or into repairing things. He was who he was. He had few possessions, a good thing as the house was filled with stuff from many other family members.

Regarding the Crescent, as mentioned, 8 pt. Was common in 1/4 inch.

Crescent drive tools in particular were made by Wright,New Britain, maybe others. Those round head ratchets, I'm not positive the maker. Something that came out of Crescent Niagara Co., and don't quite match any other brand.

What I can tell you is about the mechanism. If you take a look you'll see a potato looking thing in the diagram (Figure 70).Believe it or not that is sponge, some type of sponge/foam-like material. First time I saw it I thought how neat, someone's clever repair. Then realized it really works and is meant to be there, and other Crescent rats have it too!

Enjoy what these wild inventors came up with.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's something about the little anvil....I would probably do the same, put it on the end of the workbench because that is " where it belongs."

The 7-up crates were used when returnable 16oz glass bottles were a thing... they fit four cartons in them I believe. Probably stopped being used early to mid eighties, during the switch to non-returnable glass bottles.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My father died a little while ago. Before, I didn’t want to take any of his tools.
.
.
.
Now we’re starting to empty the house, so I’m picking some of them. They’ll join in, getting used for a few more decades of fixing, building, and tinkering.

I understand completely ! While I progressed beyond my father mechanical skills, he was a much better carpenter than I am !

When it came to cleaning out his garage, I found that the neighbors had taken many of the wrenches, sockets. etc. I did get 2 tools that I had fond memories of. And old pair of pliers with red plastic grips. They are now waiting for my grandson (his great grandson) to be old enough to use them ! And a old push/Yankee hand push drill (I thought it was so cool when I was a kid !).

 

[Lou's Garage]

Enjoy the tools and the memories they will bring you. My dad died in 1965 when I was twelve and I was fortunate enough to inherit all his tools and some of the equipment from Lou's Esso Servicenter (see my avatar). Every use was a source of pleasure to me and connection to what I had lost. When I opened North Rockland Amoco in 1976 I already had almost all the hand tools I needed to fill that shop. Unfortunately, they were all stolen in the first burglary. I still have some odds and ends along with his original pre-WW2 tool box. I'm putting it all together to pass down through the generations...I hope they will appreciate it.

Lou Manglass

 

[DGersic]

And a old push/Yankee hand push drill (I thought it was so cool when I was a kid !).

He had a Yankee screwdriver. I don’t know where it went. I haven’t seen it in decades, he may have gotten rid of it. It is a neat mechanism, but my battery tools are much more convenient to use.

 

[LOW1]

Great tools. Greater memories. I hope that you always retain at least some of both.

 

[Jgaz]

Sorry for your loss.
My Dad died almost 23 years ago and I still miss him.
I saved a few of his tools to remember him by.

I understand completely ! While I progressed beyond my father mechanical skills, he was a much better carpenter than I am !

This was the case with my dad and I as well.

 

[DGersic]

That Crescent set did originally include the 8-points. I recently sold the exact same set. (see below. the re-branded Wright 2400 ratchet was an add-on to the set.)

One eBay purchase later…

 

[DGersic]

Or not! I like a short handle on a small sledge. They fit in a toolbox better and I seem to have fewer "missed" strikes that way.

The handle length is fine. It’s loose in the head, and the end is all beat up.

 

[rharman]

I have a few of my dad's tools. One is a pair of grass shears that he always used. I still use them occasionally and it always brings a smile to my face. Handles still wrapped in electrical tape from when he used them. His old pipe wrenches and a few others. So many good memories.

I also have a bit & brace set with the canvas roll that, I believe, belonged to my maternal grandfather.

 

[M.Brane]

Dad passed in '09. Brain cancer he fought 4X as long as they gave him when found. He was a project guy, and was busy until he just couldn't.

This was the state of the garage shortly after his passing:



There is so much hardware, and electrical I'd like to keep. I just don't have the space. I do have the drill press, vise, and SC tool box. I think of him every time they are used. The drill press, and vise originally belonged to my maternal GF. Both are from the '30s.

 

[Codyboy]

That sounds familiar but it was only 6 years ago. I'm still finding my dad's SS engraved in just about everything I saved. Sometimes I have to laugh a little at his creativity in hiding the number on some things.

After we were burgled around mid 70s , my dad went crazy with a little engraver he bought at radio shack.
Instead of SS he engraved his DL number into everything, and I mean everything around the house.
He passed in 2015 and I chuckle everytime I use one his tools or even an old card table.
Yep there it is , his DL.
Weired that I know his DL number by heart , but I've seen it on all the things since I was around 10.

 

[Skyman]

Condolences to all for the loss of your dads.

My dad timed out four years ago. He didn't do much with tools, didn't have a lot of them, and many of those he had were of mediocre quality. I did save any that weren't total junk and that my brother didn't want - he, like dad, doesn't do a lot with tools.

It would be an understatement to say that my dad and I had problems with each other when I was in my teens, but we later made peace and enjoyed each other's company until he passed. I do feel some warmth and sadness when I see or handle one of those old tools.

 

[rharman]

Dad passed in '09. Brain cancer he fought 4X as long as they gave him when found. He was a project guy, and was busy until he just couldn't.

This was the state of the garage shortly after his passing:

There is so much hardware, and electrical I'd like to keep. I just don't have the space. I do have the drill press, vise, and SC tool box. I think of him every time they are used. The drill press, and vise originally belonged to my maternal GF. Both are from the '30s.

That is just awesome! I love that space! All the peanut butter jars, cat food boxes, the tins, the multi-drawer hardware units. Wow!

What's in the book collection?

 

[driftpin]

A ‘70 Beetle and a ‘72 Type 4 / 411. I don’t think the bug had anything as fancy as an E Torx in it. Maybe the 411 did, that thing was an interesting beast. Other than those, and a random Saab he bought from a coworker then got rid of because it was junk, everything else was US brands, mostly Pontiac and Buick.

The 411 was mom’s car. I had my first driving lessons in it. Bosche fuel injected flat four that at idle in drive would do 30 MPH. To go any slower, you had to drag the brakes. Pulling it up to the grocery store, back when the bagger boy would bring a lady’s groceries out to the curb and load them for her, always got puzzled looks when she would pop the hood. Taking it to the local VW dealership would cause a commotion, emptying out the mechanics from the shop and most of the sales guys, all clustering around it with “wow, never seen one of these before” and “I didn’t know they actually sold any of these” comments.

The Type 4/411 was a less-seen body style, and I can believe the VW mechanics would want to take a good look at it.

When I lived in SW MI, my friend's dad was a VW dealer in the 1950's/'60's. He had a Type 34 Karman Ghia, and it never saw snow or salted roads, so a fair-weather automobile. Below is not his car, but is the Type 34. His car was a 'creampuff,' a well-kept car that you would never see across the intersection. Their home was on a local lake, and it had a large, roomy 2 car garage, probably 35 ft deep. When anyone of his three boys' friends would show-up, "Bondo Bud" would pop the hood, take a look at it, and start in cleaning the battery terminals, checking the fuel filter, air filter, and oil dipstick and the auto ****** dipstick, topping-off the fluids, including the wipers' windshield fluid. Interestingly, their home was probably 3 miles from the MI Gilmore Auto Museum.

I know the feeling. I also have an old aluminum roasting pan, that he used to change oil. I have retired my plastic one, and use it now.

A good one, I claim any cookware that is removed from cooking service, and use those which are useful in the garage, holding small parts, or being used to wash something in solvent.

I understand completely ! While I progressed beyond my father mechanical skills, he was a much better carpenter than I am !

When it came to cleaning out his garage, I found that the neighbors had taken many of the wrenches, sockets. etc. I did get 2 tools that I had fond memories of. And old pair of pliers with red plastic grips. They are now waiting for my grandson (his great grandson) to be old enough to use them ! And a old push/Yankee hand push drill (I thought it was so cool when I was a kid !).

In the mid-'70's, I bought an early 1970's Dodge van, 318 V8 & auto ******, PS/PB, and I planned out the inside with 1/4" plywood on the vertical sheetmetal ribs and the roof. At the rear corners I boxed them in, w/doors to hold the jack and a 4-way wheel nut wrench, and anything else needing a concealed place. I used a 3/8" electric drill and a handful of bits to drill holes, and then I used a Yankee screwdriver, a long Stanley, to hold the plywood in-place with drywalll screws. I didn't have a variable-speed drill, and while that would have gone much easier, I used what I had, and it came out OK. I have Kodacolor pictures of it somewhere, those pictures and negatives are not sorted.

The only tool I can recall having from my father was a small flat metal stock wire stripper (Vaco?) w/yellow insulation on the handles he used to build hi-fi kits. He built Knight kits and Dynaco kits, I learned how to solder watching him work on a card table in his bedroom, w/all the pieces laid-out and sorted, stuck-into pieces of cardboard. He had a table saw and he built from directions a Klipsch-type folded-horn bi-axial mono speaker. It's been > 50 years since he's gone, I was a young adult and was living in FL on my own when he died. That wire-stripper must be about 65 years old. I'm older than that.

 

[DGersic]

Probably the last memory token tool, at least for a while. Craftsman iron pipe threading and cutting tools. I believe he got these in California, so around 1968 or so. I don’t know what he originally bought them for, I guess the house there must have had iron pipe and he needed them for something. We moved out of California when I was four, so I don’t have a lot of memories of that house.

I‘m pretty sure that their Illinois house is all copper, except for the natural gas. He might have used them on that. The tools look like they’ve had some use over the years.

Unlike a lot of you guys, I don’t have a lot of good memories of projects / working on stuff / helping Dad in the garage or around the house or anything like that. The few memories I do have were mostly the “hold the flashlight” type, and most of those are the “Here! No, here! Not there, over here damnit!” type.

This one, though. Right after I bought my house, I wanted to change the electric dryer to natural gas. There was already gas in the house for the furnace. Dad came up for the day, and we cut a T in to the line feeding the furnace, extended it over to where the new dryer was going to go. Using this set of tools with Dad, on a positive project, is one of the only good project memories I have.

While we were at it, we added a T capped off to eventually feed a gas stove in the kitchen, and a T capped off to eventually feed a gas water heater. When I had the electric water heater replaced with a gas unit, the plumber started quoting how much it was going to cost to run gas to over where the water heater would go, and I was able to point him to the capped T, right there and ready to use. Similarly, replacing the stove as part of the giant kitchen remodel, they started quoting running gas line to the kitchen, stopped with a “nope, drill a hole through the floor, right here, and you’ll find a capped T ready to connect to and use.”

Somewhere, he had a pipe vise. I haven’t found that yet.

 

[M.Brane]

That is just awesome! I love that space! All the peanut butter jars, cat food boxes, the tins, the multi-drawer hardware units. Wow!

What's in the book collection?

The book collection is science fiction dating back to the early '50s many first editions. It fills most of the house as well. Thousands all catalogued library style. It was his escape from the daily drudgery. Peanut butter, and honey sandwiches every day for lunch. We always had cats.

 

[cherrybomb]

After reading this interesting and enjoyable thread I've come to realize how our Dad's took on the challenges, had the skill and confidence that they could fix or improve.They knew or had the correct tools.By having you as a helper,Dad was fixing and teaching ,I miss my Dad,but the memories and his tools aren't going away

 

[DGersic]

Found this in the garage.



Dad had several of them, this may be the only one left. It’s a “RAM” card from some old dinosaur of a computer that was used at the Bell System many years ago. You can see the “bits” of RAM on it.

The thing itself is an aluminum sheet. Thin and flexible, he used it as a small dustpan with a small whisk broom for cleaning up small messes.

 

[larry4406]

Found this in the garage.



Dad had several of them, this may be the only one left. It’s a “RAM” card from some old dinosaur of a computer that was used at the Bell System many years ago. You can see the “bits” of RAM on it.

The thing itself is an aluminum sheet. Thin and flexible, he used it as a small dustpan with a small whisk broom for cleaning up small messes.

Wow!

Smithsonian may want that....

 

[DGersic]

Wow!

Smithsonian may want that....

Looks like there is a guy on eBay selling three of these memory cards, and they include a cool looking felt lined wood box storage case.

 

[Stevettt]

I have not a single tool from my father, who was a journeyman machine repairman at Ford.
Before that he did did plumbing, installed furnaces and did mechanical work on heavy equipment.
At home he did nothing mechanical and his few tools were cheap, bunged into a cardboard box in the basement.
He claimed he could fix anything with a pair of Vice-Grips and Mercury head dime for a screwdriver.
My mom eventually bought a pink toolbox and filled it with basic socket, wrench and screwdriver sets along with
other basic homeowner tools and fasteners. My dad was not allowed to touch it, nor was I.

 

[i84x]

…I'm afraid when I leave this good earth my tools will go for pennies on the dollar as my two boys are not into tools…

Its ok, i had family tell me they’ll most likely take mine to the rubbish tip / scrap yard because they wouldn't be able to find anyone as gullible as me to spend “such stupid money” on old tools.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Its ok, i had family tell me they’ll most likely take mine to the rubbish tip / scrap yard because they wouldn't be able to find anyone as gullible as me to spend “such stupid money” on old tools.

90+% of my tools are Craftsman Made in the USA from the 70s and 80. My son's (40s) tools, who has a much smaller collection, is also 80+% Craftsman Made in the USA. My daughter's (also 40s) tools, who has a even smaller collection, is also 70+% Craftsman Made in the USA.

Based on the "stupid money" people on eBay are asking for Craftsman Made in the USA tools, they will be rich when I die !

 

[finn]

Probably the last memory token tool, at least for a while. Craftsman iron pipe threading and cutting tools. I believe he got these in California, so around 1968 or so. I don’t know what he originally bought them for, I guess the house there must have had iron pipe and he needed them for something. We moved out of California when I was four, so I don’t have a lot of memories of that house.

I‘m pretty sure that their Illinois house is all copper, except for the natural gas. He might have used them on that. The tools look like they’ve had some use over the years.

Unlike a lot of you guys, I don’t have a lot of good memories of projects / working on stuff / helping Dad in the garage or around the house or anything like that. The few memories I do have were mostly the “hold the flashlight” type, and most of those are the “Here! No, here! Not there, over here damnit!” type.

This one, though. Right after I bought my house, I wanted to change the electric dryer to natural gas. There was already gas in the house for the furnace. Dad came up for the day, and we cut a T in to the line feeding the furnace, extended it over to where the new dryer was going to go. Using this set of tools with Dad, on a positive project, is one of the only good project memories I have.

While we were at it, we added a T capped off to eventually feed a gas stove in the kitchen, and a T capped off to eventually feed a gas water heater. When I had the electric water heater replaced with a gas unit, the plumber started quoting how much it was going to cost to run gas to over where the water heater would go, and I was able to point him to the capped T, right there and ready to use. Similarly, replacing the stove as part of the giant kitchen remodel, they started quoting running gas line to the kitchen, stopped with a “nope, drill a hole through the floor, right here, and you’ll find a capped T ready to connect to and use.”

Somewhere, he had a pipe vise. I haven’t found that yet.

My dad passed in 1998, at 77, of brain cancer. He was a metallurgical /ores processing engineer and never really a hands on tool guy, so we didn’t have much beyond cheap homeowner tools at home until I started asking for tools as Christmas gifts when I was ten or eleven.

I was the oldest of six children, so I don’t remember doing a whole lot with my dad, as there was always another baby coming along.

I do have a few fond recollections, though, like picking up the Sunday paper and going out to breakfast after dropping the little kids at Sunday school, or busting up a trench in the basement floor and laying a new sewer pipe when the township brouanitary sewers in to replace the septic systems in the neighborhood ( I was maybe 10 or 11 at the time). We also went Deer hunting from when I was around ten until my college years. I think he enjoyed that more than I did, but it made him feel good, so I obliged . I carried my grandfather’s old Winchester 33 caliber (model 1894?) rifle.

He did change the oil and annually change the plugs on the family car until I took over that task at 11 or 12, and I distinctly remember him bringing the 6 volt battery in from the 53 Ford flathead during a cold snap, and putting it behind the kitchen stove. That car was traded by the time I was six years old. He poured hot water on the heads to get it started the next day. It was 25 below. I doubt if he ever did a brake job himself or changed points . He was quite pleased when I started doing that type of work at about fifteen or sixteen. He wasn’t by any means auto illiterate though, just not very hands on.

He did inherit his father’s (my grandfather’s) tools after I left home. I got most of them when I cleaned out my mother’s house almost twenty years after my father passed.. It was a limited, but interesting nevertheless collection with some iconic names, most likely sourced from the local hardware stores in the forties, through the sixties. Non of my siblings had any interest in the tools when we cleaned out the estate.

SK 1/4 and 3/8 socket sets, a Plomb hammer or two, Plomb breaker bar, Diamond Calk adjustable wrenches and pliers, Montgomery Ward four amp battery charger, wicker fishing basket, smelt dipping net, white cedar baskets he made in the fifties ( I recall him making them in his shop when I was about 5). There are also assorted hand tool boxes including a neat leather handled hip top box ~20 “ hand box and a late 40s Craftsman carpenter’s box.

Some, like the circa 1920s industrial wrenches I have soaked in citric acid solution and cleaned for eventual display, others like the bow saws and two man cross cut logging saws are hung on the wall, and some, like the Diamond and Plomb tools are in limited use In my shop and around the house.

I’m reaching the point with my own tools now. My kids have what they need, although there are no doubt more higher quality tools in my shop than what they have. They’re both fully capable of doing any repairs, but aren’t motivated to become “shop rats”. Both are mechanical engineers working in the auto / heavy equipment industry in management / corporate positions. I went through that myself, and there just isn’t a lot of free time for hobbies in that rat race.

I got my grandson a small tool kit not long ago, and he was thrilled, but he’s off to college this fall in pursuit of a business degree, and it sounds like an advanced degree after that. I’ll be well over 80 by the time he finishes his education, and probably even older by the time he’s well enough established to be able to have a shop of his own, and there’s no expectation that one is even in his future.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... he’s well enough established to be able to have a shop of his own, and there’s no expectation that one is even in his future.

3 grandsons ages 7 to 13. All they care about is Minecraft. Sigh !

 

[finn]

3 grandsons ages 7 to 13. All they care about is Minecraft. Sigh !

Mine went through that stage. Now he’s 18 and drives his uncle’s old Mustang Cobra and a Subaru WRX.