Old Bell System Klein find

[Packard V8]

Out for our morning stroll, there was a garage sale a couple of blocks from home. By Saturday morning there wasn't much left, except a box of Stanley adjustable wrenches, a box of Klein dikes, lineman's pliers, a box of Klein needlenose, four Klein flat blade screwdrivers, some cable cutters, et al.

I asked the middle-aged couple why so many of the same tool? Turns out, her father worked for the Bell System (I did find one needlenose with Bell System on one side and Klein on the other side.) She said when Bell System had a new project, they'd buy all new tools; when the project was complete, they'd toss them. She said her father brought home buckets of hand tools and gave them to family and friends.

Even though I didn't really need them, $1 for a screwdriver, $3 for sidecutters or needlenose and cable cutters, I bought a double handful for $15.

I did think of you guys, but today it would cost $7 to ship a $3 pair of dikes.

jack vines

 

[txvwnut]

 

[bonneyman]

Yeah, shipping these days is a killer. Used to be I'd send tools to guys down on their luck for free. Folks who could pay got a deal, shipping was $5 for a small flat rate box, and I got a blessing out of it. Now the shipping doubles the cost of a tool. So buying tools is almost out for me, sending free tools is too pricey. I wait for the monthly thrift store sale and the surplus shop. Tools are cheap....and no shipping.

 

[southalabama]

Dad retired from AT&T in the Long Lines division.

He said they had a rotation schedule for hand tools. They would be replaced every so often. When they retired they also got to bring the contents of their toolbox home.

 

[genog]

I got a hold of a nice pair of Bell Systems Klein dykes from a nice seller yesterday
Notched
Grimy and cruddy... thanks to evaporust, they cleaned up nicely