I look at them from an artistic viewpoint. Some of the designs are really different and to me very cool. But I also look at these tools from an age viewpoint. Today I was able to get some time in the garage. I have a bunch of old wood handled ball pein hammers I got from my BIL after he and my sister bought my late uncle's home. My cousin didn't want the tools and left them. BIL saw they were old and some were rusty so I took them because he was going to throw them away. I have always thought the design of the ball pein was kinda cool as opposed to a claw, drilling hammer, etc.
So this afternoon I was hammering away flattening a piece of scrap galvanized steel for a project with a couple of different hammers. While I was using them I was thinking about my uncle and maybe my grandfather using these hammers decades ago. After I finished, I spent a couple of minutes wiping them down with some PBblaster to keep them from rusting and then I stood there for a while admiring them. Good steel with good hardwood handles that have lasted at least 60 years or more. They'll outlast me and I don't baby my tools.
Last summer I picked up a older Blackhawk 3/8 ratchet from flea market. It appeared to be rusty and the action was rough but after cleaning the "rust" came off and the chrome was very good. The guts cleaned up really well and the teeth in the head appeared to be almost new. It works really well and the design has the indented rings next to the knurling. The rings are just a decoration but they really add some style to it. I also have some old Williams 1/2 ratchets - heavy and different. I think a cheater pipe would bend before they break.
I have purchased a number of other older tools at flea markets/garage sales and enjoy using them. My Crescent wrenches from the 20's are heavy (all steel from before "Crestoloy" was used) and will last for generations. I have some older Snap On flare wrenches with the indented panel - it looks cool compared to the new "clean" plain sided flare wrenches.
Someday I would really like to get an old drill press to restore, an already restored Unisaw and metal working lathe - South Bend preferably. They're just plain cool compared to modern machines.
