Vintage tool showcase

[Tbucit]

I am looking for ideas for storing my vintage tools other than a tool box. I have plans to build a display coffee table but that is just a small part of the "collection". Another idea I had was the blueprint drawer cases, but am not sure about how much weight the drawers can handle. Any sharp ideas out there?

Randall

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Coffee table idea sounds good

 

[four.cycle]

I had to drive a long way to pick this gem up, and then muscle it down a flight of concrete stairs, but it was free, and the shelves are stout enough to support as much weight as I can load into it.

 

[r_olson_06]

I have a small nook in my basement utility room that I house my Plomb collection. I lined the walls with peg board and works well. Everytime my dad, grandpa, or FIL come over they always like to go see what additions I have found. Here is a small section.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very efficient way to keep track

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I had to drive a long way to pick this gem up, and then muscle it down a flight of concrete stairs, but it was free, and the shelves are stout enough to support as much weight as I can load into it.

That is gorgeous, 4.c! I would love to run into something like that. Last year I started deliberately looking for vintage bookcases or barristers at flea markets. Those or something like your cabinet would suit my needs and taste for my 20's and 30's era stuff the best. I saw a few, but out of my price range. LesserSon tipped me off to two sets of steel OD green barristers, and I am saving up some dough to make offers on those for my WWII socket sets.

I was lucky enough to run into an antique case from a barbershop last year (put out on the curb for bulk trash pickup - so free!). See Pic below and a link to more photos on the 'Wood cabinets' thread here. Unfortunately, the top only holds a few sets at a time, but I am keeping the rest of my 20's sets inside stacked up behind that smoked cut glass and rotating them up to the top.

 

[four.cycle]

Thanks! I suppose I should have paid attention before posting that photo image, which is from the CL ad that said "Oak Bookshelf". Obviously the seller didn't know oak from pine (or whatever it's made of.)

These are lousy shots taken after I got it home. I had to remove one of the cabinet doors and the shelves to move it:



I got this one from a woman up near Alki - another freebie. They'd left it outdoors in the rain. Like the one above, it still needs a bit of work:



I don't think it will be suitable for a lot of weight with the glass shelves.

There's another one I picked up as well but I don't have photos. It's a turn-of-the-century kitchen cabinet with glass doors somebody converted to a free-standing unit. Like the tall skinny one it was exposed to the elements and needs considerable work yet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We have the same taste. Those are both so perfect for displaying tools. I would lean some of my freakishly long special wrenches and bigass ratchets up inside the top of that tall skinny one. Unless the support is too delicate. The bottom areas would be great for small knick-knacks.

 

[Toolmaker65]

Depending on how they are supported (steel pins or brackets vs. plastic clips), I would think about replacing the glass shelves. Use a suitably thick piece of wood or steel or aluminum plate with an appropriate finish (stain and varnish, paint or powder coat, black oxide, anodizing, etc.) This eliminates glass breakage issues.

Sent from my LM-Q610(FGN) using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[RTM]

See a lot of glass cases in anteek mauls, look especially nice with well cleaned machinist type measuring tools. Can see them from the top and bottom. Mirror'd backs add to the view if against the wall. Mr Tall n Skinny for tall light tools? You can always upgrade the glass shelf thickness for a bit more beef.

Gerstner sells a coffee table display case, might be some inspiration to be had there.

 

[four.cycle]

^ There are some structural issues with that tall one. The only thing keeping it vertical and somewhat plumb are the glass shelves themselves. I'm going to have to tack a diagonal brace across the back to keep it squared up and stable.
The shelves are tempered glass, but (as with another display cabinet I have in the bedroom) they'll only hold so much weight. I may well replace them with wood should I need to use that one for tools as well. (I have no shortage of antique items to fill it with.)
I kind of went on a "display cabinet" rampage a few months ago. My girlfriend says my house looks like a flea market. The red one is a contemporary piece - low end stuff - but it's in pristine condition and the lady in Maltby wanted it out of her house.

 

[four.cycle]

Here's the blue one I picked up from a lady in Kenmore. Another CL freebie.
Was stored in a damp garage for years and suffered a bit for it. Bottom end came unbuttoned during the move. The two drawers that fit into the bottom and the missing shelf had to be removed to move the piece. This one will require the most work out of the bunch, but should be a lot of fun dolled up with some frilly painted-on decoration.



Back panels are solid wood. Pre-plywood days. I figured I didn't do too badly.

 

[outofbounds]

Here's the blue one I picked up from a lady in Kenmore. Another CL freebie.
Was stored in a damp garage for years and suffered a bit for it. Bottom end came unbuttoned during the move. The two drawers that fit into the bottom and the missing shelf had to be removed to move the piece. This one will require the most work out of the bunch, but should be a lot of fun dolled up with some frilly painted-on decoration.



Back panels are solid wood. Pre-plywood days. I figured I didn't do too badly.

Mike Wolf and Frank Fritz would have peeled off a C note for that one!

 

[four.cycle]

Oh good grief! I had to Google their names to figure out what you were talking about there.
That show (and "Antiques Roadshow") both caused the American public to believe that any old piece of **** they've got laying about is worth a fortune.

The woman had been trying to give that thing away for weeks, but it was a "twofer" deal - if you want the glass-door cabinet, you also get the crappy (and mildewed) dresser with it.
I was apparently the only one who was willing to take both. The two workman she had on site didn't hesitate to load it up into the back of my truck for me.
Fortunately it only took two days for another guy to come and haul it off.
I still wonder if she knew that the bottom drawers were loaded with dolls and an antique doll tea set that I gave to the neighbor lady across the street for her grandchildren.





(* and yes, Nan got a hell of a laugh when she walked by with her dog and found me out in my driveway carefully arranging the dolls for the photos. *)

 

[outofbounds]

Oh good grief! I had to Google their names to figure out what you were talking about there.
That show (and "Antiques Roadshow") both caused the American public to believe that any old piece of **** they've got laying about is worth a fortune.

It is always interesting to me that these "American Pickers" are all consumed with old Bikes, Motorcycles, and Automobilia, but I can honestly say that I've never seen them so much as pick up a tool in this realm. What does that say about all of us?

 

[four.cycle]

^ That I would consider a good thing. Ebay and Etsy and Craigslist sellers are already delusional enough as it is about the value of vintage tools.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It is always interesting to me that these "American Pickers" are all consumed with old Bikes, Motorcycles, and Automobilia, but I can honestly say that I've never seen them so much as pick up a tool in this realm. What does that say about all of us?

Only the most sophisticated and discerning collectors appreciate tools

 

[Farmer J.]

I like to hang mine on the walls of my farm office, they're nice to look at for a rest after doing a tax return! Always an interesting diversion for visiting family (well, interesting to me, anyway!) and quite revealing of how some people comment on them. Almost everybody enjoys handling the tools, they can't resist the tactile feel, so that's part of the attraction for me of not putting them behind glass in a showcase.
All my collections have some personal link connection to my life, and a story, that's the common thread. I have to complete a 'set' before hanging each board.
r_olson has the best idea for displaying a 'work in progress' collection, his pegboard of plomb is also a wonderful spectacle and he can move pieces around as it evolves.
One of my kids did suggest an idea of making a coffee table with about 1" deep clear resin on the top with the tools visible within it, that may look good.

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's some pics

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's the rest of the pics...

 

[r_olson_06]

Here's some pics

Nice boards. How did you make your logos? Are the printed or orginal?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well done, J. The neat thing about making your own boards is that it relieves the pressure of filling every ring or peg on an actual board. Take that Merlin set, just to name one example. Having the contents diagram as the background with the nomenclature and the illustration is classy and just enough to give the pieces the honor they deserve without having to have the entire set, it doesn't look 'incomplete', and it serves its purpose of being a starting point for conversation about the set, the engine, the aircraft, and the war it helped win.

EDIT: I like your choice of materials, either actually vintage or aged/weathered. Probably not surprising to you given my taste for 'aged/weathered' toolbox refinishing.

 

[outofbounds]

Here's some pics

Very impressive, FarmerJ!

 

[Dave455]

Here's some pics

Those are nice Farmer J! Very nice! I particularly like the Super slim collection, not many as complete as that around!

I’ve always had the view, when hanging tools, that you don’t need to use pegboard. I’ve got quite a few of my regular tools hung on boards, and in each case I’ve just used whatever I’ve had around and made up my own brackets.

Never considered it for vintage tools, though I probably should! Thinking mans ‘artwork’!

You probably know - but that unusual spanner in your last picture is a hub nut spanner for removing wire wheels. Haven’t seen one in years!

 

[Farmer J.]

Thanks for all the kind words. Glad you all enjoyed the 'wall of tools' and hope it inspires the OP.
r_olson, apart from the TW Superslim which is a magazine advert all the logos are just stickers/decals from eBay put on to painted sheet metal.
Using my old weathered materiel was cheaper than buying new pegboard or genuine manufacturers sales boards, but I consider that pegboard does have the great advantage that one can move things around on the board easily and confuse one's relatives and friends with the changes.
I thought Lugz would like the Merlin one, the background is printed from a post Snapmom put up, and the paper is glued to 1/2" ply with PVA.
Dave, the Superslim collection is as complete to the 1965 catalogue as I can get but done in the 4 different finishes. It also includes a few 'contract' tool kit ones for Ford, Colchester Lathe, Land Rover and Vauxhall just for fun.
I was aware of what the Hub Spanner is but didn't know it was for wire wheels and I would have no idea how to use it! Thanks for your information on this. I do, however, know the entire history of that spanner, from new, and have the amusing story to go with it..! Watch out for a future post on the Lugz Automemorobilia thread..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first reported on the 2020 edition of the Garage Sale thread, I was thrilled to pick up these stacking barristers and top piece on the cheap this morning at the flea market! Once I get the Lugzsonian re-organized, these will be used as a showcase for small, rare, miscellaneous tools and my older DOE engineers wrench sets.

 

[rlitman]

Is that a Globe Wernicke? Very nice!

 

[Outlawmws]

As first reported on the 2020 edition of the Garage Sale thread, I was thrilled to pick up these stacking barristers and top piece on the cheap this morning at the flea market! Once I get the Lugzsonian re-organized, these will be used as a showcase for small, rare, miscellaneous tools and my older DOE engineers wrench sets.

Nice find on the Barristers Lugz!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find on the Barristers Lugz!

Thanks!

Is that a Globe Wernicke? Very nice!

Thanks. Now that you mention it - yes, it is!

Judging by the example I found in an online antiques shop ad (for $1,300!), looks like I am missing the base and the bottom, but I'm okay with that. I'm planning to put it on a workbench for now. At some point I may get my own room upstairs or re-do the garage.

 

[Dave455]

Dave, the Superslim collection is as complete to the 1965 catalogue as I can get but done in the 4 different finishes. It also includes a few 'contract' tool kit ones for Ford, Colchester Lathe, Land Rover and Vauxhall just for fun.
I was aware of what the Hub Spanner is but didn't know it was for wire wheels and I would have no idea how to use it! Thanks for your information on this. I do, however, know the entire history of that spanner, from new, and have the amusing story to go with it..!

You’ve done a really nice job!

I’ve got a few tools on display, but only things like my Grandfathers Yankee screwdrivers and a couple of his hammers. They’re all well used and they’re there mainly for sentimental reasons, as I can recall him using them.

Going back a bit, and a I’m talking waaay back (probably about 1970) a neighbours parents had an old Riley. Couldn’t tell you which, but it was bright red, and a classic then, so I’m thinking certainly pre war, maybe well pre war.

One day they had a flat, and I can remember my grandfather saying “watch this, he’s going to use a special spanner”. (I was into tools then, aged about 5). I’m pretty sure the spanner he used was almost identical to yours.

I don’t think yours is complete, or it may be a different pattern. The one for the Riley had a sort of complicated spanner head that was held by those 3 lugs. There was also a thumb lever, about the size of an old lawn mower throttle, that you had to press to release something before you could turn the hub nut.

Thinking about it, for only the second time in 5 decades, I can recall my grandfather saying something about “safety wheels”!

Interesting item though, with some age I think!