Which tools to buy for collection?

[qqzj]

Hi guys, I am itchy to buy tools again, but a big problem of mine is that I have bought ALL the tools that I can see myself using now and in the near future. So the only solution is to buy tools not for use, but for collection. For the tools I am using, I mostly went for GearWrench and Tekton. However, for collection purpose, tools of all brands and from all countries are welcome. The only concerns of mine are

1. It will increase in value. So if I want to sell it in the future, I will make money, or at least break even.

2. It actually looks nice and I can possibly use it myself. Don't want to buy a piece of rusty gigantic metal of archeological value.

3. There is some historical significance to it. Like the last batch of USA made Craftsman ratcheting wrenches etc.

So if anyone has seen any tools that satisfy these conditions, please share! And let us know at what prices these tools are worthwhile. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Klein tools have some very nice pieces. If you look at their anniversary pieces they went up in value substantially. As far as history, they have been around since 1857.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If you're talking buying NEW tools to collect so they can gain value, you're chasing a retreating dragon down a hole. Keeping them "virgin" may help some, but if you look at the S/O sets still in wrapper they're selling for what they did off the truck... eg, no gain. And once you use them, they are no longer "virgin"...

Some stuff, of course, sells for more than what they did new - but it's partially since they still have use. Case in point - a Hand Cranked Coil Tester for a Model T Ford. Specific tool used to set the ignition coils on a model T (there are 4 per car) so they're all generally in time with one another and draw equal amps... they're valuable mainly because there's still hundreds of thousands of these ±100 year old cars out there, and the tool works. Or the vehicle it was made for or issued with is a rarity - a factory original toolkit for a bathtub porsche, still in the bag, or a good condition adjustable wrench for a Flying Merkel motorcycle (which were made for only a few years in the early 1910's) stamped Flying Merkel are examples.

Since I work on vintage and antique stuff, I collect stuff like that both because of it's design and uniqueness, but also because it's usable on the stuff I work on.

So I guess the answer is really up to you - whats your interests, why do you want to collect tools, and how do those tools tie into what you like to do? That will answer your question. If it's solely to "sellt hem later and make money", you're chasing a faster dragon down a blind hole into its lair, and while you'll have a lot of pretty, shiny "stuff", you may never get your money out of it ubless you get REALLY REALLY lucky at garage sales, pawn shops etc... and trust me, a lot of people are beating you to that punch already, and it's a tough act to break into.

 

[Ton ton]

Get a Klein tools claw hammer.

 

[toddmorr]

mass market items hardly ever go up in value. Can you think of *any* tools that aren't mass market as sold today? maybe those rare handled Nepros ratchets. maybe some dumb NASCAR labeled Snap On widget.

so by definition, a mass market item has plenty of supply and the price will reflect that. Only way it goes up is if for some reason major demand shifts for it, *after* production has ceased.

best you'll do is something that holds it's value, and even then you're extremely lucky.

 

[qqzj]

I found any USA made tool SETS, must be set, has potential. Must have their original packaging. If I save them for another 10 years, I should be able to make some money. Those USA made socket and wrench sets are selling for good money on eBay nowadays. Some premium version tools are good too. I saw some premium version of Craftsman ratchets are sold at more than $200 each. I don't know why they are so desirable. Anyone can help?

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[Draftpick1]

I found any USA made tool SETS, must be set, has potential. Must have their original packaging. If I save them for another 10 years, I should be able to make some money. Those USA made socket and wrench sets are selling for good money on eBay nowadays. Some premium version tools are good too. I saw some premium version of Craftsman ratchets are sold at more than $200 each. I don't know why they are so desirable. Anyone can help?

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Those craftsman ratchets were only made for a couple years, not my cup of tea for that kind of money. Agree that usa made sets are the way to go if you want to collect and maybe make some money. I don't see tools as a good investment

 

[paulsomlo]

Put your money in the stock market or buy some rental property.

 

[RoninB4]

Klein tools have some very nice pieces. If you look at their anniversary pieces they went up in value substantially. As far as history, they have been around since 1857.

-A bit off topic but I worked at Klein Tool in the early 80's with Tommy Klein in the tool-room when he was still in college and his father/grandfather were running the company. Klein made nice tools back then, perhaps still do.

-To the OP, collect what you know and would have used in your endeavors as part of your passion for the task. Hand/machine tools seldom increase in value in big numbers. Many a speculator has ruined the fair price market for those of us that still use items as they were purposed for. That was not intended as a dig, just a suggestion to collect what has intrinsic value to you on a personal level regardless of artificial constraints like market prices.

 

[anavrinIV]

If asset value increase is your only concern invest in index funds and wait, you are almost guaranteed better results than just buying up odd things and sitting on them hoping for a gain. Property is one of very few things that almost guarantees a positive return on investment....in general "things" do not. Very rare cars may but anything you can sell needs a buyer and you have to hope one is there.

Buy what you need or what you want. If what you want is more money spending it on tools is a bad way to go about that.

 

[qqzj]

Thanks for all the advice! I have a lot of money in ETF now and will be buying another house. The case for tool collection is that they are kinda like toys now. I don't want to sink precious money in them. Feels much better if I can at least recoup the cost.

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[JP Chestnut]

Some premium version tools are good too. I saw some premium version of Craftsman ratchets are sold at more than $200 each. I don't know why they are so desirable. Anyone can help?

I have the 1/4 inch version of that premium ratchet circa 1999 or so. I don't know why anyone would pay $200 for it, but it is a pleasure to use. Even so, I'd happily take $200 for it and replace it with a Snap On equivalent.

 

[Robinson1]

Cant believe I'm the first person to say it. USA Craftsman! If you have complete sets its money in the bank. Depending on where you live it can be worth while cruising pawn shops and flea markets to piece sets together. While you're there scoop up all the Plomb, Proto, Snap On as well as every old USA made adjustable wrench you fcan buy cheap. Ebay bidders are stupid when it comes to these things.

Also to a lesser extent older Porter Cable belt sanders and routers have a cult like following among wood workers

 

[seber]

Buying new tools and expecting them to hold value is a fool's errand. One place you can expect increase is already collectable tools. Nineteenth century woodworking tools are one place you can count on. Henry Disston saws, Stanley Baily planes, etc.

 

[richfinn]

Limited/Special edition Snap-On screwdrivers

Formula 1 team branded tools are collectable

Porsche/Ferrari/VW original vehicle tool kits

I like old British Britool stuff, but just for fun, its worthless in reality

My dad was a Carpenter/Joiner and has a very nice set of British woodworking tools in his workshop. More or less worthless of course as hardly anybody wants manual labor here in the UK anymore (those that do use mostly Chinese made cordless power tools)

People want to get paid for sitting in front of a screen or be "celebrities"

Hand tools aren't really any kind of investment for the future unfortunately except maybe collectables limited editions

 

[kngelv]

The amount of people who collect tools is very small. Less and less people can even do an oil change. I can’t imagine investing in tools now in hopes of cashing in on an ever shrinking amount of the population who can use or even care about hand tools. When I was a kid everyone’s dad did oil changes, rotated tires etc. Now? Hardly any. Look at all the kids playing video games all day who could care less about tools. I somehow got lucky because my 13 year old is a bicycle fanatic and is constantly tweaking stuff and doing repairs for all his friends. He carries a toolkit in his backpack everywhere he goes. The local bike shop has already offered him a job when he turns 14. He is a rare one though. I suggest buying tools that you like and use or can pass down to your kids. I kind of look at tools like the toys in the Toy Story movies. They want to be played with and used - not sit in a cabinets for years and years without ever touching a bolt, nut or screw.

James

 

[bobcatdan]

Find another interesting that requires different tools. As a mechanic I have 99% of what I need. Then I got the idea of getting into hobby machining. I had just the bare minimum of tools for it so now it is paging through catalogs eyeballing machinist tools. I don't even like spending money on mechanics tools (which I don't need anyways) now because I could be buy machiest tools with that money.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Old hand planes seem to always go for higher and higher amounts, especially the ones that are in excellent condition.

 

[CR888]

Maybe buy up on Chinese tools. As nobody wants to buy them now, maybe in a few years they will go up in value as there won't be many around that are of age in good condition.


PS...this could well be the worst financial advice given ever.

 

[ajchien]

Maybe look up the Japanese Higo No Kami knife. Old school, handmade, quality steel knife maker from Japan, there’s some law that says only people from a certain family are allowed to make these knives, and apparently the last guy is in his 70s or 80s and he has no heirs or children. So apparently whenever he retires or passes, the knives will never be made again.

Who knows if this is a “a good investment”. Usually tools are costs of business rather than things that appreciate. I’d agree in with the folks saying that the stock market and real estate are where return on investment is mostly found.

I bought a small version one just for curiosity. It sits unused along with a handful of pocket knives I consider neat display items. They’re not expensive, supposedly made for the “common man”. I think I paid less than $20. I personally don’t expect to ever make any money off of it, kinda morbid thinking that for it to even become a potential “item of value” depends on someone else passing away.

 

[orangeblood]

its like collecting anything else for profit:

1. become an expert in a defined space AND
2. buy only the best of the best OR look for mistakes by sellers
3. resist the urge to accumulate vs "collecting"

collecting and selling "good" stuff is a fund-your-hobby game not a money maker.

Cars are a really good example. Watch Barrett Jackson during the morning sessions of the opening days. You will be amazed at the number of good cars with hammer prices that are low or reasonable. Then watch on Friday and Saturday night when the numbers matching or rare models are sold. You will (again) be amazed at the number of cars with hammer prices that are off the charts.

Just my $0.02

 

[JP Chestnut]

its like collecting anything else for profit:

1. become an expert in a defined space AND
2. buy only the best of the best OR look for mistakes by sellers
3. resist the urge to accumulate vs "collecting"

collecting and selling "good" stuff is a fund-your-hobby game not a money maker.

Cars are a really good example. Watch Barrett Jackson during the morning sessions of the opening days. You will be amazed at the number of good cars with hammer prices that are low or reasonable. Then watch on Friday and Saturday night when the numbers matching or rare models are sold. You will (again) be amazed at the number of cars with hammer prices that are off the charts.

Just my $0.02

This is good advice. I've made a small fortune buying and selling Rolex watches. I did that by (1) knowing a lot more about them than almost anyone else, and (2) getting in the game much earlier than most.

You simply couldn't replicate what I did if you started now. EVERYTHING is currently overpriced. I liked and collected watches that weren't "new" but weren't yet "vintage." Now everyone loves them.

 

[richfinn]

its like collecting anything else for profit:

1. become an expert in a defined space AND
2. buy only the best of the best OR look for mistakes by sellers
3. resist the urge to accumulate vs "collecting"

collecting and selling "good" stuff is a fund-your-hobby game not a money maker.

Cars are a really good example. Watch Barrett Jackson during the morning sessions of the opening days. You will be amazed at the number of good cars with hammer prices that are low or reasonable. Then watch on Friday and Saturday night when the numbers matching or rare models are sold. You will (again) be amazed at the number of cars with hammer prices that are off the charts.

Just my $0.02

Classic cars are a great example, in the UK the working classes have developed a bit of a thing for performance variants of fairly mundane Fords, particularly RS Cosworths or anything connected to Rallying

The original Lotus Cortina (as driven by Jim Clark) would probably be the holy grail of these cars closely followed by the RS1800 ****** (Ari Vatanen) and the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (criminals favorite getaway car)

You never really see or hear about the Audi UR Quattro because they were just a bit less affordable and more complicated to work on in your driveway

Subaru Imprezas became popular in the 1990s thanks to Colin Mcrae, but are fading in popularity as they dont compete in WRC

I suppose this is our version of the "Muscle car" scene in the USA (as we dont really do the drag racing thing over here/or have any influence from American Action movies)

I think what I'm trying to say is you cant really lose money with Fords "Rally Replicas" if you keep them long enough

 

[toddmorr]

EVERYTHING is currently overpriced.

a lot of truth in this. Information and data is so widely and cheaply available now that market inefficiencies are pretty quickly bid away.

i guess if you have a knack for seeing what might be popular 10 yrs from now, but that is risky and difficult. Chances are if you see it, the price is already bid up.

 

[Spanner]

Some of the old English made tools are fetching a decent price now but as one poster added, if they are for sale they are probably already bid up. But you can get lucky and find a gem and I think that’s all part of the fun, it about the hunt as much as the kill.


Tool Junkie!!!

 

[qqzj]

A local guy is selling a USA made gold ratchet for $50. Is it a good deal? It doesn't come with a wooden box though.

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[will335i]

This is good advice. I've made a small fortune buying and selling Rolex watches. I did that by (1) knowing a lot more about them than almost anyone else, and (2) getting in the game much earlier than most.

You simply couldn't replicate what I did if you started now. EVERYTHING is currently overpriced. I liked and collected watches that weren't "new" but weren't yet "vintage." Now everyone loves them.

A submariner is on my list and I am really mad that I couldn't buy one a few years back as they all seem to be starting around 2K more now. Would love some tips on hunting one down.

 

[measuredtwice]

A local guy is selling a USA made gold ratchet for $50. Is it a good deal? It doesn't come with a wooden box though.

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According to qqzj, if you have to ask then you should only buy Tekton or Gearwrench.

P.S. Is Mr T selling the gold ratchet??

 

[richfinn]

A local guy is selling a USA made gold ratchet for $50. Is it a good deal? It doesn't come with a wooden box though.

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Meh, I would pass chrome tools always looks better than gold IMHO

 

[Stuey]

Nepros? That's what I'd do.

 

[JP Chestnut]

A submariner is on my list and I am really mad that I couldn't buy one a few years back as they all seem to be starting around 2K more now. Would love some tips on hunting one down.

My great regret (actually two of them) was not buying every single Y serial green Sub I could get my hands on when they were $5k NIB. Similarly, not getting a couple porcelain dial Daytonas when they were floating around.

Had I done that, I would have been able to retire at 40.

What kind of Sub are you looking for? The current six digit ceramic models are basically a commodity at this point. I'm partial to the older five digit models. My last purchase was a NOS 14060M no date sub.

 

[paulsomlo]

A local guy is selling a USA made gold ratchet for $50. Is it a good deal? It doesn't come with a wooden box though.

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Is it solid or 14 karat? If it's solid, yeah, but offer $5 less because no wooden box.

 

[crguy]

Old hand planes seem to always go for higher and higher amounts, especially the ones that are in excellent condition.

You obviously haven't been watching the market for any length of time. Planes are way down in value from 10 -15 years ago.

 

[will335i]

My great regret (actually two of them) was not buying every single Y serial green Sub I could get my hands on when they were $5k NIB. Similarly, not getting a couple porcelain dial Daytonas when they were floating around.

Had I done that, I would have been able to retire at 40.

What kind of Sub are you looking for? The current six digit ceramic models are basically a commodity at this point. I'm partial to the older five digit models. My last purchase was a NOS 14060M no date sub.

Either a 116610 or 16610. I can’t afford the more collectible ones at this time. I would prefer a date model but wouldn’t say no to a great deal on a non date.

Yea I agree I have read that they can almost serve has travel insurance of sorts. No matter where you are in the world if you have your Rolex you can get yourself out of a jam. Maybe I’m drinking too much of the kool-aid to believe that.

 

[JP Chestnut]

Either a 116610 or 16610. I can’t afford the more collectible ones at this time. I would prefer a date model but wouldn’t say no to a great deal on a non date.

Yea I agree I have read that they can almost serve has travel insurance of sorts. No matter where you are in the world if you have your Rolex you can get yourself out of a jam. Maybe I’m drinking too much of the kool-aid to believe that.

Are you familiar with: https://www.watchrecon.com

It's a web crawling application that pulls for sale listings from all the watch forums. You can get a good sense of who's selling what and for how much.

There are a small number of guys who have basically cornered the market on used Rolex. Some of the big names are David SW (I wouldn't buy from), takuyawatches (he's good to go), ocwatchguy (I've bought from him), watchexplore (I've bought from him), NFZ4 (OK, but look at pics carefully), SohAIS (good dude), and watchexplorer (high prices, but probably the best for 5 digits).

There are also some big time collectors that buy and sell a lot. Their prices will be lower. Two really good ones are drster and Matt Wu. I know both personally.

 

[dsh]

This is good advice. I've made a small fortune buying and selling Rolex watches. I did that by (1) knowing a lot more about them than almost anyone else, and (2) getting in the game much earlier than most.

You simply couldn't replicate what I did if you started now. EVERYTHING is currently overpriced. I liked and collected watches that weren't "new" but weren't yet "vintage." Now everyone loves them.

The Rolex sports watch market went absolutely bonkers. Now even Tudor Submariners from the 90s are going for the same price as the Rolex counterparts of the same vintage.

 

[JP Chestnut]

The Rolex sports watch market went absolutely bonkers. Now even Tudor Submariners from the 90s are going for the same price as the Rolex counterparts of the same vintage.

I passed on a mint unpolished and complete blue Tudor 79090 for $3,000. That one hurts. I'm mostly out of the watch game at this point. I have mostly everything I want, and additional $10K+ watch purchases is just too much at this point.

I'm tempted by the new blue Tudor BB58, but even $3K would buy a lot of tools and other stuff.

 

[Sidchrome]

Either a 116610 or 16610. I can’t afford the more collectible ones at this time. I would prefer a date model but wouldn’t say no to a great deal on a non date.

Yea I agree I have read that they can almost serve has travel insurance of sorts. No matter where you are in the world if you have your Rolex you can get yourself out of a jam. Maybe I’m drinking too much of the kool-aid to believe that.

Also look at 16600 Sea Dweller, personally I think this will become as collectable in the 5 series as the Subs. Certainly worth a look imo.

 

[JP Chestnut]

Also look at 16600 Sea Dweller, personally I think this will become as collectable in the 5 series as the Subs. Certainly worth a look imo.

I have a 16600 as well. I really like it and last I checked they were one of the only "40mm" (they're actually more like 39mm) five digits that isn't crazy overpriced.

They do wear tall though, and the dial is smaller than a Sub or GMT2.

 

[Sidchrome]

I passed on a mint unpolished and complete blue Tudor 79090 for $3,000. That one hurts. I'm mostly out of the watch game at this point. I have mostly everything I want, and additional $10K+ watch purchases is just too much at this point.

I'm tempted by the new blue Tudor BB58, but even $3K would buy a lot of tools and other stuff.

The new Blue BB58 is definitely a good looking watch!