Why old "vintage" tools?

[VintageBronco]

I'm new here and the most curious thing is this. I have realized others here have a thing for old tools. I am wondering the reasons we have interest in them and decided to start a thread about it.

Who is interested in old beat up tools to exchange them for new?

Who is interested in old beat up tools to resell them for profit?

Who is interested in old beat up tools for personal collection?

I personally participate in all 3. I have purposly broke antique Snapon ratchet that I knew could not be fixed just to get a brand new one. I have gotten older tools in bulk to sort them out and sell them seperate. I also have a small collection of old tools that I will NOT sell, exchange or trade, just for personal collection. How about everyone else?

 

[wilbilt]

I have beat up old tools because that is what I have.

Some of them were beat up when I got them. Others were new, but my blood and sweat made them the way they are now. I'm not interested in trading them for new.

 

[VintageBronco]

I have the same at work. Old mac and snap on and even craftsman that I started out with. I would never trade them for anything, only to pass on to my son.

 

[wilbilt]

My son is an idiot. My daughter will get mine.

 

[VintageBronco]

Whoever deserves them

 

[chad s]

My son is an idiot. My daughter will get mine.

Give him time! A fathers tools is something very important, hopefully he will straighten out, and they can be something he'll treasure.

 

[wilbilt]

Give him time! A fathers tools is something very important, hopefully he will straighten out, and they can be something he'll treasure.

He won't straighten out. Trust me on this.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have a few old tools that i love. some are ones that are just damn handy and no longer made, others like my '46 F-70N are just a pleasure to use.

 

[MachineTech]

I have seen fellas that I have worked with pick up an antique Snap on from estate sales and garage sales and break in intentionally to exchange it for a brand new one from the dealer only to sell it. Sometimes the dealer is happy to do it other times I can tell he does it without his heart in it.

 

[chammyman]

I have never got a tool to break then trade in for a new one. I have a lot of old tools, some are used some aren't.

I could sell some of them no doubt but I wouldn't get the money I wanted and I would worry they would be ruined. On the other hand if someone woudl take care of them and use them I would probably give them away.

Some stuff I will never get rid of as I use them even though they may not be the best tool for the job but they may have been gifts from people that have died and its something to remember them by.

 

[eschoendorff]

My son is an idiot. My daughter will get mine.

OMG... spewed yet more cereal on my 'puter. You gotta stp doing this to me Will...



I pick up old tools, but rarely with the intent of warrantying them for new. I think of the as a small but tangible piece of history...

 

[dxdexter]

While I have several older tools, I will not buy any tools in order to purposely break them for exchange. The older tools that I do buy are a specific brand (not Snap-on) and not "beat up", but in OK to good condition.

The older tools I buy have historic significance to myself and I will still use them when possible. I always like to use my grandfathers tools. They bring back fond memories whenever I handle them.

 

[goodfellow]

I love old mechanics tools. I've even traded new tools for old --I just like the fact that those tools were made at a time when America was at the height of it's industrial output.

The quality of steel was better, hand fitting was still important, workmanship mattered, distributors had pride in their products lines, and tool companies were not yet a part of international conglomerates that outsourced to the lowest bidder. "Made in the USA" was a fact, not a marketing gimmick.

 

[dxdexter]

I love old mechanics tools. I've even traded new tools for old --I just like the fact that those tools were made at a time when America was at the height of it's industrial output.

The quality of steel was better, hand fitting was still important, workmanship mattered, distributors had pride in their products lines, and tool companies were not yet a part of international conglomerates that outsourced to the lowest bidder. "Made in the USA" was a fact, not a marketing gimmick.

While I mostly agree, the old tools I purchase have to be "Made in Canada".

 

[chad s]

I have a few old mechanics tools here and there

 

[billymade]

The question isn't "why" but "why not?"; you can find very usable tools at reasonable prices and while using them; think about the guy in the 20s, 30s, (on, on until this present time) who bought them new off the truck and all the old cars he fixed while using them! Saving money and using vintage tools is not a crime!!!! LOL!!!

 

[chammyman]

for the greenies your helping the environment by using old tools!

 

[Bolster]

Several reasons.

(1) The old tools are often "designed" with a look you can't find today; they're artwork, the likes of which will likely never be made again. (I also like vintage Contax and Leica cameras, antique furniture, and old cars.)

(2) They're "positively historical." The tools I collect come from a vibrant, strong, free, confident America with a positive vision of the future. Not the self-doubting, PC-obsessed, identity-politics, cringing outsourcing socialist nanny state we have become. (Yes, I have a degree in History, and can grok the difference.)

(3) Top quality at (often) bargain prices.

(4) Nobody's going to accidentally put my tools in their toolbox...mine are unique!

(5) Thrill of the hunt. You don't just roll down to Sears and buy em on sale.

I definitely don't buy 'em to be 'green.' I happily burn gasoline to find 'em.

 

[old salvage]

While I have several older tools, I will not buy any tools in order to purposely break them for exchange. The older tools that I do buy are a specific brand (not Snap-on) and not "beat up", but in OK to good condition.

The older tools I buy have historic significance to myself and I will still use them when possible. I always like to use my grandfathers tools. They bring back fond memories whenever I handle them.

I love old mechanics tools. I've even traded new tools for old --I just like the fact that those tools were made at a time when America was at the height of it's industrial output.

The quality of steel was better, hand fitting was still important, workmanship mattered, distributors had pride in their products lines, and tool companies were not yet a part of international conglomerates that outsourced to the lowest bidder. "Made in the USA" was a fact, not a marketing gimmick.

The question isn't "why" but "why not?"; you can find very usable tools at reasonable prices and while using them; think about the guy in the 20s, 30s, (on, on until this present time) who bought them new off the truck and all the old cars he fixed while using them! Saving money and using vintage tools is not a crime!!!! LOL!!!

Several reasons.

(1) The old tools are often "designed" with a look you can't find today; they're artwork, the likes of which will likely never be made again. (I also like vintage Contax and Leica cameras, antique furniture, and old cars.)

(2) They're "positively historical." The tools I collect come from a vibrant, strong, free, confident America with a positive vision of the future. Not the self-doubting, PC-obsessed, identity-politics, cringing outsourcing socialist nanny state we have become. (Yes, I have a degree in History, and can grok the difference.)

(3) Top quality at (often) bargain prices.

(4) Nobody's going to accidentally put my tools in their toolbox...mine are unique!

(5) Thrill of the hunt. You don't just roll down to Sears and buy em on sale.

I definitely don't buy 'em to be 'green.' I happily burn gasoline to find 'em.

^^^^^^What these guys said.^^^^^

 

[64merc]

The others summed up my thoughts pretty well. I love old tools!!

 

[Uncle Buck]

A few of my old favorite brands are Plomb, Blackhawk, Snap-on, Indestro, Hinsdale, and a few brands that escape me at the moment.

BTW: I bought an old 38mm Facom combo wrench for 5 bucks at the flea mkt just last week.

 

[Frank Elson]

I have beat up old tools because that is what I have.

Some of them were beat up when I got them. Others were new, but my blood and sweat made them the way they are now. I'm not interested in trading them for new.

I can't improve on that statement.

 

[paramudduck]

Trade old for new? Heck I do it the other way around! I've traded brand new Snap-on tools for old many times. One time I traded two new ratchets for a whole cantilever box of old tools.
The guy I traded with thought I was an idiot and when I saw the four F70's and two or three F71's plus sockets extension etc that were in there I thought he was an idiot.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

(2) They're "positively historical." The tools I collect come from a vibrant, strong, free, confident America with a positive vision of the future. Not the self-doubting, PC-obsessed, identity-politics, cringing outsourcing socialist nanny state we have become. (Yes, I have a degree in History, and can grok the difference.)

Amazingly well put!

 

[wilbilt]

(2) They're "positively historical." The tools I collect come from a vibrant, strong, free, confident America with a positive vision of the future. Not the self-doubting, PC-obsessed, identity-politics, cringing outsourcing socialist nanny state we have become. (Yes, I have a degree in History, and can grok the difference.)

How do you feel about the way history is being rewritten for today's textbooks?

It really ticks me off. They are sanitizing everything in the name of political correctness.

 

[speed bump]

I buy old tools for several reasons.

1.) exchange for new: sometimes the only thing I have purposely done this with is a Mac wrench I just picked with a broken box end. Otherwise I exchange them if I couldn't fix them or I found a defect that I didn't see when I bought it.

2.) Resell for a Profit: Almost never do this, if I pick up tools to sell its ussually to someone who needed them and I will sell for very little profit.

3.) Interested in tools for personal collection: Yep I buy New Britians to collect and the rest of them go in the tool box.

 

[Detroit Diesel Man]

For me I buy old/vintage tools because like was mentioned most were made at the height of the American Industry..however unlike others every tool I buy I use old,vintage or new vintage tools have history and always a story behind them that sometimes you can decipher by the wear on the tool..I like the fact that I am putting something back into the use it was intended for.


DDM

 

[moogoob]

i have old tools cause the guy at the garage sale said i could have em all for $3.

 

[MachineTech]

I have old tools because it makes me look old school

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I have purposly broke antique Snapon ratchet that I knew could not be fixed just to get a brand new one.

1) How can you bring yourself to do that?
2) I have an older Craftsman 3/4" ratchet...no way would I want to exchange it for a new one...I know the one I have is much better than any replacement I could get from Sears.

My son is an idiot. My daughter will get mine.

Will, I love the honesty

Several reasons.

(1) The old tools are often "designed" with a look you can't find today; they're artwork, the likes of which will likely never be made again. (I also like vintage Contax and Leica cameras, antique furniture, and old cars.)

(2) They're "positively historical." The tools I collect come from a vibrant, strong, free, confident America with a positive vision of the future. Not the self-doubting, PC-obsessed, identity-politics, cringing outsourcing socialist nanny state we have become. (Yes, I have a degree in History, and can grok the difference.)

(3) Top quality at (often) bargain prices.

(4) Nobody's going to accidentally put my tools in their toolbox...mine are unique!

(5) Thrill of the hunt. You don't just roll down to Sears and buy em on sale.

I definitely don't buy 'em to be 'green.' I happily burn gasoline to find 'em.

In total agreement with you there on all counts. Older tools, cars, furniture, etc, all have style. Most stuff nowadays has none. It's just produced for consumption. I can't stand these housing developments where the houses sprout up overnite and they all look the same, no one has any privacy, and everyone is on an 1/8 of an acre.

Maybe that's why I live in a 100 year old house with antique furniture and have two cars over forty years old!

 

[jerryW]

Because you can't get NEW vintage tools!

I like the way the older tools fit my hand and the bolt or nut. They have character and soul, unlike the new stuff.


jerry