Wednesday 24 March 2010
Browse »
home»
Tools
»
The Vagaries Of The Hunt (for old tools)
Rule #1 in the hunt for old tools is: �Things are not always predictable.� This rule is often expressed as �You just never know.�
A corollary rule (let�s call it 1A), is �Be persistent.� This rule is often expressed as �Let�s stop here. They look like they might have old tools.�
Let me illustrate these two rules by way of example.
Last year, I was down in Southern Oregon over spring break. I saw that the annual Antique Show was being held on the weekend. It cost $4 to get in the door, and catered towards the collectors. This should NOT have been a good place to look for old tools � but, being a big believer in rule #1, I went. And I scored big. I found a Stanley #62 low angle jack in great shape for under $100 dollars. Not cheap, but a very good price on this plane in this condition. And it's also where I found the infamous cigarette "nib" card. Sweet! Totally worth my time and $4 door fee!
Here�s the #62:
Flash forward to this year. Again I am in Oregon for spring break (family). Again the Antique Show is being held. Again I go, pay my $4 to get in and � strike out. There is nothing, NOTHING, there worth buying. In fact, one of the only hand tools I can find is a battered Stanley 120 with a tag attached explaining the page number in a book that set the price of this junker at $85. Wow! I�m out the door in 20 minutes.
That�s Rule #1 � you just never know�
Now, on the way home Rule 1A came into play. After the disappointment suffered at the show, all I wanted was to go have a burger and a milkshake. However, as I cruised down the road I came across a mini-storage complex with a �flea market� sign at the side of the road. Hmm. I slowed down for a closer look - mostly clothes, videos and car tires. Not a chance. But maybe�
I turned around, went back and parked. I started walking the rows of the complex and it was not looking good. Lots, and lots of junk. And, it was incredibly random. There would be a table set up in front of an open unit � and on the table would be a shoebox full of used plastic cigarette lighters, a bag of sand, a pile of plastic picture frames with no glass, empty perfume bottles, some jugs of anti-freeze and a flat of fresh limes.
But I kept walking, and eventually it paid off. I found �the tool guy�, and although I didn�t get anything amazing, I did get some nice old tools at a great price.
I scored: four old wood handled screwdrivers, a nice pair of 6� Sargent & Co. dividers, a pencil sharpener, and a Stanley #42X saw set in pretty good shape. And the total price was $9. Awesome!
Rule #1A rocks!
The Vagaries Of The Hunt (for old tools)
Rule #1 in the hunt for old tools is: �Things are not always predictable.� This rule is often expressed as �You just never know.�
A corollary rule (let�s call it 1A), is �Be persistent.� This rule is often expressed as �Let�s stop here. They look like they might have old tools.�
Let me illustrate these two rules by way of example.
Last year, I was down in Southern Oregon over spring break. I saw that the annual Antique Show was being held on the weekend. It cost $4 to get in the door, and catered towards the collectors. This should NOT have been a good place to look for old tools � but, being a big believer in rule #1, I went. And I scored big. I found a Stanley #62 low angle jack in great shape for under $100 dollars. Not cheap, but a very good price on this plane in this condition. And it's also where I found the infamous cigarette "nib" card. Sweet! Totally worth my time and $4 door fee!
Here�s the #62:
Flash forward to this year. Again I am in Oregon for spring break (family). Again the Antique Show is being held. Again I go, pay my $4 to get in and � strike out. There is nothing, NOTHING, there worth buying. In fact, one of the only hand tools I can find is a battered Stanley 120 with a tag attached explaining the page number in a book that set the price of this junker at $85. Wow! I�m out the door in 20 minutes.
That�s Rule #1 � you just never know�
Now, on the way home Rule 1A came into play. After the disappointment suffered at the show, all I wanted was to go have a burger and a milkshake. However, as I cruised down the road I came across a mini-storage complex with a �flea market� sign at the side of the road. Hmm. I slowed down for a closer look - mostly clothes, videos and car tires. Not a chance. But maybe�
I turned around, went back and parked. I started walking the rows of the complex and it was not looking good. Lots, and lots of junk. And, it was incredibly random. There would be a table set up in front of an open unit � and on the table would be a shoebox full of used plastic cigarette lighters, a bag of sand, a pile of plastic picture frames with no glass, empty perfume bottles, some jugs of anti-freeze and a flat of fresh limes.
But I kept walking, and eventually it paid off. I found �the tool guy�, and although I didn�t get anything amazing, I did get some nice old tools at a great price.
I scored: four old wood handled screwdrivers, a nice pair of 6� Sargent & Co. dividers, a pencil sharpener, and a Stanley #42X saw set in pretty good shape. And the total price was $9. Awesome!
Rule #1A rocks!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment