I like the way the old hand tools feel in the hand and how the feel when you use them. There is something poetic about the sounds and smells generated while using these old hand tools.
Remember this picture? It is a testament to just how much I like the old tools.
This is a new hand plane and is easy to use. It sure made this task easier!
Since I like these old tools so much, and starting a woodworking business, I have started to collect them.
Today was an eventful day in the hunt for old tools.SWMBO and I went to the local junk shop. While there I picked up a few new 'old' toys.
The little hand plane on the left and the big one on the right were part of today's haul. The little one is a Stanley #102 from the turn of the 20th century. The larger one I have yet to identify.
The middle one I found in a box of junk that my friend Bill (the guy getting me into the business) gave me a few months ago. I didn't find it until about a month ago though. It is a Stanley #220 also from the turn of the 20th century.
This grouping shows one of the 'real bargains' I found today - the large level in the back.
The level is a Stanley #0 Sweetheart level in Cherry wood. It's from anywhere between the 20s & 40s.
I picked it up for a fraction of the value!!
The other items are a wooden marking gauge; a wooden slide rule that measures openings (way cool how it works); and a hand drill.
Here's a close-up of the hand drill.It's a Craftsman and has '1017' stamped next to the name. Not sure if this is a model number or not but am looking into it. I'm also no sure how old it is, but it works!
This next item Bill picked up for me at an action a few weeks ago. I knew they were going to be in the sale, but I was just too sick to go.
It's a homemade toolbox that contained several wood chisels, awls, files, etc.All of the handles are wood. The large black one is actually dark, dark red and hollow.
The chisels and awls can be switched out with the handles.
Here is some more of the tools from the box.
The seven, wooden handled items are wood carving chisels from England.
Do you see the little dark handled chisel at the lower left? That's another piece of very dark red wood.
To be honest, a few of these tools (about a third of the awls & files) I found in the garage after we bought the house. That's one reason I wanted this box of tools - they matched what I found! How cool is that?
Do you see the thing that looks like a corkscrew at the top? That is a small hand drill called a 'gimlet'. This is one of the tools found on the property.
So - if any of you out there have any old hand tools you'd be willing to part with - I'd be willing to give them a home!
Well, it's getting late so I'd better sign off....
Cheers!
Larry ~
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7 comments:
My dad had a hand drill like the red one, and he had one of the little ones that looks like a cork screw. I don't know whatever happened to all of his tools. He's been gone 32 years as of 3-25-2008. Sometimes it seems like I dreamed him.
p.s. Happy Easter to you and SWMBO!
I know what you mean about having 'dreamed' him. My grandfather has been gone for 28 years now and he was a master carpenter (we think his father was the carpenter who built our house). I would love to have all his old tools, but no one knows what happened to them.
Hope your Easter was a good one as well. Ours was fruitful.
Like your blog very much. =) Very amusing and sincere.
Hello Francine -
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you stopped by.
Larry,
I thought you might be interested in the web site of a neighbour of ours. He is a renowned maker of exquisite hand planes. If he weren't my neighbour, I never would've imagined the niche market for these beautiful hand tools in this era of instant gratification and power tools. Here's the link: Sauer and Steiner
WOW!! Thanks for the link.
Your blog looks interesting. I'll have to go through it tonight!
Thanks again.
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