Timeless Tools and Treasures

I am very pleased to announce that soon I will be selling my vintage tools right here on my own site. My favorite web designers, GloDerWorks, based in NJ and the UK are doing their magic as they have so many times for me over the years. Perhaps you have noticed the new color scheme – that was the first step in moving away from a focus on fiber art toward an emphasis on tools. I’ll have all the usual conveniences internet shoppers expect today, and a lot more inventory than is currently listed on the other e-commerce sites. If you want to get a notice when the store is open, just sign up for my occasional e-newsletter. If you’re looking for something in particular, don’t hesitate to write.

A selection of measuring devices from recent purchases:

Tool shopping events are certainly limited in the winter up here, but we were invited to the home of a collector last weekend and acquired a few nice planes, saws and measuring tools. He is still working and using some of his hand tools, so would not let me buy all the ones I wanted. My favorite is this Birmingham No. 7 manufactured in CT 1899-91.

Also in this group is a rare No. 90, 60 1/2 and a 103. Not pictured: a nice clean Stanley No. 181 and a No. 75. The calipers and saws are yet to be photographed. At this point I must have three dozen assorted calipers and dividers from 3″ to 20″.  They are always popular at shows and useful for many trades and hobbies.

I’ve been enjoying that new series, “American Pickers” – it really captures the fun and challenges of finding treasures buried under piles of junk in dark barns and cellars. Everything they show is true – some people are grumpy and others are warm, friendly and sharing. Some people think they have valuable antiques and I have to tell them that the items are broken, missing pieces and commonly available in better condition. I advertise that I buy tools, so I get many interesting calls. Someone might say they have “hundreds of wood planes” that turn out to be mostly suitable for kindling. Others will forget that we have an appointment, or they have only a handful of items to show me after I have driven an hour to get there. Sometimes I have to take a whole garage full of stuff to get the “goodies,” but then I have items for my bargain boxes of $1 and $2 items at shows. My favorite items are some of the ones that are complete mysteries as to their purpose and history. Even with all my reference books, I can’t always determine the name of a tool. But, then it’s really fun to test my customers at antique shows – everyone like to show off what they know!

All I wanted for Christmas was shelving in the basement so when I unpack from all the summer shows I can organize my inventory. From mid-April until mid-October, my tools live in my van and are unpacked every weekend for various shows. It’s always an adventure to find items that sell online mid-week! During the winter they come inside and now I can spread out all those planes and chisels 100s of other items so that they are easily identified. My husband built me 72 linear feet of strong, deep shelving that can always be moved to a new location if I ever open a store. In the meantime, tools can be viewed by appointment if you can’t wait till spring.

I have been fortunate to become temporary steward of a great collection of tiny anvils in several different metals: iron, steel, aluminum, bronze and brass. Some are just ornamental, but most will meet the needs of jewelers and watchmakers. The average width is approximately 3″. They are listed individually for sale at http://tiny.cc/GoAntiquesTTT

One of my customers brought this item to me at the Peterborough Antique show. It is missing some parts, but we would like to know more about it. It is marked “Howe”, a company that still makes industrial scales. It appears to be brass or bronze. It is 43″ long and 7″ high and marked to accommodate up to 2,000 pounds. Most towns in New England would have a scale like this for weighing hay and other items. However, I have not been able to learn anything about it from local source or on line. Any information would be appreciated.

So, here are all the tools spread out in our workshop so we can clean and identify them – 200 pieces including many wood planes, Stanley combination planes, large draw knives and lots of miscellaneous.

Yesterday my husband and I were privileged to meet a master woodworker who is a state-juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. David Taylor had called me in response to my ad that I buy old tools. When we went to see what he had, not only did we find a vast array of planes, draw knives, chisels, saws, and dozens of miscellaneous items; we were surprised and delighted to explore his own workshop where he produces beautiful segmented turned bowls and other pieces on his lathe. We had a wonderful visit with David and his lovely wife and hope they will come to see our work shop.

There are so many tools, it will take weeks to get them all cleaned, photographed and cataloged, but what fun to examine them closely and decide which ones to showcase first. I will post photos as they become available.

A sure sign that things are improving is my increased sales both online and at the weekly antique show in Peterborough, NH. Last November, sales dropped to one fourth of what they were two months earlier and have been very light all winter and spring. Now, all of a sudden people are ready to give my tools new homes which makes it possible for me to go out and buy more! Buying tools is fun, but having lots of people come to my outdoor and online stores is an important part of the cycle.

Another fun part of being in the antique show is when people bring me their unusual finds so we can try to identfy them. This is where a good library of reference books and catalogs is so valuable. Last Sunday someone brought this beautifu piece – a Darling, Brown & Sharpe verniew caliper in its original Moroccan leather case. (Not to identfy, but to research the value and sell it for him.)

Last week one of the best resources I had for finding tool sellers just died. There was a group of local newspapers including one that was 90% advertising, This paper (Weekly Flea) was very popular and if  you didn’t pick it up within a day of its weekly distribution, there would be none left. We found it entertaining to read – everything you could want was listed (a low-tech Craig’s list) from home decor to office equipment to trucks. And, I got calls almost every week responding to my ad “Cash for Old Tools”. The paper reached into eastern Vermont, central and southwestern New Hampshire. I had many fun adventures going to see people all over the area who called from this ad. Now I will be limited to people I meet at the Sunday antique show in Peterborough and those who read the local paper. Occasionally someone sees my ad in Unravel the Gavel which reaches throughout New England, but only people who are interested in antiques are going to see it there.

No matter how much information is on the internet, there is still a place for the community newspaper with a staff that collects announcements from the citizens and goes out to all the local events to report on them. It’s a cost-effective way for small businesses to reach their geographical market; a way for nonprofit groups to build a base of support; a forum for residents to comment on their town government; and a vehicle for notices of every description.