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Who likes vintage tools?

Bugguy

Practically Family
Messages
570
Location
Nashville, TN

Morecowbell

New in Town
Messages
14
Location
Fishers, IN
Ooh, ooh! How have I missed this thread?

This is a bench I purchased locally (Indianapolis area) about a year ago, had been in a piano factory that started production in the 1870's if I recall correctly. I'm on the fence about restoring it. It has fantastic patina but it could use a 50,000 mile checkup, a new front leg (it burned, very strange), and I've learned that there's a reason they don't make wooden vise screws anymore. But it really sets the mood when you want to do some woodworking.

tlWHUPBNIu1Y-y_RHRgLy6lEAHtPIAzDPKSMFkrv64-21VCeJa1iNXle4GMxSyFV6QF-C7xVzUl9jCSbYbxHKusbr52JgpfHzPRXp8_4h3U4zsl9swwnh8nKLGahrh-1H2xD8urw5ofApAj0deJNJkCmTjtp2nYvpM249u2KrgEk5mrkWxF7uWoEHRKVZ9bqIfcpKLbLCIymJXBRuMV2SEBwObSBO6svk2-Gyw7dthi6eZ6fXV1UrhdnHiFngMspiSQg2zCEyx6GHsn3u3tKhobDUA3axF0Z3FtsBXJvjvXMDtpDTrC1eFWniOGNx6JkzPHnZdikEv1BHGOZQpjfDrtsNNIyUHOVSMXqCTKx87W7M-l21-IQfuKknlDorxo29b7S_gkd-oPBbYv2BpFp7qB-1jPsqdqzJ8_B897gU8obwPcmQiK9O8fFBAlCnk8e0nJp_L4QkRRrgH-jyJZTRRSOKPoW7yVjeDtsNJvw3YA5-GAiY9l296f9h3V4bbE9vm5ftrgYdRJnrcGXyLvTVQmVLF7V69nrlgDix-Jx-lnMIOPwn6bbqKCI1IOLpULjcgkUPwBUCZVyfT66GyU0KTPy8yWGqqHDo2RZ1v0pAini7RPnSw1PGk5MRmrtcfv00xNRTupKn_7oW7Lotfv5sq_dO7_kaM7qsv6oyrq8Pny2dUAEefPuDT14RkH60o7rBmd_occLlB_VrjZt90fpx5E=w1250-h938-no
 

de Stokesay

One of the Regulars
Messages
181
Location
The wilds of Western Canada
Ooh, ooh! How have I missed this thread?

This is a bench I purchased locally (Indianapolis area) about a year ago, had been in a piano factory that started production in the 1870's if I recall correctly. I'm on the fence about restoring it. It has fantastic patina but it could use a 50,000 mile checkup, a new front leg (it burned, very strange), and I've learned that there's a reason they don't make wooden vise screws anymore. But it really sets the mood when you want to do some woodworking.

tlWHUPBNIu1Y-y_RHRgLy6lEAHtPIAzDPKSMFkrv64-21VCeJa1iNXle4GMxSyFV6QF-C7xVzUl9jCSbYbxHKusbr52JgpfHzPRXp8_4h3U4zsl9swwnh8nKLGahrh-1H2xD8urw5ofApAj0deJNJkCmTjtp2nYvpM249u2KrgEk5mrkWxF7uWoEHRKVZ9bqIfcpKLbLCIymJXBRuMV2SEBwObSBO6svk2-Gyw7dthi6eZ6fXV1UrhdnHiFngMspiSQg2zCEyx6GHsn3u3tKhobDUA3axF0Z3FtsBXJvjvXMDtpDTrC1eFWniOGNx6JkzPHnZdikEv1BHGOZQpjfDrtsNNIyUHOVSMXqCTKx87W7M-l21-IQfuKknlDorxo29b7S_gkd-oPBbYv2BpFp7qB-1jPsqdqzJ8_B897gU8obwPcmQiK9O8fFBAlCnk8e0nJp_L4QkRRrgH-jyJZTRRSOKPoW7yVjeDtsNJvw3YA5-GAiY9l296f9h3V4bbE9vm5ftrgYdRJnrcGXyLvTVQmVLF7V69nrlgDix-Jx-lnMIOPwn6bbqKCI1IOLpULjcgkUPwBUCZVyfT66GyU0KTPy8yWGqqHDo2RZ1v0pAini7RPnSw1PGk5MRmrtcfv00xNRTupKn_7oW7Lotfv5sq_dO7_kaM7qsv6oyrq8Pny2dUAEefPuDT14RkH60o7rBmd_occLlB_VrjZt90fpx5E=w1250-h938-no

I'd love to see a picture of this bench.
 
Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
I read the title of this thread and thought "damn, almost every tool I own is approaching vintage".....I bought my basic woodworking tools and all my mechanics tools over 50 years ago when I left university. I did not know what I wanted to do but I did know I was tired of reading, studying and writing essays and needed to learn to work with my hands. Bought tools; built rudimentary furniture and began to apprentice as an auto mechanic. I could not afford the top of the line stuff so settled on Craftsman and a long love affair with Sears.
 

Turnip

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,351
Location
Europe
Bench, vise, brazing torches and not too few other things in my workshop are indeed vintage. Many things passed down from grandfather´s / father´s days. As these have been metal professionals, as well as me, there´s no DIY tool to be found.

full
 

Turnip

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,351
Location
Europe
:)

Never mind, there’s a reason why you’d have to learn this for 3 1/2 years here for getting permitted to play in a band…;)
 

Bugguy

Practically Family
Messages
570
Location
Nashville, TN
Seems like the best old tools are the ones that can't be improved upon and are still useful. My dad had this pipe cutter with a threader and tripod stand. I kept this cutter and use it more often than I would have thought. This past weekend I needed to cut down some heavy chromed pipe for closet rods. Choices were hacksaw, trip to the big-box store or my cutter.... it was like cutting butter. Clean and quick. Ditto for black gas pipe, etc. My son-in-law understands thin wall conduit, but this went to a whole other level. I guess this old guy still has a few tricks.

IMG_6892.jpg IMG_6893.jpg IMG_6894.jpg
 
Seems like the best old tools are the ones that can't be improved upon and are still useful. My dad had this pipe cutter with a threader and tripod stand.

Love it! So many memories. My Dad had the same (or very similar) setup and I used it to re-plumb my first house and borrowed it on a few other occasions. Years later Dad asked if I had it ... then he checked with my brother ... and finally just accused us of borrowing and losing it for a couple of decades. Then, when he moved, we found it in his shed under a pile of boards. Good times. :p

upload_2022-2-3_18-58-27.png


I enjoyed Dad's Ridgid calendars as well!

upload_2022-2-3_19-4-21.png


Pretty sure my wife's Granddad's set is still in his shed. Probably under a pile of boards as well by now as we've only had copper, PVC and PEX for the last 40 years.
 

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