Who likes vintage tools?

[Bugguy]

I wanna play too! Found this yesterday...

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I’m definitely a “man with a problem “.

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Unfortunately, The Boss has decided I don't need a vintage saw.... so now I need to find a home for it.
I stalled with finding an inexpensive motor. I'll look forward to seeing yours all cleaned up. Good luck!

 

[Morecowbell]

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.

 

[de Stokesay]

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.

I'd love to see a picture of this bench.

 

[Morecowbell]

Hmmm, does it not show up on my post? I pasted it in and it's visible to me in my feed so I thought it was there - please let me know if that doesn't work!

Here it is again, just in case...

 

[BobHufford]

Unfortunately, The Boss has decided I don't need a vintage saw....

Sorry for your loss. I showed this one to my neighbor yesterday morning and by early afternoon he was back with a handle he made for it. More “man with a problem” sized than the original.

 

[Bugguy]

Sorry for your loss. I showed this one to my neighbor yesterday morning and by early afternoon he was back with a handle he made for it. More “man with a problem” sized than the original.

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Seems like I'd need 3 hands to work the saw... 1 to crank and 2 to steer the wood. How did that kid do it?

 

[BobHufford]

Seems like I'd need 3 hands to work the saw... 1 to crank and 2 to steer the wood. How did that kid do it?

The lower arm is a "hold down" arm that I think is used to keep the work somewhat snug while you crank with one hand and move the work with the other. There is probably a reason these aren't still made today though...

 

[Turnip]

Not really a tool but made using vintage tools, a practising piece i did as a kid during apprenticeship...still use it sometimes for illuminating my terrace
at night in summer.

 

[belfastboy]

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]

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.

 

[Turnip]

Some vintage (grandpa’s) Picard sheet metal hammers on an 80kg PFP anvil.

 

[BobHufford]

^^^^^ Very nice!

The only thing I've used my anvil for is to play along ... and I still get those two "bangs" out of time.

 

[Turnip]

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…

 

[BobHufford]

Hey … I recognize those feet.

First year Delta Unisaw (1939) and only year with four separate cast feet. Was a solid base after that. Comes home with me tomorrow when I have a trailer and some help.

 

[seres]

Wonderful find! A little cleaning and adjusting, and it should run like new! And probably last for another 80 years!

 

[clementishutin]

Any WWII vintage collection?

 

[BobHufford]

Safety First! I thought this vintage face shield with its translucent fiberglass caps was pretty cool. I will most likely replace the shield with a more modern (and less scratched) plastic.

 

[belfastboy]

Safety First! I thought this vintage face shield with its translucent fiberglass caps was pretty cool. I will most likely replace the shield with a more modern (and less scratched) plastic.

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Perfect for going out in this covid environment...

 

[Bugguy]

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.

 

[BobHufford]

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.

I enjoyed Dad's Ridgid calendars as well!

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.