Hi folks,
This is my first post - have been reading your great messages for a while. By way of introduction, I have been an amateur wood carver, carpenter, and traditional woodworker for about the last 30 years (unfortunately my day job has little to do with any of these).
By necessity, I also collect old user hand tools - usually by the rusty box load from a barn sale. Some have value, but only after a lot of restoration.
Sometimes I find a tool that has been customized beyond any collectible value - because some brother Neanderthal had a job to do and the tool needed "adjustment". I don't mean to poke fun at these guys - but some of their solutions are kind of funny and can be heartbreaking if you could have sold the tool for LV/LN cash.
I'd like to share a couple I have, see if you-all care to share in the comiseration with ones of yours. The idea isn't that the tool was broken - just improved..
First: Late model Stanley Bailey N0. 22 Transitional Plane with trick sole. Belonged to my grandfather the finish carpenter who hopefully just kept it going for sentimental reasons. The wood sole is worn right up to the "Stanley 22" stamp.
Stan 22.jpg
Not sure if this is some sort of aftermarket repair device - it's aluminum and the mouth is precisely made. Notice the wear on the brass screws where a few got proud of their countersunk hole- hope he just adjusted doors with it.
Stan 22 Sole.jpg
Next shot shows the wide-open throat - fits plenty of shavings before clogging...
Stan 22 throat.jpg
My second Custom Classic is an early 20th century 3-inch Paring chisel by Greenlee. Been wanting one for years, and saw the socket and blade base sticking up from a box of rusty files at an auction. After I bought the lot for 5 bucks, I pulled Excaliber out and saw the do-it-yourself Neander Moulding Plane project that hadn't quite been finished. It still has 6 inches or so left on the blade, so I suppose I could grind it down to use - but then all the effort taken to grind the profile would be lost to history. Besides, I'm betting I'd have to re-temper the blade - I doubt he could have ground it like that without sinking it first. You think he was going to just freehand-carve moulding with it? (It's a joke, son, look at me when I'm talkin' to ya)
Paring 1.jpg
Paring 2.jpg
Thanks for looking, hope you liked it - anybody care to share? I'll try to be more serious next time...