I really do like the people and most of the products and the atmosphere at our local(almost local to me) Woodcraft store. It is the ONLY such store around this area. I always get a fresh injection of inspiration there. Pleasant's Hardware in Richmond has a large selection of woodworking tools,but I have a more enjoyable experience at Woodcraft,and would hate to see it go. They teach classes there,too,which I've been invited to teach in. A bit far for me to run in on Saturday morning,though.
The relatively few cheap products they sell are annoying,but I can't realistically compare the Woodcraft of the 60's to the one of today. They have to sell what they can get,after all. They still are the dealers for the ne plus ultra Swiss carving tools I like so much. They used to sell a few LN planes. I bought a few shoulder planes from them. But,I guess that deal is gone. I WISH we had an LV store here,too!!
My old 1960's Marples square has the brass facing to the wooden beam attached with a sliding dovetail,not just screwed onto the wood as it is today. That level of craftsmanship in small commercial tools like squares in the old companies is gone,except for a revival going on in LV,LN,and the small companies like Vesper Tools,and several small saw makers,and some English tool makers like Iles. Hey!! This list is pretty long!! Maybe we aren't in such bad shape after all!! I could probably name some more good tool makers,but I just woke up at 4:30 this A.M.,and am not in gear yet. My back won't let me sleep.
It would really be good if Woodcraft could sell some of these limited production tools. I suppose the mark ups would be too high for them,being small makers as they are. I certainly can't afford to make and sell tools wholesale,nor am I inclined towards production anyway. Did a bit of that in the museum. Never enjoyed it. Cramps my creativity. I wish Chris Vesper would start making tools with scales IN INCHES (he's all metric)!!!! He has a pretty decent out put of squares,bevels,marking knives,etc.. And,he's much younger than I am. Had him here for a week last year. He makes some real nice things.
There is nothing like a store,where you can actually examine what you are buying. I'd loved to have gone to the original store in Boston in the 60's.
I know what Matthew says is true about the tough row to hoe that Woodcraft has. In our jewelry business,we only allow 1 dealer per zip code,and try to protect them.
There is a guitar amplifier maker in Va. Beach who sells to local stores. He won't make it long,because when the customers in a store see that he's nearby,they go directly to him and make a deal. His amps sit unsold at the stores. Soon they will be out of selling his stuff,and He'll be out of the free advertising,too. Well,just another Fender copy anyway,like many other such amps. If they had real taste,they'd copy Standels! Probably couldn't round up the original 15" JBL speakers,though. You've just GOT to protect your dealers if you want to do business.
Enough of my disjointed ramblings!