I have quite a few old tools, and some just have such character to them, and feel oh so nice, it's hard for folks not to like them, IMO.
At the same time I have some new tools I've purchased which I also like, some of them are a better mouse trap than the equivilant old tool. As an example, the LV router plane, for instance.
In talking with Deirdre yesterday evening, we started to talk about old vs. new and that for toolmakers to survive, they do need woodworkers to buy their tools. And people do seem to be doing that, with a type of resurge in toolmakers of such product.
A lot of folks will stick to old tools, or others will stick to new tools, and many will claim that there is no justification in buying a new tool that costs quite a bit more. But the reality is that it takes time to make tools, and those toolmakers need to make enough to survive, and rightfully so.
It seems good to support the current toolmakers, and some of the products they make are just super. Was just curious how other folks think about their tools, if they only buy vintage tools on a matter of cost, or if they buy them because they are the best tools available? I think I'm somewhere in the middle, as I do like and buy old tools, as well as new. For me, if there's a better tool available that is produced today (A Wenzloff & Son saw, a LN plane, a LV plane, Knight plane, Anderson plane, etc...), I'm willing to try to understand it and see if it might fit into my assortment of tools.
Support the toolmakers while you can, otherwise they can and do go out of business. That seems bad when folks go out of business, and I don't see how it advances the woodworking industry when that happens. Thanks to all the toolmakers of all types for making an effort to be in business making tools, for without them we would be a lot worse off in this world, IMO.