North Bros gloat

[Gary Herrmann]

I was just poking around when I noticed something. An old box, taped on one edge.

I turned it around. Jostled it. Something in there.

Asked "Do you mind if I open this?"

I opened the box. Put it together and cranked the handle a few times. Smiled. Played with the selector. Cranked the handle. Smiled.

Asked "How much?" Inwardly cringing at what I thought the answer would be. The answer turned out to be less than half of what I've been watching them go for on the bay - in hard used condition.

I didn't laugh like a loon. I think.

Took it home cleaned off some gunk. Smiled really big. Oiled it up. Wow. This thing must have sat in that box for a long long time.

The names and dates in this story have been altered because I am going back.

[Greg Muller]

Pristine! Absolutely perfect.

Well done! Apparently I need to go shake some boxes.

Gregory

[Clint Jones]

You do realize you are not to use the drill. Well you can use it but it would be a REALLY dumb move considering you could buy a cheap MF drill and get the same results. It would be a shame if after all these years someone did. You are looking at around a $300 tool maybe more. The north bros. stuff is going for crazy prices.

[Greg Crawford]

Congrats Gary! Those are the finds we all dream of, but rarely come along. Hope you find more.

[Jim Koepke]

If Clint is right, you could sell it and buy a whole lot of rust!

jim

[Gary Herrmann]

I had planned on using the drill. I didn't really pay that much more than the rusty North Bros 1545 I posted about awhile back. I don't really have much interest in selling things on the bay. I guess I'll have to give it some thought, but I am still leaning towards using it. Isn't that what its for?

[Tim Leo]

Isn't that what its for?

Maybe not. That one is for selling so you can buy even more user tools. If Clint is offering, I'd be selling.

[Greg Cole]

I am still leaning towards using it. Isn't that what its for?

Gary,
My definition of a tool is something to be used....
Seriously, that thing looks brandy new. Might be worth either keeping pristine or sending it to Clint for his $300....LOL

$0.02

Greg

[Michael Fross]

You do realize you are not to use the drill. Well you can use it but it would be a REALLY dumb move considering you could buy a cheap MF drill and get the same results. It would be a shame if after all these years someone did. You are looking at around a $300 tool maybe more. The north bros. stuff is going for crazy prices.

Gary, I hope you don't mind if I ask a related question and hijack your thread just a bit. I really did wait until it slowed down!

I have a North Brothers "Yankee" No. 50. Attached are a few pictures. While I'm a hand tool guy, I really don't know what these vintage tools are worth. Anybody have a clue or can point me to a resource?

I have no idea if I'd sell it (it was my fathers) but am interested in learning more about it.

Much appreciated

Michael

ps. It's all one color, the second picture flash didn't seem to work very well.

[Mike Cutler]

I don't really have much interest in selling things on the bay. I guess I'll have to give it some thought, but I am still leaning towards using it. Isn't that what its for?

The eternal conundrum.
Finally find something nice, worth having, and using it devalues it.

I think I'd take Clint's advice. Put it back in the box and find another user. Kinda sucks in a way, but I understand where he's coming from.

[Jim Dunn]

The names and dates in this story have been altered because I am going back.

Gary where ya going back to??? Oh wait, I know, it's a secret

Nice gloat.

[John Powers]

Nice going but if it really would bring $300.00 you can't use it. Post the same pix on Ebay with a healthy reserve and let us know.

[Greg Muller]

Someone has to maintain the museum-quality tools so our decendants will know how smart and quality-minded their ancestors were.

You can use it once. As a test. Save the boardwith the hole and sawdust to go with the tool in the shadowbox.

Greg