What's Your Oldest Working Tool?
 

No, not that one. One you still use that's been passed down or you've had for ions and it still works a treat.

Pics required.

So my boss don't count then? everyone calls him a tool

I have a home-made drill press that my grandfather made back in the 1930s. It has poured babbitt bearings that are now sort of sloppy, but it actually works!

Pictures!

You'll have to wait for the pictures, but my great grandfather was a blacksmith and I've got a lot of tools that he made, all stamped
Jacob Weaver
Muir, PA

Everything from ball-peen hammers and dead blow hammers to hatchets to fireplace tongs to straight razors.

You'l laugh. It looks like crap, but it's sort of a family heirloom. I keep dragging it around each time we move. I'll try to remember to take a pic...

This doesn't really count, but I ALMOST bought this forge on Saturday.

For $200, I am really kicking myself for not buying it:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p71v9ofBM6...1600/forge.JPG

My wife was away for the weekend too, she wouldn't have caught me sneaking it into the garage

very cool. The fact that it's hand made and still works today is awesome.

Early Sun Distributor Machine, not sure of the year. Last used to check the advance on my 911's distributor.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219237124.jpg

Its an oldie. 110 volts to power the electric motor (to spin the distributor), 12volt leads have to attach to a battery. And it uses two, D-cell flashlight batteries (under these covers) ...for what purpose, I have no idea?


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219237344.jpg


Another:

Black And Decker Body Grinder (circa 1940s?).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219237433.jpg

So you think that new Dodge Ram pickup with the Hemi has torque?....Pfffft! Lightweights! This was previously owned by my BIL's father who was a body man for about 40 years. It must weigh 10 lbs! No wonder his forearms looked like Popeyes! I cannot imagine using this thing all day.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219237477.jpg

Hummm...Type "R"? Probably the sound you make between your clinched teeth ...as you operated the heavy bassturd!

He also said working.

I've got an axe handed down through at least three generations of Higgins. It's absolutely indestructable. I wish they still made them like that. Hell, in the whole time we've had it, it's only needed two new heads and four or five new handles.

Ummm, so where's the original part?

I have a mid 50s vintage Sears electric drill that Dad bought new. Other than that, I still have most of the original tool kit from my '65 356. And I still have a working IBM 286.

How long is an "ion"?

I've got an old Thor drill I use every now and then and a Craftsman radial arm saw. I also have used this a couple of times, a Unimat hobby/jewelers lathe that I'm probably going to put on Evil Bay.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219249962.jpg

I've got a full set of wentworth wrenches from the 1920's that are still like new. I haven't worked on any old Rolls Royce in years and hope to never touch one again, but I'll keep the wrenches anyway.

My 1906 Winchester .22 pump-action is probably the oldest working tool I have. I still have my grandfather's Army Air Corps tool chest from when he wrenched on planes in WWII. It's a beast.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219251521.jpg

i have a screwdriver that is older, and i use that much more often than this. but this is much nicer.

I have an old Craftsman hand drill that belonged to my wife's grandfather. It has a wood screw-off cap that threads onto the hollow wood handle, and inside the handle are a full set of non-twist drill bits. I also have a set of calipers that belonged to him as well.

I don't use the old bits, but I use the calipers frequently, and the drill all the time (to drill pilot holes in tight spots where an electric drill won't fit).

I think about him every time I use them, and wish I had been able to know him. I hope to pass my tools on to someone who appreciates them...

You've probably all seen ones like them before, but I'll try to post a picture later.

I see if I can remember to get some pics...

But my friends dad gave me his heathkit VTVM and heathkit analog vacuum tube O-scope, I have vowed to clean them up an get them working.

Also found my dad's old slide rule digging through some drawers.

I should take a picture of the DeWalt radial arm saw at my in-law's lumberyard. I'd guess it's from the '40s or so. Apparently DeWalt actually invented the radial arm saw. It's a big SOB, everything on it is steel. Still works like new.