Hardware Store Nostalgia

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Tractor supply is really for farm stuff. Lots of clothing, feed, and the stuff the average ranch or farm needs. The sell baby chicks, welders and lots of stuff for trailers.

Sounds like if they come in here, they give our local Farm Supply Company some competition.

[jorian]

There was a Mom & Pop in my old neighbourhood too. Real lino tiles made from linseed oil with a trail worn through to the concrete, tin ceiling tiles and a bell attached to the front door. The guy wore old Carhart overalls with a heavy coat because there was never any heat in the place, and he had reading glasses hung around his neck on a bathtub stopper chain.

He also offered small engine repair and basic machine shop services; had almost any fastener known to man and lots of cool vintage signs advertising long forgotten hardware. I'm pretty sure he didn't consider them cool. The place smelled like 3 in 1 oil.

The place got flattened to make way for the parking lot of the condo development next door. Now its full of Smart cars and $600 strollers Sad that my kid will never know a place like this because today if something breaks you just a buy whole new one...

[wdfifteen]

Great thread. I worked in a mom&pop hardware store after school and summers from age 16 to 18, and then as an appliance repairman through my last year of college. I have so many memories and stories I could write a book.
This place had oiled wood floors that we went in and re-oiled about every two months. The floor creaked as you walked across it. There was a bell on the front door and a big storage area upstairs. We sold GE appliances and TVs, had snathes on the sales floor (and sold a few) and had horse collars in the storage area upstairs. I never sold a horse collar.
Just one story:
We had some regular customers who were real characters. One of them, a guy named Woody, bought a 13" tv for his wife and had us store it upstairs until the day before Christmas. Our glass storage and cutting area was upstairs too. The store was packed the day before Christmas with people who weren't regulars. Woody came in to get his TV and I went upstairs and found an empty TV box and filled it with broken glass. Halfway down the stairs I dropped it and it crashed and rolled to the bottom of the steps. I picked it up and nonchalantly handed it to him. He said, "It is OK?" and I said, "Oh yes, they all make a lot of noise." The strangers in the store were appalled. You could hear them murmuring in disbelief. Woody took the box and stood outside and I had to wait on this shocked woman. As soon as I finished with her I went outside and Woody and I laughed ourselves sick.

[Ayles]

We have one in my neighborhood, interesting selection of stuff. Some of which has clearly been on the shelves for a VERY long time.

It's interesting but I only go there in a pinch since the guy at the counter is kind of a jerk.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Great thread. I worked in a mom&pop hardware store after school and summers from age 16 to 18, and then as an appliance repairman through my last year of college. I have so many memories and stories I could write a book.
This place had oiled wood floors that we went in and re-oiled about every two months. The floor creaked as you walked across it. There was a bell on the front door and a big storage area upstairs. We sold GE appliances and TVs, had snathes on the sales floor (and sold a few) and had horse collars in the storage area upstairs. I never sold a horse collar.
Just one story:
We had some regular customers who were real characters. One of them, a guy named Woody, bought a 13" tv for his wife and had us store it upstairs until the day before Christmas. Our glass storage and cutting area was upstairs too. The store was packed the day before Christmas with people who weren't regulars. Woody came in to get his TV and I went upstairs and found an empty TV box and filled it with broken glass. Halfway down the stairs I dropped it and it crashed and rolled to the bottom of the steps. I picked it up and nonchalantly handed it to him. He said, "It is OK?" and I said, "Oh yes, they all make a lot of noise." The strangers in the store were appalled. You could hear them murmuring in disbelief. Woody took the box and stood outside and I had to wait on this shocked woman. As soon as I finished with her I went outside and Woody and I laughed ourselves sick.

That's really good! Perfect timing, too! The BBC is looking for a new funny guy. Something about a gear?

(I had to look up Snathes. City folk don't need no stinkin' snathes!)

[flatbutt]

We feared we'd lose our family run hardware store when HD came to town. But by becoming an ACE store and the locals rallying around them they survived and is always my first stop. They almost always have what I need, especially fasteners of all sorts, household electrical, paints,stains,oils,rope.window screen repair. Heck they've even loaned me an extractor to get my showerhead out of the wall when it rusted out.

[crownarch]

Originally Posted by vash

few years ago, i got a bug up my butt to find USA made bastard files.

Vash, used to be a joke about the files that old timers used to tell. Seems like a guy walked into the hardware store and asked the young clerk if they had any bastard files. To that the young clerk replied, "no, but we have a bunch of those round SOB's."

[Scott Douglas]

Growing up in Santa Monica, there was only one hardware store worth a hoot.
This one:



Don't know if it's still the same today but it was the old fashioned kind of store you long for today.

[pete3799]

We had a general store in town ( more accurately....the only store in town) that had everything.
Horse collars, barbed wire, water pumps, nuts + bolts, clothing, boots, tire chains, canned goods, ammunition, you name it, and the post office was inside too.
When the owner died, about 15 years ago now, it took 4 days to auction off the contents.
Miss that store.

[911boost]

There is an old school Hardware store in La Porte, Colorado only a few minutes from my house. I try to go there and give them business. A few weeks ago I was installing a winch in my Razr and I needed a couple of tiny screws to mount the switch in the location I wanted. I knew the guy behind the counter who has probably been there since hardware stores were invented would go to the appropriate isle and find what I needed in a jiffy, as opposed to me digging there the drawers....

With that said Home Depot is one of my clients so I give them my business as well.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Don't know if it's still the same today but it was the old fashioned kind of store you long for today.

It was still there as of three years ago.

Plenty of mom and pops here in Portland. Its actually more convenient to visit them instead of driving out to 82nd where the big stores are.

[Danimal16]

Looks like a plan for a short road trip from Moorpark. I just love this County!

Originally Posted by craigster59

There's also Patterson Hardware in Fillmore. Wood floors, old scew and nail bins and helpful people. I've spent a few bucks there!

[Danimal16]

When I worked out in Santa Clarita I happened upon Newhall Hardware. Those folks were so darn friendly that they made the trip from Camarillo (where I lived at the time) worth it.

Another place that I miss out there is the original Gus' Tools. A classic from the heyday of home building in Southern California.

Originally Posted by Hugh R

AMEN brother! I've lived in Newhall for about 30 years. Newhall Hardware was amazing. Woodruff keys, saddles, guns, and every nut and bolt, including Whitworth taps and dies which I once bought for my 1930 Rudge Whitworth Grand Prix Ulster.

I asked once if there was anything they didn't sell and the grizzled old guy said "Hamburgers".

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

We feared we'd lose our family run hardware store when HD came to town. But by becoming an ACE store and the locals rallying around them they survived and is always my first stop. They almost always have what I need, especially fasteners of all sorts, household electrical, paints,stains,oils,rope.window screen repair. Heck they've even loaned me an extractor to get my showerhead out of the wall when it rusted out.

Same thing happened to B&B in Camarillo. BUT, they are still there and still a great hardware store. IMHO, it didn't take long for folks to appreciate B&B.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Growing up in Santa Monica, there was only one hardware store worth a hoot.
This one:



Don't know if it's still the same today but it was the old fashioned kind of store you long for today.

I was there about over a year ago. It should still be there.

[look 171]

One of my favorite hardware store is Berg hardware in Pasadena. They have every fastener available to man kind. If they don't have it, they will get it. They know their stuff well. Mostly old timers, but the few young men that work there are also pretty knowledgeable. Not cheap.

[intakexhaust]

I'll put Menards on the bottom of the list in quality of goods, the lowest grade stock of wood and awful customer assistance. It leads in pricing but not worth the hassles. BTW: I've done many residential housing rehabs and even though I try to avoid them, there's a convenience factor that regretfully draws me in. They seem to pull a good market share in the Midwest.

Lowe's stinks on selection, priced too high but better trained and helpful employees. If in a town where Menards competes, I'll gladly pay a little more and go for Lowes.

Of the three big box, Home Depot can sometimes balance the best of Menards pricing and Lowes service. For electrical and plumbing, selection is good and can find needs quickly. Their big thing now is gardening, plants, etc. The plant warranty is full replacement and 100% if they go bad. Some of my cordless Rigid tools have lifetime warranty on them - including batteries. Convenient. For framing, the stock selection is crappy too. Also, I believe they were caught up in the Chinese racket of inferior wallboard. Mold and other issues.

The quality of woods and stock selection is getting very bad though. Waste of my time and effort digging thru racks trying to find good flat cement board too. If you need a quick pick of drywall, good luck. They must be hiring moron 'certified' fork lift drivers. Always damaged edges in the bundles of wallboard. And what a waste of time trying to get any decent grade 2 x for framing! BS on the grading. The deal with their suppliers must be the laugh in the corporate 'board' rooms!

Best bet is always to seek a good old lumber company. The employees know their stock and terminology. For wood, price is usually on par with the big box but you can get quality stock for framing work. Selection for trim is far wider too but expect to pay more.

For specialty hardware, fasteners that I can count on having in stock is from Ace Hardware. Prices are mostly higher than the rest for just about everything, BUT can hit sales that sometimes better Menards. Pretty lucky but have 1/2 dozen Ace Hardware near me all owned by one family.

(of note: They used to be heavy in the tool rental but now leaned off 'dangerous' stuff...lol. They decided to sell off much of it. I purchased a truck load of near brand new commercial grade power tools and equipment from them. Name brands. Resold and gifted some that I really didn't have use for or multiples. Example: $2,000 floor sanders / refinshers for $100! Porter Cable coil nailers $25, Stanley floor nailers $40, used air compressors, water pumps at $50-75 apiece, a brand new Porter Cable wall / ceiling powered / vac drywall sander for $10 (what are they, $350 new??), three commercial grade Target tile saws with stands and water pump $50!)

In one particular town, there's a classic old nostalgia Tru-Value. I used to count on them but the old owners sold out and the new folks just don't have their act together. Seem to struggle when it comes to basic understanding of fasteners. Stock is very short supply. Crazy thing is, a main Tru-Value depot is only a few miles away. But how kind of them to take your order and will have it in a day or two.... no thanks pal

[Robert Coats]

Howard Brothers, Doraville, Georgia...the "bolt room"



Yes, that Doraville:

[flipper35]

In our experience Home Depot had by far the worst customer assistance. Horrible enough that I wrote the company and told them how bad it was and that I would never be back. They sent a gift card for Home Depot and I sent it back saying I would never shop there again which made the gift card worthless. Been 10 or 12 year now since I have set foot on one. I might get stuff like the Cree lights from them online though if I can't find the ones I want on Amazon.

Our local Menards has decent drywall, treated underlayment and such but you really have to pick through the $2 studs to get straight ones. The employees will help you sort through them, put them on your cart and help you load them into your truck. They don't have a great selection in residential lighting but they have the Hunter and similar brands and how much difference is there in conduit?

Our Farm and Fleet has good people working there as well other than the tire department. They are a bit slow. Helpful and knowledgeable and know where everything is.

Thiesens is decent as well but a bit out of the way for us. They won't sell hand spoons to out of state residents though even though it goes through a local FFL guy.

If you want good wood we have a genuine lumber store close by as well.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by flipper35

In our experience Home Depot had by far the worst customer assistance.

It's the exact opposite here. HD is way, way better than Lowes or some of the local places.