Years ago when my FIL tore down the old woodshed, there was a trunk of tools in the loft. I got them. They had belonged to my wife's maternal great great grandfather. At one time he had been a ship's carpenter. He returned to the land late in life, married and had his family . Most of the tools had his name stamped into them.
Today I needed the draw knife to smooth a birch pole. I had put an edge on the tool last spring and you have to appreciate the quality of the steel in the tool. I had been thinking about making new handles for it. That just got moved farther up the list.
Hard not to think of the man who handled these tools over 125 years ago.
Best
Les

Well crap... I am grandpa..... if only I had anyone in my family that gave a hoot about my tools... and there's quite the collection I might add....

Granddads were not craftsmen at all. No tools.
Dad had a few tools, but nothing special. Most were very used uo.

I put myself up for adoption. I’m potty trained, a good eater and sleep through the night. Full disclosure- the deal comes with three great grand children.

old phillips screw driver
 

Hi nota, that is so funny you finding that driver,
Hope you dont mind me asking, but if ever you want to sell it
or dont have a use for it ,ill buy it , like $30 cash,or more, shipping to
my friend in Sacramento. see i use mine all the time as i am a maintenance manager,
but a spare would be handy in my Porsche tool kit.
Hope im not getting into trouble ,doing this on this forum
if i am sorry, would go to parts for sale forum, regards Wayne.

Inherited a rotohammer which weighs 5 lbs, all metal, with more torque than my wife’s A6. Now if it was an S6.... impressive and will no doubt out live me too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/aarmed/DSCN0387.jpg~original
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSCN0387.jpg
my old mossberg ratchet wrench set about 1905

I hear you. I dont have kids and sometimes wonder what to do with all my 'stuff'. Even if you dont have kids, try to pass your stuff on to someone. Maybe its here, maybe a local school/church/carpenter... I hate to even think about tossing good tools.

I too lost a few of my dads sockets, sometimes I wonder how he doesnt hate me.

I have quite a few tools handed down from my Grandpa and my Dad including a few hand saws, several wrenches and a beautiful Brace and Bit (the bits are wrapped in a cloth organizer/apron that's just barely holding together).

There's something about using them that makes me feel connected to Dad and his Dad knowing they used them and took good care of them.

My favorite is a nail set, I still use it and they don't make em like this now!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1520011092.JPG

Dad's key hole saw and ball peen hammer along with the treasured nail set
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1520011092.JPG

My son isn't worrying too much about getting my tools when I'm gone.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1520011735.jpg

Skip, I think I could duplicate that photo of the 3 tools but I think my brother got the nail set.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1520012961.JPG

This is in my garage. Right above the door to the back yard. It is my not real fancy display of old stuff that does not get much use.

The keyhole saw likely gets the most use. The two oil can openers have not been used in a many years and those are not from grandpa nor is the timing light and the dwell meter. I do use the timing light if I work on The El Camino and have to pull the distributor out. Once it is set, I don't need to mess with it.

It is kinda weird to know some of the tools I personally bought brand new are just antiques that fit right into granddad's tools. :eek:

The frame hanging from the ceiling is just wood storage.

When I saw this thread the first thing I thought about was an old John Prine song:
Grandpa was a Carpenter

Oh, grandpa wore his suit to dinner
Nearly every day
No particular reason
He just dressed that way
Brown necktie and a matching vest
Both his wingtip shoes
He built a closet on our back porch
And put a penny in a burned-out fuse
Grandpa was a carpenter
He built houses, stores and banks
Chain-smoked Camel cigarettes
And hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level
And shaved even every door
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war


This song had meaning for me, my Grandpa on Mom's side was a Farmer, Carpenter and had at least a half dozen other capabilities.
That side of the family were early settlers in Northeast Missouri, and Grandpa did indeed build houses, stores and Banks in addition to running a large farm.
Wish I'd been around to get to know him, he passed prior to my arrival.