Short Story: answered an ad, stopped on my way to work, YIPEE!
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/The_Haul.jpg
 
Long Story: Ad said "bought an old woodshop, need to clean it out and make
room, tools, wood, hardware." Called the guy and decided to leave for work a
couple of hours early because it sounded promising. The guy kept talking
about power tools, dowels, and nails but did admit to having a couple of
planes, hand saws and some other stuff.
 
Turns out the shop is an old sash shop stuck on the back of a house loaded
with assorted stuff. Half a dozen saws hanging on the wall, grabbed the two
that were most usable. I asked about the planes and the guy opened a cabinet
and started taking out what he had. Almost choked at the first thing to come
out. 
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/stanley_41_L_an
d_blades.jpg
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/stanley_41_R.jp
g
 
The a couple of more common sorts, plus a couple of brazed things (Stanley
78 comes to mind)
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/3_planes.jpg
 
and a couple of woodies that I didn't take (have no fear, I'm going back!)
Then came the spokeshaves. Most were brazed or otherwise repaired except for
this one:
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/Stanley_60.jpg
 
Started looking through the drawers pulled out a few stones (previous
picture) and a Lufkin rule and then he offered up a smaller one that I
"might" like. I opened the pouch and almost pissed myself. "That's a cute
little ruler" me says.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/Stanley_40_cali
per_rule.jpg
Yes, that's a Stanley #40 caliper rule! Never saw one with a pouch before,
then again, never saw one in the wild either.
 
Found a box of assorted chisels and gouges and liberated a few:
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/asst_chisels_an
d_gouges.jpg
 
and a little eggbeater that was mixed in for good luck (it's a MF 1C, plus
the two earlier liberated saws) It needs jaws if anyone has a spare set
hanging around.
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/saws%7E0.jpg
 
There were Yankee screwdrivers tucked into various coffee cans as well as
files so I grabbed one too (and a dozen or so assorted triangular files for
saw sharpening:
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/130A_yankee.jpg
 
We kept talking about various things as I tried to contain my excitement. I
hadn't expected to find much and didn't have a lot of money with me and
couldn't figure out if this guy knew what he had. So I motioned over to the
planes and asked what he thought he'd want for some of them. He picked up
the 41, flipped it around nonchalantly and said, "Well, these things used to
go for $100 of $120 but now, they're only bringing $20 of $25." I nodded,
brow furled, and expressed my disappointment at the declining value of old
handtools (while checking my shorts for accidents). We then browsed through
a couple of cabinets of boxed old screws, nails, and hinges (grabbed a bunch
there too) when the guy said, you should come out back to the woodshed.
Thinking this wasn't a proposition, we headed out and he pointed to a ladder
that took me to the attic and a corner brace
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10413/corner_brace.jp
g
 
There were other braces but I was running out of time and was sure I
wouldn't have enough money. So we headed back to the shop where it was time
to talk turkey. "So" I said, "What do you think you want for all this"
motioning to the pile on one end of the bench. "What do you think it's
worth" he says, "Would you take $100" says I. "Make it $115" he replies,
"How's $110" I push my luck. "Sold" he says, "I got to clean up some of this
stuff and you got some tools, and why don't you take those parts so you can
restore stuff, you do restore this stuff don't you?" So I filled a box, and
he helped me to my truck after exchanging phone numbers. And I even had
change to pick up food from the local Chinese restaurant for the last day of
class and my students' paper presentations, Modern Chinese history of
course.
 
Finished grading papers today and started the official cleaning ritual. Even
SWMBO thought it was money well spent.
 
DGW
 
 
 
 
 
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