OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

884 ChrisLTBN@a... 1996‑06‑12 Bio and story
Good day galoots,

Been bye and bye for a time and thought I would absorb a bit of your
connection charges to introduce myself. I am recently self-employed in NYC
and live in Westchester (N.of NYC)  in studio apt.(hence self-employed) with
golf clubs, stereo, couch, 608, 7,5,4 1/2c,3,2,113 etc, lumber (barely), oh
and my wife. I'd say I am a user/collector, but my ity bitty B&D workmate
would beg to differ. All tools are or will be used.  Make mostly small toys
for nephew for now. 

Humor me.

I was visiting my "great" (I'll splain) aunt for the second time ever (see
her often just not at her place-introverted??) in her 3rd floor Brooklyn Apt.
She's 86? and has over the years given what little $ and other sentimental
heirlooms to the fam. She now asks what you want (she starts pulling antiques
from every nook and cranny) and labels them so no one will fight over these
antiques she purchased on 50 years of  summer jaunts with her ---woodworking
school teacher / husband-- to lake Winnapausaukee (spelling -2) in NH.

Never thought about his occupation until she started pulling her labels and
figurines from the most beautiful honduras mahogany break front I'd ever
seen-drool-drool (going to the other side of the fam-I had to ask.). Amazing
dovetails - screws (yea right), brass and perfect. She dusts it every day
after collecting the valuable rubber bands the mail man leaves behind. She
tells me the story that cabinet was made in their kitchen of this one bedroom
apt. Absolutely amazing. I didn't fully believe it until she started diggin
and diggin in the closet and emerged from the closet with a crudely
dovetailed box.

She opened and through the rags and scraps of Mahogany trim (my proof)
emerged a Stanley Brace, set of Jennings bits and roll, set of  3 Buck
paring, another 10 Buck and Addis chisels, 271 jappaned(OB), truly unique
polished hand made 5/8" rabbet plane with ebony wedge (may send a picture to
Fine Woodworking), clamps and a bunch of other stuff - Rust? maybe a bit of
dust. What a day. Couldn't figure how he worked without a bench plane though-
even if most big pieces were cut at the school???

 I helped her a bit in the kitchen and found my answer . I opened the flimsy
cabinet (filled with rubber bands) to find uncle Pat's trusty #1 (easily
fine) and an unused extra blade. It did need to be cleaned however, there was
a bit of dust behind the frog (gloat?). I told her that it was easily worth a
months rent and she said "you're for the birds-take it" And what a prize she
is.

New topic. I do get out to the local marts and do okay. I don't sell tools
but seem to see a lot of neat (and not so) stuff in these parts. If there's
any kindred in my area (or not) that wants to say hola and hunt as a team -
let me know - or has a good in at a country club for a round??

Lastly, I could really use a few parts- a 5 3/4" length chip breaker (I
guess) for an about 1920 #113 (mine is too short??) and a #12 scraper blade
(like everyone) if anyone has them or has a good source -  I'd be much
oblidged.

Thanks for your patience and allowing me to solicit a bit.

Chris Winter

"For the aspirations of a quiet apartment / shop"

 

 

   



Recent Bios FAQ