GG's,

Seeing the recent posts from Phil and Bill, I realized I might want to
update the porch on the disposition of my tools, given that I'd asked for
suggestions.

I contacted a local dealer who bought a couple of them, I also sold some
via Craigslist, just testing the waters. I also donated a few to someone in
need.

The vast majority of them, though, I sold as one lot to a gentleman who is
setting up multiple kits for taking to various schools to teach
woodworking. Doing it this way means the schools don’t each have to invest
in their own tools — on Tuesday show up and school X with tools and a time
slot for woodworking shop, on Wednesday do the same at a different school.
He didn’t buy all that I had remaining — most middle schoolers aren’t quite
up to handling a #8, for example — but enough of them that I could easily
divest of the others or take them with me when I move. He even took the big
tool chest that I built probably 20 years ago.

Of course he got a good deal. In part it was for buying them in one lot, in
part because I love the idea of what he’s doing.

Now I have the room in my ‘shop’ area to use it for bicycles and a trainer
setup, which I’ll use more than I was the tools, sad to say.

-Ken Stagg, who kept one tool that will follow me wherever I go — a lovely
gift that the MofA sent me on my retirement as listmom all those years ago.

Ken,

Congratulations on a successful divestment of your tool collection! Sounds like
some worthy recipients.

== begin quote==
I contacted a local dealer who bought a couple of them, I also sold some
via Craigslist, just testing the waters. I also donated a few to someone in
need.

The vast majority of them, though, I sold as one lot to a gentleman who is
setting up multiple kits for taking to various schools to teach
woodworking.

<< snip snip >>

-Ken Stagg, who kept one tool that will follow me wherever I go — a lovely
gift that the MofA sent me on my retirement as listmom all those years ago.

==end quote==

Do tell what that one tool is. Don't keep us in suspense!

Cheers,
Chuck Taylor
north of Seattle

Yeah, I'm dying here (not literally) too! I gots to know.

On Sat, Feb 24, 2024 at 4:31 PM Chuck Taylor via groups.io  wrote:

On Sat, Feb 24, 2024 at 4:31 PM Chuck Taylor  wrote:

> << snip snip >>
>
> -Ken Stagg, who kept one tool that will follow me wherever I go — a lovely
> gift that the MofA sent me on my retirement as listmom all those years ago.
>
> ==end quote==
>
> Do tell what that one tool is. Don't keep us in suspense!
>
>
It's a Superior Works, #1 Bedrock in a presentation box. It’s just plain
gorgeous!

-Ken, in Port Townsend

I thought I would add a bit of historical context. 

This group used to have a listmoms who took a lot of crap from the members and
sorted it all out. Around the Holidays we would raise some money to get a gift
for our benefactors. The gift was from a very large bunch of the list members
who also gave the same to the other listmom or moms (We did this for several
years and I can't recall whether there were two or three this particular year).
Here is Ken's response to the gift quoted in full:

Gentle ones,
It appears that when Mark said that the galoots who had contributed to the
retiring listmoms appreciation fund had been generous he was guilty of some
serious understatement.

First of all I'd like to thank you all.  I didn't take on the listmom duties to
recieve gifts - I just wanted to be able to give something back (to tell the
truth, I was also flattered that I was asked.)  Mostly the job was pretty easy,
it just took a little time.  Unfortunately this year time has become a big issue
around here.

I'd be lying if I said that the card that Mark included with all of your names
was as nice as the gift, but I wouldn't be far off - seeing all of those names
would have made my day even if there hadn't been the package along with.  The
package made the month (and, contrary to most of this year, it had been a pretty
good month already!)

The package itself was a little jewel from some guy in Ashby, MA.  Hmmmm...
wonder who that could be?  Yep, none other than the Merchant of Ashby - Patrick
Leach himself.  Inside was a sealed, fingerjointed box, probably Ash from the
looks.  Inside the box was a Superior Works #601 smoothing plane.  Please
believe me when I tell you that the words you just read don't begin to do
justice to the reality in the box.  Even Patrick's pictures of it (
http://www.supertool.com/601.htm ) don't do justice to the reality.  Even
better, something that none of those involved would have known, it actually fits
my subminiature galoot paws pretty well :-)

Thanks to all, and in particular to those who contributed "door prizes".  I
think that I can safely say that any animosity I may have felt toward Steve had
dissapeared some time ago, but if it hadn't it would be gone now!  And mostly
thanks to Mark van Roojen for organizing this.  It is nice to be appreciated.

-Ken Stagg, retired Oldtools List Mom and proud 601 owner