OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

4335 Blakley_Bill@h... (Blakley Bill) 1996‑08‑21 bio ... Bill Blakley
     I have been a 'subscriber' for several weeks now so I guess it is
     time to publish a bio. I guess since I have been a 'subscriber'
     that leaves me out of the lurker category. In any event I work for
     Broward County Schools (no I am not a teacher). I am a systems
     analyst for our data processing center (mostly supporting legacy
     systems that are due to crash in approximately 4 years ... job
     security you know). I have been a collector (bad day to use this
     word but I don't care) of old tools for about four years now. I got
     hooked into it by a couple of guys that sell at the flea market
     that needed a sucker er ah client to purchase their fine old
     collectables (no puker ducks in my house, no siree). At the time I
     was restoring a 37 Chevy and I needed tools to do a restoration and
     I got a little side tracked. I started collecting Stanley steel
     planes mostly. I branched out into chisels and saws with a few
     transitional planes, ploughs etc. thrown in. As time went on I
     branched out furthur into Millers Falls (mostly hand tools but now
     it seems that I will purchase just about anything with the Millers
     Falls logo on it that was made before 1960 that I don't already
     have one of ... of course if it is cheap enough I just might...). I
     feel that they made a better product than Stanley but since they
     are not as collectable (yet) they are priced somewhat less. I
     occasionally use the tools that I have but I never have been much
     of a wood worker and probably never will be. Most of my purchases
     are at the flea market ... never have had much luck with antique
     dealers ... they usually want 75 bucks or so for that rusty no name
     No 7 with the cracked casting just because it is old and it is in
     their Miller price guide. I live in the South Florida area and I go
     fishing in the Keys or the Everglades whenever the opportunity
     arises (i.e. not dealing with family obligations, working, hunting
     for tools, restoring the 37 Chevy, reading 100 messages from
     oldtools about dealer/customer disputes, etc, etc etc.).

     private replies: blakley_bill@h...


Recent Bios FAQ