OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

51063 Jim Tremain <jim@s...> 1998‑10‑05 BIO
   My name is Jim Tremain (45 years old) and I am a Biological Technician;
specialty Zoology (critters) and Limnology (lake and stream stuff) at the
University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  I have an MSc in
Biology that was based on work on crayfish so that actually makes me an
Astacologist, but that doesn't pay the bills.  I have also acted as
computer support for the Biology Department for 13 years so that makes me
a bit of a computer geek as well.  SWMBO (Loretta) and I have 2 children,
Russell (6) and Colleen (14 months).
   For the past 4 years I have found myself in the evenings, after the
kids are in bed, designing and making model planes and boats, quietly by
hand as the kids were/are sleeping.  I have also noticed myself happily
spending, hours, days and weeks making tools/jigs, supposedly to help me
make other things.  Mostly I have found that I like to play with wood or
metal and build things.  While keeping entertained with this small stuff I
would occasionally think that once I get the power tools and time during
the "noisable" hours, I will build some furniture, real boats and lots and
lots of other stuff.  The mortgage and day care bills have kept me from
buying the tailed tools that I drooled over for years, well OK I have a
few.  One day while drooling over the tools mentioned on rec.norm some guy
named O'Deen mentioned handtools and the OLDTOOLS list.
    That was about 12 months ago.  I now have all of the material I can
find on old handtools on the web, including Patrick's S&G and the book
list.  I have bought a number of books including Dunbar, Kean and Pollak,
Salaman, and am also building up a collection of old tools catalogues.  I
have been found driving around town in all kinds of weather looking for
garage sales and flea markets.  I have talked incessantly to my friends
and SWMBO about planes, high carbon iron, iron thickness, tight mouths and
am starting to refer to them by number like the #71 1/2 and trying to
remember the proper name (for Jeff).  My only disappointment so far is
that SWMBO has turned out to be better at this, bringing home more tools
at better prices than me (gloat).  Unfortunatly I seem to have been so
caught up in old tools that I havn't actually made anything for months,
I've been too busy searching, buying, cleaning, sharpening and playing
with old tools.

Jim



Recent Bios FAQ