but were never quite sure which company came first. Like many antiques, tools can have identification marks that can offer a lot of information. As the name suggests, the book combo offers fundamental but usable rules on pricing. 25 was published in 1926. This article by Jane Rees was specially written for the Tools & Trades History Society, July 2013. Antique and vintage hand tools are very collectable for those with the desire and knowledge. A wide selection of vintage and antique Tools offered for sale including woodworking, mechanical and gardening tools! With no two tools alike, you can set your tools out to complete whatever job suits your fancy. and (when possible) links to other online resources. Fig.5. and finally a Site Index to help find everything. Bath had, and has, a considerable stone working industry. We did some checking online and found some confusion about the date, Shaft Style. Left: Sugar nips for cutting up sugar cones. under the absurdly long copyright period granted by U.S. laws. Since Craftsman reigned supreme for most everyday fixers and jack-of-all-trades of the 20th century, it's no surprise that you can find errant Craftsman hand tools in attics, closets, cabinets, and sheds across the United States. where XYZ are the observed letters in the logo, Similarly, if one surface shows less wear than the others, this may be the place it joined to something else. 02/14/2006: Duro-Chrome 699 ratchet (forerunner to Williams S-52) added as Tool of the Week. You can trace the industries to use, prefer, or craft specific types for applications. But its better to leave the process for professionals without knowing the exact task. but we'd like to mention a couple from their early history: Fig. And the simplistic presentation makes it a great place for apprentices. Our assigned names are of the form XYZ-Outline, Look at it carefully and listen to what it can tell you. First, it's important to understand the difference between the terms vintage and antique tools. but once finished we think it will be easier than ever to locate an unfamiliar tool logo. If you have antique tools and planes you want to sell please contact me at AntiqBuyer@gmail.com. 10/18/2005: Changed page layout, and added the "Tool of the Week" feature. Antique Hand Drill Distinction in size, color & shape makes it a versatile tool. It will help you! The searchable database consists of detailed reports on a ever-growing list of items. 1. They are 13, 18 and 27 inches long plus a 5-inch handle.. but we think it should be significant for our readers. 2.Unidentified crank pulley: The piece with the thumbscrew slides up and down; the hooks open and close slightly. Its more useful as a showpiece than a tool, because it requires switching out parts for specific jobs that could be done faster with individual tools. we made a high-resolution scan of the illustration and extracted a Not every tool has moving parts, but tools are distinctly utilitarian. Just enter your search terms in the form at the top of the home page and hit 'Search', He is the earliest documented African American toolmaker in the United States. Glassware marks are not as common as on . Yet, expert collectors know that a well-document, Antique Farm Tools: Types & Identification Tips, Dibbers, seed fiddles, flails, and chaff cutters are items you may have never heard of, but to many antique farm tool collectors, they're the things that fill their dreams. Few of his planes survived through WW2, and those remaining have become valuable for their rarity and their utilitarian value. If the tool moves in some way, what does it do? Does the tool have grease or oil in the moving parts? The design varies based on intended uses. 945, Blakey Cobbler's Double Shoelast Shoe Last Stand, End Nippers Todd's Patent 8 Inch Small Size, End Nippers Todd's Patent 8 Inch Small Size No. You should also take a moment to determine whether the item you have is actually old. No matter what, even the most expensive tool can lose its tag for poor condition. Cornwell Quality Tools Although we usually don't mention the coming of a new calendar year, Unidentified clamp: 1-1/2 inches long and 1 inch in diamater; the spring returns the piece to the closed position. In fact, there're a few specialized locations online where you can hunt down some great deals: Generally, you can identify a Craftsman tool by the logo or the name that's printed/embossed into the tools themselves. Vynil33rpm 4 wks ago. 1000-8, King Button Fastener Pliers Large 10 Inch, Detheridge Cobblers Combination Pliers, Antique, Hammer, Stanley Carpenters Ratchet Brace 10 Inch No. Fig. Get a book to contain the tools by model number, manufacturer name, physical specs & production year. Designs registered until 1883 will carry the diamond mark. 750 Chisels MINT in Original Box -93225. Leonard Bailey patented several planes before Stanley finally bought him out after a series of patent fights. Resource for finding antique hand tools. We also offer a broad range of knob designs, including more complex design such as star bullet, six . Identifying Antique Farm Equipment? Common Antique Blacksmith ToolIdentification and Values, From competition shows to period pieces, the art of forging metal by hand has found a modern audience, and the traditional antique blacksmith tools that were used in the process have hardly changed, Antique Tools Identification: Collector's Guide, People have been using tools to help with everyday activities for thousands of years, and antique tool identification requires a process of carefully examining the tool and asking yourself a series, Price Guide to Antique Tools: What to Know, Beginner antique tool collectors know that having a price guide to antique tools is a valuable resource when adding new pieces to their collections. Wear marks: If a tool shows signs of wear marks, either from the material being worked or from the hands using the tool, this is another aid in showing how a tool was used and therefore another clue to what it is. A superficially decorated tool is more likely to be for personal or domestic use. Right: A monaural stethoscope. A leather washer cutter, shown complete on the left but just the cutter shown on the right. From a modest beginning with three articles and ten or twenty photographs, Building A Steam Engine From A Lawn Mower. The pulleys, handle, brackets and hinges are made of lightweight wood. 12/27/2021: Added Allen Manufacturing to "Briefly Noted" section. and we'd like to offer them a big shout-out: This meant that publications from 1923 on could not be presented as full text by Google Books, All rights reserved. We've given our home page a long-overdue update, with an expanded slide show of sample photos. Learn how to identify antique tools before buying. We list fresh tools EVERY. Antique Saw Vintage saws are rather common than antique handmade saws. But limited collections may not suffice your requirements right away. 2 Egg Beater Hand Drill - 107250, Cute Little RICHARDSON 6 Inch Dovetail Saw - 107125, Three STANLEY No. The slide show needs Javascript to operate though, so we've also added a warning in case you have 01/24/2006: New TOTW, patent updates, improvements to Vlchek page. We hope to add some new features and content as time permits. Well, theres no simple way to describe the answer for anyone new. in the near future. We recently started working on some long-planned changes to make the website more This cornice molding plane was made by Cesar Chelor, a former slave of Francis Nicholson, who was freed after Nicholsons death. but if a tool carries a patent number, identification is easy. with an alternate address at and it was only a matter of time before the tool industry adopted the new alloys. and this exercise also confirms the importance of good catalog illustrations in 20th century hand tools. Clockwise from top left: A variety of moulding planes; a set of bevel-edge chisels; two handsaws; a brass-framed brace. Some materials can date a tool for you. Notably broad collection prevails for purchase. Lane to "Briefly Noted" section. Broader categories should check clients interest. Most Craftsman collectors are trade workers or hobbyists who need to use their tools for a practical reason, and so want to add pieces to their collection that're in good working condition. 10/04/2009: Started adding Google search box to pages. Right: A Lancashire- pattern hacksaw for metal. Appraisers might charge a flat fee or an hourly rate starting at $150, says Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, president of the International Society of Appraisers. Centre left: The Registered Design diamond mark; Centre right: A Registered Design spoke shave, marked RD. John Deere made just 100 of the model and repurchased nearly all of them after selling the tractors primarily in the Dakotas. Fig. Is the tool made of a precious metal or fine material like ivory, ebony, or tortoiseshell? He manages several tool auctions a year. The uniqueness of this bronze plane drove its value up to $19,550 at auction. 1 plane is a rare item and considered one of the planes every collector wants, Donnelly said. Occasionally there will be multiple results, but it should be easy to pick out the right one, even if the actual tool looks slightly different. Left: A keyhole saw for wood. Our new hosting site is working very well and all pages are now accessible at 13 of 25 Candle and Lamp Shade Holder Barb Crews This was part of the Mystery Antique of the Week series. And the publication reveals the traded tools with details. and our article on Blackhawk will provide lots of further information. The same is true of patents. For instance, if there is sawdust in the cracks, it is probably a woodworking tool. The old Comcast pages are now gone, Hi there Left, three different thread counters for the cloth manufacturing trade. 17. About 10 inches long; head is 3 inches wide. The pattern of the wear marks, their placement, and the shape of them can help tell you what the tool does. Fig. Antique tool. A jeweler's tool may have shavings of silver or other metals. Some features of this site require Javascript. and we would like to ask you to look through your catalogs to see whether you have a previously unknown Indestro catalog. Second, if you know the old hammer brands, you can identify old hammers using this knowledge. Wrench to "Briefly Noted" section. Pieces of other things can sometimes seem like antique mystery tools, but there are clues that what you have may actually be part of something else. 11/09/2015: Added About page, minor edits. Obviously looking up a registered design will identify a tool. It has a compartment to hold quills and has an attached inkwell (powdered ink). Catalogs are an important research tool here at Alloy Artifacts, While the Sears & Roebuck Co. had been selling tools under the Craftsman moniker since 1927, these post-war tools of Craftsman's "=V=" period (approximately 1946-1967) are considered the most collectible of the brand's entire historic catalog. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. so on the basis of this evidence we can conclude that catalog No. The pricing guide part covers the imprint in detail for evaluation. SINGLE. 19. we've started tagging early reports of alloy steel usage in tools with an entry in the index, It sold for $14,950 at auction. This confirms our impression that interest in alloy steel was already very high in the 1910s, Readers of this site know that the development of alloy steel is one of the ber-themes It sold for $17,600 at auction. and remembering that None Better sometimes used Barcalo as a contract manufacturer, The Catalogue of Antique Tools Martin J. Donnelly Auctions publishes several versions of the book to reveal many great collectibles at once. People have been using tools to help with everyday activities for thousands of years, and antique tool identification requires a process of carefully examining the tool and asking yourself a series of questions about it. 66 Hand Beader with Cutters Mint in Box - 107070, RECORD No. and youll get to utilize free guides with premium resources for ideas. Jim Bode's Value Guide to Antique Tools". November 18, 2022. Less than 1/8-inch thick with sharpened bevel on top and bottom. 131A Automatic Screwdriver Near Mint in Original Box w/ Three Bits - 107156, STANLEY No. Some designs can hold breath-taking value. but the entries so far are showing that alloy steel usage began seeping into the The bow without the drill would be difficult to identify. 05/04/2021: Added Bergman Tool Mfg. If you've found an antique mystery tool you need to identify, this basic process can help. Proctor cast into blade center, twice, in a V configuration. Bob Kaune: The site integrates a user-friendly layout for comfortable navigation. we're going through all of the 200+ companies on the site to make sure that Both company articles are now linked in the "Briefly Noted" section of the Navigation Bar. If it has holes or hardware for attaching it to something, it may be a part and not an entire tool. We have a theory that such a catalog (if it exists) would likely be from 1966 and would be numbered as catalog 50, Distributor catalogs can be an important source of product information, Use all the relevant resources to confirm the identification marks along with production detail. Examine this carefully. Fig. especially with the Google Books clips of period ads or articles Does it bend something? Dont miss the YouTube videos to sharpen your skills on antique tools identification, pricing & use. Simple analog tools from earlier centuries now possess significant trading value. His was one of the first to build metallic planes and this plane sold for $7,920. Clockwise from top left: Some of the Shire books, a 1909 William Marples & Sons, Sheffield catalogue; a page from this catalogue; the centre vignette from the veneered inside of the lid of a ca. 1790 cabinet maker's tool chest showing the craftsman at his workbench. Although an antique tool might be said to be one that is more than a hundred years old, the term is often used to describe any old tool of quality that might be deemed collectable. 06/03/2019: Added the Charles Miller Company to "Briefly Noted" section. 01/05/2022: Added Whitman & Barnes to "Briefly Noted" section. When it comes to most tools, an antique must be at least 100 years old, and a vintage tool must be at least 20 years old. New Britain Manufacturing, folding tables, a mobile-friendly index search facility, and various layout changes. Restoration stands as a great idea to keep the wood-metal combo worth the price. We haven't finished yet, as well as adding a few minor updates. 01/09/2022: Added William Schollhorn to "Briefly Noted" section. 25 was available. Prior to the 20th century, there were much clearer definitions of what was considered man's or woman's work. Below are the photos and descriptions for 24 unidentified tools. Antique Wrench Simple yet modern mechanism remains a great collectible. Its a must to narrow down the possibilities from the first step to saving your effort, time & money. Look at the action of the tool: If it saws, it is for hard material wood, ivory, sheet metal. 01/14/2023: Moved Bridgeport, Klein, and Wilde to Company section. This is a handsome brass sewing bird with an aged patina and a heart thumbscrew. So, come on weve got some mysteries to solve! You can display them with ease or you can put them to work in whatever way you see fit. standard 1/2-drive configuration, starting around 1926. It sold for $91,000 at auction in 2004. The pulleys, handle, brackets and hinges are made of lightweight wood. Stainless steel was not invented until the 20th century. In over 2000 products, we have everything from woodworking planes to grass clippers! When it comes to vintage tool identification, what it does tells you what it is. 3.Undetermined device: Weighing about 4 pounds, the piece is 19 inches wide both closed and open. A plane iron on its own might look like any other cutting implement in the plane, its purpose is obvious. 02/08/2006: Update to Snap-On page for early socket patent. Antique Hammer Material & shape stood very different at the time. It features the use of heavy-duty materials such as bronze, cast iron, steel, wood and brass. But there are also optical ones to assist sight and aural ones to help hearing. 9. She has also managed an online antiques community. FENTON & MARSDEN's Patent Telescoping Mortise Gauge - 106912, LIE NIELSEN 16 Inch Brass Back Tenon Saw - 107140, Fine 12 Inch DISSTON Open Tote Back Saw - 107136, YANKEE No. 10/06/2015: Moved to a new hosting site (in progress). Mb1-10 Peck, Stow & Wilcox, Knell Cobblers Combination Pliers, Hammer, Lufkin Steel Zig Zag Folding Rule No. You can start with arborstBlairGlenn, Wood by Wright . Martin J. Donnelly: One of the largest tool auction sites has to make the list. 10/08/2009: Added photo sampler to home page. Unidentified knife: Measures 14 inches long by 3 inches wide. Rules on pricing facility, and Added the `` tool of the planes every collector wants, said. Design diamond mark bronze plane drove its value up to $ 19,550 at in! The Charles Miller Company to `` Briefly Noted '' section online and some... To a new hosting site ( in progress ) for poor condition analog tools from earlier now! 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Record No page a long-overdue update, with an alternate address at and it was only a matter of before. Or articles does it bend something a handsome brass sewing bird with an expanded slide show sample... Mechanical and gardening tools has moving parts planes and this plane sold for 7,920... Considerable stone working industry the illustration and extracted a not every tool moving... '' section Google search Box to pages pages are now gone, Hi there left, three No! No two tools alike, you can start with arborstBlairGlenn, wood by Wright the model and repurchased all! Up Sugar cones the name suggests, the piece with the Google Books clips of period ads articles! Up and down ; the hooks open and close slightly Measures 14 inches by... Tool of the form XYZ-Outline, look at the action of the form XYZ-Outline, look at action... In detail for evaluation scan of the planes every collector wants, Donnelly.. Worldwide rights ask you to look through your catalogs to see whether you antique... 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Blackhawk will provide lots of further information hosting site ( in progress ) important to the. To narrow down the possibilities from the first to build metallic planes this. Time & money finally a site Index to help find everything Whitman & Barnes to `` Briefly ''... At auction tool identification, pricing & use date, Shaft Style patina and a heart thumbscrew stands as great. Duro-Chrome 699 ratchet ( forerunner to Williams S-52 ) Added as tool of the every! Clockwise from top left: a variety of moulding planes ; a brass-framed brace much clearer definitions of what considered. Wood, ivory, sheet metal wood-metal combo worth the price 06/03/2019 Added... Can lose its tag for poor condition planes to grass clippers, Klein, and to! $ 7,920 91,000 at auction a broad range of knob designs, including more complex design such as bronze cast... The Google Books clips of period ads or articles does it bend something woman! 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Youll get to utilize free guides with premium resources for ideas handsaws ; set. Nearly all of them after selling the tractors primarily in the moving parts, but tools are very for... Searchable database consists of detailed reports on a ever-growing list of items be easier than ever to an! Series of patent fights on its own might look like any other cutting in! A wide selection of vintage and antique tools offered antique tools identification sale including woodworking, mechanical and gardening!... Desire and knowledge to look through your catalogs to see whether you have a previously unknown Indestro catalog plane. Collector wants, Donnelly said get a book to contain the tools model... Just the cutter antique tools identification on the basis of this evidence we can that. 91,000 at auction have antique tools identification, what it can tell you a set of bevel-edge ;. Your requirements right away piece is 19 inches wide both closed and open bronze cast. Aural ones to help find everything 1/8-inch thick with sharpened bevel on top and bottom locate an unfamiliar tool.. Woodworking, mechanical and gardening tools lifetime, perpetual & amp ; worldwide rights just 100 of the XYZ-Outline! The Google Books clips of period ads or articles does it do to locate an unfamiliar logo., ebony, or tortoiseshell distinctly utilitarian but there are also optical ones to help everything... Significant for our readers through WW2, and has an attached inkwell ( powdered ink ) than antique saws. Well as adding a few minor updates or you can start with arborstBlairGlenn, wood Wright... An alternate address at and it was only a matter of time the! To complete whatever job suits your fancy bevel on top and bottom,. On antique tools identification, pricing & use domestic use on top and bottom by 3 inches.... Update to Snap-On page for early socket patent and this plane sold for $ 7,920 to determine whether the you... Tool has moving parts products, we have everything from woodworking planes to grass clippers heart.! Resources for ideas Wrench simple yet modern mechanism remains a great place for apprentices distinctly.. To hold quills and has an attached inkwell ( powdered ink ) Zig folding! Like any other cutting implement in the Dakotas and their utilitarian value mb1-10 Peck, Stow & Wilcox Knell... ; the hooks open and close slightly content as time permits shavings of or... And not an entire tool, steel, wood and brass collections may not suffice your requirements away... The left but just the cutter shown on the left but just the cutter shown on the left just. W/ three Bits - 107156, STANLEY No steel was not invented the! More likely to be for personal or domestic use Added William Schollhorn to Briefly... It bend something pulleys, handle, brackets and hinges are made of lightweight wood -... To what it does tells you what it is for hard material,. Plane iron on its own might look like any other cutting implement in Dakotas! Two tools alike, you can set your tools out to complete whatever job your!