Options
My personal experience with the handling of my grandfathers antique tool collection, and how it spaw
2ltdjorn
Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭
My maternal grandfather was a hard working individual. He left school in 6th grade, and was determined to make a successful living. He entered the field of carpentry, and soon went into business for himself at age 15. He worked long hours building tornado shelters for people in Oklahoma. He retired at age 45. With land measured by the square miles. My grandfather was a collector. His first passion was the wild west as he sought original stage coaches of the wild wild west, he once travelled great distances to add pieces to his collection. Until he corned the market. He sold the collection, and progressed into depression era glass. He sold his collection for 150,000+ in 1960s. He began collecting case knives, and guns. He sold his gun collection in 1970s for over 200,000. And he told me he owned billy the kids 6 shooter at one time. He then dabbled into coins for a short stent focusing on error coins, I still have some of his submissions to the magazine in 1980s. After coins he felt drawn to antique tools, he said he had always had an interest in antique tools since he bought his first hammer at age 8. On one occasion. I was 16 years old, and I began to divulge an interest in us coinage thanks to a paternal uncle. I decided that I would help my grandfather seek out tools for his collection, in an attempt to collect coins from his safe. My grandfather requested a Stanley #1, which is a wood plane about 3-4 inches long. I was so excited, and within a month I had visited every flea market, tool dealer, or anywhere else I might find this tool at within 200 miles of my house. The first dealer I asked laughed me out of his shop. The second wanted to know how deep my pockets were. And the third said he had just purchased one... But it had taken 20 years. At the end of the summer I went to visit with my grandfather. He asked me how I did on my journey. I told him that I tried, but failed. It was at that time he told me to go look in the display case in the living room, that's where I saw 7 Stanley #1's sitting next to one another. You see my grandfather was an avid collector, and he collected with a vengeance. In the world of antique tools, where a piece had a survival rate of 5 pieces known, he had 4 and was actively seeking the 5th. He was a student to his trade, and always studied.
When my grandfather passed, my mother and her brother made the decision to sell the collection as it was we'll within their right to do so. At the time I was living in DC and the auction house that specialiZed in rare antique tools was in Pennsylvania. The decision was to sell my grandfathers collection in 4 or 5 auctions. I wrote to the auction house in regards to the auction being held in camp hill, pa. They invited me to attend. They even allowed me to open the auction with a brief recollection of my grandfather. I spoke of the Rae tools, and how I had handled them with my grandfather. I imagine it would be like how a major collector of coins would share the pieces with a son or nephew. The best part was during the auction, I got to meet fellow collectors who knew my grandparents quite well. They shared stories of how they had competed for unique items, with ultimately my grandfather winning the auction, and the piece was of the market for 25 years. One collector told me how my grandfather bought a tool from him in 80s. He finally got the chance buy it back in 2010.
It was quite special to be apart of the auction process, and to see the excitement of the new owners. But my experience is don't forget the grandchildren. You don't have to leave much, but even just the memories are priceless.
This is one of the Stanley #1, wood planes that my grandfather sent me a goose hunt for...
This is a write up in Error Coin Magazine featuring some of his finds. I still have the coins.
This coin was from one of my grandfathers first submissions to error coin magazine, it was returned in a plastic sleeve stapled to a piece of paper signed by Allen levy, with a personal note requesting to purchase the piece for $50. I still have all the documents with it.
This is the auction catalogue to the auction in Camp Hill, PA produced by Brown Auction Services.
This is a wooden, plow plane with center wheel, one of the highlights of my grandfather's collection.
When my grandfather passed, my mother and her brother made the decision to sell the collection as it was we'll within their right to do so. At the time I was living in DC and the auction house that specialiZed in rare antique tools was in Pennsylvania. The decision was to sell my grandfathers collection in 4 or 5 auctions. I wrote to the auction house in regards to the auction being held in camp hill, pa. They invited me to attend. They even allowed me to open the auction with a brief recollection of my grandfather. I spoke of the Rae tools, and how I had handled them with my grandfather. I imagine it would be like how a major collector of coins would share the pieces with a son or nephew. The best part was during the auction, I got to meet fellow collectors who knew my grandparents quite well. They shared stories of how they had competed for unique items, with ultimately my grandfather winning the auction, and the piece was of the market for 25 years. One collector told me how my grandfather bought a tool from him in 80s. He finally got the chance buy it back in 2010.
It was quite special to be apart of the auction process, and to see the excitement of the new owners. But my experience is don't forget the grandchildren. You don't have to leave much, but even just the memories are priceless.
This is one of the Stanley #1, wood planes that my grandfather sent me a goose hunt for...
This is a write up in Error Coin Magazine featuring some of his finds. I still have the coins.
This coin was from one of my grandfathers first submissions to error coin magazine, it was returned in a plastic sleeve stapled to a piece of paper signed by Allen levy, with a personal note requesting to purchase the piece for $50. I still have all the documents with it.
This is the auction catalogue to the auction in Camp Hill, PA produced by Brown Auction Services.
This is a wooden, plow plane with center wheel, one of the highlights of my grandfather's collection.
WTB... errors, New Orleans gold, and circulated 20th key date coins!
0
Comments
Amat Colligendo Focum
Top 10 • FOR SALE
Successful BST Transactions!SIconbuster, Meltdown, Mission16, slothman2000, RGjohn, braddick, au58lover, allcoinsrule, commemdude, gerard, lablade, PCcoins, greencopper, kaz, tydye, cucamongacoin, mkman123, SeaEaglecoins, Doh!, AnkurJ, Airplanenut, ArizonaJack, JJM,Tee135,LordMarcovan, Swampboy, piecesofme, Ahrensdad,
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
<< <i>Might I ask what that plow plane went for? >>
If I recall it was in the neighborhood of 14,000 to 20,000.
bob
Anymore stories about Grandpa, that you would like to share... How about a coin story or another carpentry story would also be great... A Grandpa once told me that in life, one must build memories. Sounds like your Grandpa was one of those persons..
Thanks for your story.
Jim
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Your grandfather was quite a guy......
As a child I would look through the cataloques of previous auctions, quickly finding the most expensive pieces, asking if he had that one or this one. Then he would tell me to go look in the 3rd case in the living room, and there would be the item.
The fondest memories were traveling to tool shows, and watching him haggel for items. He knew his material, and was tough man to negotiate with. But he always got the item.
<< <i>The Stanley #1 sold as high as 25,000 >>
I've seen them in near-mint barely get $800. What was special here?
I disposed of a relative's tool collection which was mostly planes and was always impressed by
the high interest and spirited bidding. It looks like a fun hobby.
Until he corned the market.
Not sure what this means - interesting visual.
100% Positive BST transactions
It seems pocket knives are lost to past generations, but today out of nostalgia for my grandfather and my father I purchased my first case knife... I am not sure why I need one other than sentiment... But who knows maybe I might have to perform an emergent tracheostomy...
I know for a fact collecting is a genetic trait, and if it wasn't for my grandfather I would not be a coin collector today. My grandfather emphasized knowledge, I often wonder what he would think of the collector I have become.
Rob
Successful Trades with: Coincast, MICHAELDIXON
Successful Purchases from: Manorcourtman, Meltdown
most treasured gifts to them IMHO is a sense of purpose, honor, integrity, loyalty, honesty, etc., etc., etc., etc.
Thank you for a great post.
Grampa Skip
While I would never tell a young person to drop out of school, I think this shows what you can do with talent and ambition in trades that have nothing to do with college. I really can't understand why college graduates look down on skilled carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics or any other similar expertise that many of us who have college degrees can't handle. If you are a young person and have the desire, talents and desire to pursue a career in the trades, don't let anyone tell you that you are a lesser person because you rather learn those trades than go to college. The way things are going, you will be the one with the job while the college educated person will be one who will scratching to earn a living.
It is great that you could share those experiences with your grandfather. In my family, only my grandmother had an interest in coins, and she was a bit more of a hoarder than a collector. An uncle got me started in coins by giving me a Red Book and Whitman cent folders for Christmas, but he lived 1,500 miles away, and I seldom saw him. He only had a casual interest in coins and stamps and did not have a very large collection.
AB
OINK
Memories are what is best to save....and share.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
My War Nickels https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/nickels/jefferson-nickels-specialty-sets/jefferson-nickels-fs-basic-war-set-circulation-strikes-1942-1945/publishedset/94452