We Buy, sell, trade and deal in all manner of antique and vintage tools from a number of
trades. Sales of Antique woodworking planes and woodworking tools are
a major focus of our
antique sales website www.Patented-Antiques.com and are discussed on another page at this
site linked on the left. Past sales results for tools as well as a
host of other types of antiques and collectibles are linked on the
right. Please explore the entire page.
I am currently helping the heirs sell tools from a
tool collection
that numbered over 15,000 tools when the owner died. I am selling
over 300 woodworking planes from another antique collection, and we have a slow but steady
supply of other antique tool consignments we are selling from other sellers. We have
many other antiques and collectibles listed for sale on
that site as well. Please take a
look if you are either interested in buying old tools, or looking to
sell ones you have.
Old tools from all
woodworking trades such as carpentry, cabinetmaking, shipbuilding, pattern
makers, and others are of special interest. Vintage machinist tools
such as squares, surface gages, calipers and dividers by makers such as Starrett,
D. B. & S, Darling, Brown and
Sharpe, Lufkin, Sawyer, Stevens, and many others can be of interest.
Condition
Condition is the single most important
aspect in determining
the
value or desirability of a desirable antique tool in today's market.
This statement holds true for most other antiques as well. As an
example, a rare woodworking plane or tool
that is in excellent condition might be
worth $1000. That same tool with one simple crack
or chip in the cast iron body might not bring 1/10th or $100 of that $1000 at
auction or on the open
market.
Not broken, but with deep pitting or other major condition problems, that same
$1000 tool might fetch $100 - 200. The same tool in mint condition and in the original box could be
worth 2 or 3 times or more than the original $1000 figure.
It is all in the details. There is a condition chart that most
antique tool dealers and auction houses adhere to in describing their
tools. A copy of that can be found on the
bottom of this
page at our other website.
Many sellers of antique tools do not
understand the concept of condition
in relation to the value.
They ignore it or are looking at the object through rose-colored
glasses.
It does not help to hear an old tool looks "great for it age",
or things similar to that. That phrase is the ultimate red flag catch-all phrase many sellers on eBay and
elsewhere use to knowingly peddle substandard wares.
Early or vintage tools
in super condition are special interest and NOS antique tools in their
original boxes or packaging, in great condition tools from a variety of
makers and trades are always in demand for today's collectors and users.
NOS (New Old
Stock) and vintage tools in their original boxes that
were made by a number of makers including Stanley, Ohio
Tool, Sargent, Simmons Hardware or Keen Kutter, Winchester, and
more are of particular interest, and in general have an enhanced value in the antique tool
marketplace.
We are always interested in hearing about them.
Antique Levels / Inclinometers
Anther example of antique and vintage tools whose values can range from very
little to thousands are levels.
During
the heyday of
American inventiveness
and ingenuity, and before China became the world's manufacturer,
Americans designed, patented, and produced some of the finest levels
known.
The best known large companies were Stanley Rule &
Level Co. Stratton Bros, Davis Tool
and Level Co, Jennings and others. But there were many rare and unusual levels
/ inclinometers produced by
small obscure makers that are just as nice, very rare and are actively sought
by a small group of tool collectors.
The most popular
and desirable
type of collectible level are known as
inclinometer
levels. These leveling devices typically have dials or pendulums to determine the
slope or pitch rather than the typical liquid filled vial seen in most levels. Some used small suspended
plumb bobs or liquid as the indicator. Many were odd-ball patented designs,
but others like the Rufus Porter example were works of art and are now very desirable
and valuable
as collectibles.
That is but one example. Within each category of antique tools there are standout examples which
are worth far more than other more common examples. For example, with
chisels Stanley Everlast #40 chisels can sell for 100 or more each when
found in mint condition and as part of a set. Later #60 Stanley
chisels are lucky to sell for more than 10.00 each. Or take
Slicks, which are large oversize chisels. They go the same way.
While crank neck or gouge style slicks by desirable makers like Barton,
or White can sell for 200 or more, later more common slicks by well
known makers like Greenlee struggle to sell for 100. The examples
are endless and each category of antiques has them.
Antique Braces / Drills / Augers etc.
Yet anther example of antique and vintage tools whose values can range from very
little to thousands are drilling related tools.
Today
a lot of drilling related vintage tools are sought and their prices are
driven by users who prefer classic hand tools to what is available
today. The highest prices in this category are created by a
small group of very passionate collectors. Prices for certain
braces have reached the mid 4 figures in the past. The same with a
few example of rare beam drills. Good quality user drills by
Stanley, North Brothers, Millers Falls, Goodell Pratt and a few others
routinely sell in the low hundreds. At the far end of the range
are all of the who cares no name eggbeater style drills you see at flea
markets and in shops that never sell for the
10.00 they are
priced at.
Please click the other tool related pages in the left column for more
specific info on different types of collectible
tools we seek and deal
in. On the right side are links to the Past Sales Archives where you can see examples of what vintage tools and other antiques
have sold for and can be worth.
The above antique tools are an example of the
caliber, condition and quality of antique tools th
at I typically deal in. Please
contact me at LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
if you have tools similar to those pictured here that are
for sale.
To see many other examples of antique
or vintage tools
that I currently have for sale please go to our sister site
at www.Patented-Antiques.com and
visit the numerous antique tool sale pages you will find there.
Thank you!!
Larry & Carole
