We Buy, sell, trade and deal in all manner of antique and vintage tools from a number of
trades. Antique woodworking planes and woodworking tools are
a major focus of our antique sales
pages
at our antique sales website www.Patented-Antiques.comand are discussed on another page at this
site.
I am currently helping the heirs sell tools from a
collection
that numbered over 15,000 tools when the owner died. I am selling
over 300 planes from another collection, and we have a slow but steady
supply of other tool consignments from other sellers. We have
other 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 an antique tools 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
$500 tool might fetch $100. 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
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.
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",
that phrase is the catch-all phrase many sellers on eBay and
elsewhere use to knowingly peddle substandard wares.
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.
Levels
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 produced by
small obscure makers that are just as nice and are actively sought.
The most popular
and desirable
type of level are known
as
inclino
meter
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.
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 left side are links to the Past Sales Archives where you can see examples of what vintage tools and other antiques 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
