Old tool

[GordoSD]

What tool in your collection have you owned the longest.
Today I was working on a carb and looked at the 6 1/2 inch pliers, made by Challenger, in my hans. It brought back a nice memory of my Father. He decided that at about age 12, 1952, that I should be getting my own tools instead of borrowing and losing his!
So for the next 10 years all my gifts were handtools, and those pliars were one of the very first. Almost 60 years in my toolbox.

 

[Dick2]

The first money that I made with my first FFA project I used some of it to buy a 1/2" set of S-K sockets for $12.50 at a farm/fleet store that just opened up in 1950. I really liked those sockets.

Some thief stole them out of my garage in 1990.

 

[Butch(OH)]

My most used 3/8 drive ratchet is a military Snap-On that has been in the tool box long as I remember. It "walked out" with Dad's help from a military air base he was helping to close at the end of WWII. I also have a complete 5/32 drive snap-on set in a metal box that walked out of the same base. First tools I remember buying and still own today is a set of patheticly cheap stamped steel ignition wrenches, LOL

 

[big fred]

16 oz claw hammer, Craftsman with a dark red fiberglass handle. First tool I ever got. It was a Christmas present when I was in junior high.

 

[dhamps10]

My Dad had a wood lathe, he used in the 20s or 30s. He loaned it to my cousin, untill he bought his own. In the 60s, he set it up for me to learn on. It is in my shop today, but I can't use it for health reasons. I also have some of my Grand Fathers tool, that I have no idea how old they are.

 

[Tom in TN]

Gordo,

I have an big old wooden frame plane that was my fathers. I have no idea how old it is. He died when I was 9 years old in 1954 so I have no memory of his ever using it.

It's still invaluable to me.

Tom in TN

 

[Jim in Ma.]

My grand father was a steam engineer I have several wrenches that he made. He died at 94, and that was about 50 years ago. They must be nearly 100 years old now.

 

[Fawteen]

I have a handful of my Father's tools, some dating from the 40's.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have my grandfather"s tool chest, approxmately 24" x 24" x 36." It is probably 100 years old. What is interesting is that it is solid chestnut, certainly irreplaceable.

 

[msb]

Oldest would have to be is the anvil Dad bought used in about 1942. Have no idea as to its age. Its a goodern.

 

[bruster]

My best loved and oldest tools are my great grandfathers carpenter and wood lathe tools. I became interested in wood work by 1970, and the family let me have them, and they are in fine shape even though they sat unused in a barn since the 30s.

 

[gregk]

Just got grandpa's anvil for my shop . It's older than he was when he passed away at 91. Said it went through a fire, but he never said when or where.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I have a few tools given to me as gifts when I was about 12-13 years old (~40 years ago). I also have a few of my grandfather's woodworking tools. One of my greatest regrets is that I wasn't able to buy my grandfather's anvil when a family member sold it at auction. It was Kohlswa, probably 70+ years old, and in mint condition. A farrier was bidding on it and ran the price up over 400 dollars without batting an eye.

 

[60 acre hillside]

About 50 years ago I thought i needed small (ignition) wrenches but they cost too much< So i bought a pair of long nose pliers ar Westen Auto for 60 cents. Still have them. Also when in eighth grade my mom bought me a Estwing 16 oz Leather handle claw hammer for Christmas For three dollars. My dad thought that was too light and not reallw worth the money so he bought me a 20 oz Keen Kutter wood handle one. I still have both.

 

[big a]

Don't know oldest, but I have an anvil that has to be right up there. Bought it from a colorful old neighbors farm sale.
Harvey was the most foul mouthed, crusty mean old fart that ever lived. But he was a very good practical mechanic, respected in our neighborhood for his skills and recoursfulness, and actually a pretty nice guy, once you got past first impressions.
Only vehicle he had was a 53 Chevy truck with no drivers side door that he drove year around rain or shine.

Miss that old fart....tought me alot!

 

[NYEthan]

I got a sluge hammer head that has the word "shop" welded on it from my grandfather on my fathers side. Some where along his travels he lost it out of the back of his '48 F-6 work truck (currently trying to make drive able again). A man named forrest found it in the road and used it for a good many years untill he broke the handle on it working on something on my grandfathers farm(My mothers father). My grandfather simply cut the handle shorter and continued useing it. untill he broke that handle completly. He then made a new 3 foot handle and gave it to me for my 13 birthday (8 years ago). used that hammer today and was thinking "I wonder how many blows this thing has seen over all these years/people.

 

[Don S.]

I have dad's anvil and his post drill press. Not sure of the age or make of either.

 

[fixerupper]

Tools that I have personally owned the longest. It's the Craftsman tool set I bought new when I went to farm mechanics school 42 years ago. $100 for a set of 1/4,3/8,1/2" ratchets with matching sockets, end wrenches from 5/16-1 1/4", ignition wrenches, hammer, worthless Craftsman locking pliers, a few screw drivers and a carry type tool box.

I have other older tools I picked up on auctions but that Craftsman set is the one I've owned the longest. Jim

 

[Kyle (nwpa)]

I have 4 different tools that my Grandfather"s Grandfather made in his blacksmith shop. One is set of nippers for trimming hooves, and other three are different types of pliers for holding metal while working from forge to anvil.

 

[Oldmax]

I have my Great Grandfathers Anvil. Was given to me be grand father in 52. use it all the time. My other Grandfather had a larger one but an uncle gopt it and when he died his family sold it at a rummage sale. tried to buy it from person that bought it but he told me he wasn't interstred in selling it. So it is lost to family.

 

[Leroy]

Cannot say age to these tools but they were at least Grandpa's and were on the farm and I was using then as long as I can remember and am 67. Grandpa passed away in 1977 just shy of 99, others that were told were great grandpa's that should be over a 100 but where I do not dare to try to use as too fragile.

 

[bc]

My grandpa's pliers that he engraved his initials on. Definite keepers.

 

[Fred Martin]

I have my grandfather's toolbox, he worked on clocks and watches. He passed away in 1964 at the age of 94.There is an anvil in it about three or four inches long...with a lot of wear. A 3" sledge hammer that says See's candy on it. A lot of worn out screwdrivers and clock springs and hands. And...One thing I had to study on for a long time, it's a feather. I think he oiled clocks with it. ohfred

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

I'm surprised nobody has told the one about the ax that's been in the family since before the Civil War. Only had to replace the handle on it three times and the head once.

Stan

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a pocket knife I bought when I was thirteen that's 37 years now. I also have my grandfathers sight box that he made during his carpenter apprenticeship some time in the 1920's. The top and bottom are one board about 24 inches wide.

 

[NP]

Have an old vice from my father that has the year 1880 cast into it. I had to replace the broken acme thread with a piece of 1 inch all thread about 35 years ago. Still use it about 3 or 4 times a week.

 

[DeltaRed]

Not since the Civil war,but a 4tine pitchfork and a doulble bit axe that are probably 1900 or so...

 

[Spook]

I have a big wooden plane from my great grandfather. A couple of tools from my grandfather, machinist things. Not a tool, but a 1914 Machinist's Handbook, pretty cool. I have another from the 50's, that was my dad's. I have one from the 80's that is mine. I have a Starett precision square dated 1911. Don't know whether that was dad's or ? My nephew is going to get a lot of stuff....

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

It's a joke!

 

[Cheesehead Fred]

A great big old ugly ball pean hammer. Came to me from my grandfather with the story that a guy near Chicago used it to break into safes in the '30's. My grandfather worked on the police department back in the Depression, and got to take home the burglar's tool, before the days of evidence rules, etc. It still packs a pretty good wallop, as well as a lot of memories.

 

[Paul from MI]

I still have the "Dunlap" brad clawhammer my Dad & Mom got me for Christmas in 1949. It's had severl handles and a whole lot of use since then.

I also have a potato plow that was built by a neighbor, John Orewiler, about 1870. His grandson gave it to my Dad about 1950. We used it in the garden for years.