A 80 yr. young friend passed a couple years ago while working in his shop. Was under a 16' bumper pull car hauler and it slipped off the floor jack, pining him where he couldn't breath. Well his wife is selling the place and moving. To that end there was a online auction last weekend to clean out his shop and barn of all the lesser quality good stuff. Family had already removed all the loaded tool chest and cars/trucks.
On a whim I signed up and watched most of Ben's junk bring pretty good money. He had a 5' or so oval porcelain Gulf sign that sold for $2,850 some large vintage vices that brought $400 ish each (a quick check on auction day said that was about half price).
I however had a more modest budget. Picked up a few nos tools, including a made in USA 6 pack of Sears screwdrivers in a damaged but unopened package (yes, I did open it). Sticker says $3.92, similar on Ebay $57.00.
The biggest score was some of Ben's old country treasures, cotton scales, a buck saw, hand planes, a near new crosscut handsaw and a old tool box. I purchased the tool box for the two hand planes. It was a treasure trove with a few items I really can't identify. It had a yellow commercial quality flashlight that also had made in USA on the end, with new batteries and cleaning the contacts, it works. I feel guilty for only paying $10.00 for the box and contents.
