I started buying my hand tools nearly 60 years ago when I was a kid in grade school. On my way home from school I would wander thru the Sear-Roebuck & Co store and drool on the tools that I was planning to buy. Any time I had a spare buck or two I would pick up a couple of sockets or a box wrench. By the time I had outgrown the two wheeler and moved on to four I had accumulated a workable set of Craftsman wrenches. Almost every one of those original wrenches are still in the tool box and used often on these Stovebolts.
I also have a few of my dads tools that he purchased back in to the 20’s and 30's when he was a working mechanic. I inherited his big old heavy Thor gear driven 1/2" drill and it’s still the one I grab when ever I get into the heavy stuff. I use it to pull Silver & Deming drills for the really big holes. Better brace yourself though, cuz when it hooks, It’ll throw you right off the frame.
Nope, they sure don't make 'em like they used to! I like your comparison of Sears to Wal-Mart now days, that's so appropriate. What a shame that a great working mans store like Sears or the rest of our proud manufacturing industry for that matter, has been allowed to degrade to the point it has.
I'm just glad I grew up back than rather than now, we truly did see the best this county had to offer. God help the future generations in this country.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
