The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest My Inheritance: Dad's Tools

Recently, my folks moved out of the "big house" family homestead into an assisted-living condo type of arrangement. As my dad hits his mid-80's, it was the right thing to do, just no good time to draw that line. My dad had a sizeable shop that just couldn't be assimilated into their new situation.

As the kids split up most of the items left in the house, I seem to have inherited a male-linked gene that my sisters don't have. My dad never met a tool or gadget he didn't like (and therefore purchased). In addition, he never discarded anything (!), especially a tool that might have some use somewhere. I too suffer from this disease!

Now I am sorting through boxes of tools shipped cross country and it's like reading a chapter book about my dad's life, including his days working in the foundry, building projects at home, or keeping up the grounds around the place. It has provided a great chance to ask questions about where things came from and learn more about every decade in my dad's life. Maybe those old tools have some use after all...

51: Thats why God made dads and sons aint it wonderful. popcorn The Truth is Out There (Sr. Corn got some really neat stuff also)

My Dad isn't very handy and dosen't have many tools. Now my Mothers Dad had some tools of which I have a few and cherrish. My Wifes Dad is handy and so was his Dad. When my wifes Grandfather Passed her Dad (my Father-in-Law) Was kind enough to let me go through the House after all the other family had. I felt that this was a great honor. I was able to save some very nice very well used quality tools.

Oh what stories these tools could tells us!

My grandfather died in the 70's - he left his tools to my uncle - who was a fiberglass boat builder / custom wood worker at the time - who developed his own very large set of tools.

Fast forward to the late 80's - parents got divorced and I ended up with some of the tools that my Dad had.

After that - my uncle passed and I inherited all his tools (which included my grandfathers').

Every time I touch a tool in my garage I think of times I had with my dad or uncle growing up. It is a great feeling to be connected to all these wonderful people through such a hands on experience.

- Ryan

I have one thing to remember my father by.An old sledge hammer.It hangs over my work bench,and I often use it.That old hammer means more to me than all my other tools,and I have plenty of them.

I always thought that stuff had 'sentimental' value. Now, think about how that works. Sentiment - feeling - when I touch an old tool or truck - you kinda get those vibes of the good times / previous owners. Like my vintage brass musical instruments. I mean when you touch the stuff, you get that certain feeling. When it was a family heirloom, like a tool, that someone used a great deal, then you really get that vibe. Brings all those memories back.

That, or I am nutz.

I think that's why I like old stuff, and work at the local railroad museum on their stuff. Been working on and playing an old steam calliope too. (LOUD) Of course, the vibes from that can be heard 2 miles away!

Irwin-

I agree that there is a sense of history in these old rigs. Time carries some weight, something you can sense, but can't really put your finger on. When that history is from people you love, that sense is enhanced. I regret that my dad lives 3000 miles away and we can't work side-by-side.

On the other hand, don't play that calliope late at night--OK!??!

I have my great-grandfather's 16 pound sledge hammer that he used in the building of Fort Peck Dam in the 1930's. I wouldn't give it up for anything. My dad has been slowly turning loose some of his brother's tools to me. He was an auto mechanic in the 50's and 60's and had lots of old quality tools. He died in '68 and dad got it all.

Ahh tools. I love old tools they have a different feel to them don't they. I to was fortunate to have inherited a small handmade box of my Grandfathers tools who was a machinest and parttime farmer who died in 1932. Some of his drill bits have the date of manufacturer stamped on the side. Some were made during the Civil War or to our friends in the south, "the great war of northern agression". I also inherited my fathers tools and his basement of stuff. I have to admit that I am somewhat concerned that my son who didn't grow up with me is not interested in such things. There is enough regret to go around.

52-

Wow, bits from the civil ar era! I'd hate to bust one of those!

You can't always tell about sons. I didn't get into tools until a bit later in life. With time we appreciate new and different things!

I recently gained my Dad's 1964 Craftsman Radial Arm Saw. No he's not gone, just doesn't do "wood stuff" anymore. It's nice have a piece of equipment as old as I am. I'm looking forward to tuning it up and putting back to work, just as soon as they finish building my garage.

I've got a couple of grampa's tools.

An old brass gasoline torch, and an old brass pump style fire extinguisher.

They seem to go together!!

I have a couple of my grandfather's and great-grandfather's "tools". They were blacksmiths, wheelwrights & cart and carriage builders. They had an outfit which I'm sure they built that was kind of like a pile-driver in their shop. A wagon wheel hub was placed on its side on the ground between two pieces of would at the top of which was a pulley. A fifty pound block of oak was raised about 15 feet to the top of the little "elevator shaft" then was released and would come sliding straight down and drive in a wheel spoke that was being held up with its end in a rectangular hole in the hub. The force of the block would drive the spoke all the way in with one blow, avoiding the need for a lot of hammering. The hub was repositioned with the next hole facing up and the next spoke driven in until the wheel was finished.
Anyway, I've got that block of wood with the Roman numeral L on it indicating that it weighed 50 lbs. Besides y'all now, I guess I'm the only one left who knows what that block of wood encased in wrought iron straps was used for.

I've got some of the old ship building tools from way back in the family...old caulking irons, mallets, axes, etc..

from the days of building schooners..

And some of the old sailmaking tools...

I have bad memories of long days spent caulking boats and then leading the seams..hard work and a touch environmentally :rolleyes: hazardous...

I have some of mom's dad's tools. Whatever was left in this red metal toolbox. The top tray is metal also, and kinda round... and the top has my grandpa's name and address printed on it.

Inside the box is kind of a time capsule, there is an old spark plug in there to something... and various little tools that he had.

As a matter of fact I had to break one of them out the other day to adjust something on my truck. I told my mom about it, and she jsut grinned and said something like: well, daddy would want them to be used.

Anyhoos... old tools are cool.

I also have grandpas 20 gauge side by side shotgun.

-W

W-

I think a 20 G shotgun will adjust ANY part of your truck!

Thanks to all for sharing your stories in this thread--

I have 2 brother all 3 of use turn wrenches for a living we all have tools enough. I being oldest got some of gramps tools nothing great.
Now my stuff my work box is 6ft tall 6ft wide and full of snap on ( if I dont spend it on tools my wife will give it to the church) I dont know what will happen to them when I go

Being the youngest of 9 brothers, I did not recieve much from my fathers tools. I still have an old pair of green handled slip-joint pliers.

When I rebuilt my 216, I used a ridge reamer, ring compressor and groove cleaner that my late Father-in-law passed on to me years ago. What a great feeling it was to put these 60 plus year old tools to work again.

As to the earlier reference to the Civil War. Some of us southerners have for the most part gotten over it. We no longer refer to it as the "War of Northern Agression" but rather as " The Late Unpleasantness"!

Having always like hand tools, I've been picking up bargains whenever I can. It has to be something that I can use, not just a wall hanger.
When thieves cleaned out my garage a few years ago they took everything that had an electric or gasoline motor. The hand tools were untouched. One of my favorites was left right on my workbench where I left it. I was a North Bros. "Yankee" drill. The thieves probably didn't even know what it was. I refer to it as my cordless screwdriver.
All of the wrenches that I have were spared maybe because they were in an O.D. green 50 cal ammo box which I've used a few times as a jackstand.

Wow, this is really a nostalgia thread. I'm lucky to have inherited all the tools my Dad had and all his guns too. A lot of really good times attached to each item but let me tell you a story of what a fool I once(?) was.

In 1987 I married a girl whose grandfather had worked his entire life for the **** Motor Company. He was a wonderful old guy and smart as a whip too. He had attended the Henry **** Trade School back in the teens and was personally taken under the wing of Henry himself. Grandpa knew the entire family on a first name basis. He kept a diary of his entire life and wrote in it everyday. He had stacks of journals going back to 1915 and it it is a fabulous account of the history of FMC not to mention his life. It was the only job the man ever had. He was quite well thought of and was promoted to executive positions. He never made it to the top floor but he did very well for himself. Anyway to make a fascinating and long story short, Grandpa had a foot locker sized trunk completely full of brand new tools that used to be supplied with every **** car, truck and tractor. He took to me and we really hit it off and were even lodge brothers.
Well, he gave it all to me. But he had other family that I felt should have come before me and so I told him I couldn't accept it, it just didn't seem right. It was a stupid thing to do perhaps but I still would have felt funny taking them even though I realized the inherent value of them. Shiny black laquer paint and still in the grease and paper. Well over a hundred pounds of it.

Now Grandpa is gone, the wife/grand daughter is an ex and God only knows what became of the tools or the much more valuable diaries and journals. I just feel fortunate to have read a few of them and to have known this incredible and wonderful fine old gentleman. I miss him and his great stories, his kind manner and friendship to me. That I have all that is worth a lot more than those shiny old black wrenches ever would have.
If I'm really lucky sometime I'll run into him again and he and I will "talk tools.

Rwise,
Thank you for the new phrase. My grandfather from Spartensburg, SC would be pleased.

I have some of my grandpop's old tools, which were luckily not stolen when my storage shed was raided by thieves in the night. It is great to be able to use something that long ago, one of your family members used it also.

When Dad died at 84 I got his Craftsman circular saw. Had the 1953 original sales ticket in an envelope in the metal case. And a brand new never used 6-tooth carbide blade that came with the saw according to the sales promo also in the envelope. He used the beejeebers out of that saw every place they lived. And took care of it too. Built a lot of church / scouting / volunteer group structures. Mother said he never used that blade because he knew it didn't have enough teeth to be any good. Don't know when carbide saw blades first appeared but suspect this one was early-on. Memories... /s/ Stubby

My father passed along a few tools to me here and there over the years. One of my favorites is a Black and Decker rotahammer drill for concrete and stone work. Has the original orange box and some accessories. My guess it is a mid-1960s product, and has been replaced by much more modern drills (I know, as I used those growing up, too.) It is pre-three prong, aluminum caesed, and a good 25 lbs. Doesn't have a chuck, and just like old drills, it has a Morse taper set of bits.

It sees service 2-3 times each year when I need to bore through some of this concrete or cinder block. The drill has never failed me, and I get a kick out of using what he used to call "The Threshold Drill."

I noticed someone mentioned a Craftsman circular saw box. Bought one of those at a yardsale about 15 years ago. Only one I've ever seen, and I wish they still made them, since it is such a nice common sense item.

Charles

I am really lucky.
My wife spotted our 59 about a second after I did and suggested I pull over and take a look....2 weeks later we had it and it was time change the oil and spark plugs and get to know the truck a bit.
I'd just finished a fence project in the back yard using my Dads fathers DeWalt radial arm from sometime 50-60 years ago. He was an auto mechanic and gauge builder among other things, and my favorite photo of him is of him sitting on a crate rubbing a connecting rod bearing.
Anyway, as I was getting out the wrenches to drain the oil, I remembered that I had my Moms Dad's S-K socket set, complete and in the green metal box. I had never used these before. He liked funky tools and stuff too, and at some time he had engraved his initials in each socket and his full name on the ratchet handle. I used that set to work on the truck that day.
I needed to break free some exhaust connector bolts to remove the funky old starter that needed to be replaced and used an old breaker bar my Dad gave me, it was the perfect tool for the job.
I have my Moms uncle's cabinet makers tool set from WWII, and anothers solid brass wood plane and Black and decker jig saw with the original blade set too.
I use most of these tools and intend to find a need to use the rest.
I am lucky to have known all of these guys and hope I've learned something from each of them.
One of the coolest things about having tools that were handed down from those before us is not only does it give us another reason to think of them but also a common bond of holding that same tool in your hand that they did, either working on your truck or fixing a fence......
Jeff

I have to go along with mechainiac. As the youngest of 8 children there wasn't much left for me to choose as dad just couldn't afford nice tools. What he could do with a pair of channel locks and screwdriver was unbelievable. He died when I was 15 and oh how I wish he was alive today so HE could use some of the nice tools I have acquired over the years. One sad story is that "way back then" we use to scrap old cars and trucks and sell them at the junk yard. We would actually have to chop them up with an old axe and would use a hack saw to cut the chassis into. Back then we even bought and sold rags to the junk yard. I guess all I can say is times were different back then! After working in the sand and dirt and in the wind and rain while growing up I fondly remember the times we did have and think of him when I go out and raise the garage door or roll under my truck on the concrete with my air tools. Come to think about it I believe he would be proud.
OH, as far as the Civil War: save your Dixie cups because the South will rise again
Didn't someone mention having kinfolks here in Spartanburg,S.C.....I may know them?!