I recently had to help distribute my grandfather's collection of tools,
parts, odds and ends, so I suppose I have lived through this way before my
time.
Firstly, my grandfather was an active farmer in Alberta for 50 years. He
then semi-retired, moved out of province, but continued his 'can't throw
anything out' ways for another 15.
I suppose that we were fortunate in that my grandfather had 7 grandchildren.
Of these, two of us are mechanically inclined in a hobby (lbc) fashion, and
2 are still into farming. The rest are urbanites. This made the job a
little easier.
First, we threw out most of the rusty screws, bolts, nuts, washers ... a
whole bunch of stuff that has been gathered over a retired lifetime in a
collection of coffee cans and jars. The stuff that was identifiable and
usable (not too rusty) was distributed between the lbc-ers.
The heavy-duty tools were sent back to the homestead/farm. The remaining
mechanical tools were divided amongst the lbc-ers. The household tools
(hammers, skil saws, screw drivers, etc) were divided amongst the urbanites.
Lessons learned ...
- try to label parts and pieces ... no one else will recognize the value of
a trunion or a crown wheel and pinion
- although the urbanites were not mechanically inclined, they still wanted a
set of tools that they could use to maintain their home. This 'want' was a
recently developed thing too - 5 years ago, the urbanites would as soon dig
holes with a hammer as they would bash their thumbs.
- none of the children wanted any tools - 2 became urbanites, and were too
far along to want to have a set of tools (and they have 'us' to fix things
anyway), or they already had their own tools
- the lbc-ers came into 'being' in their late teens or early 20's. Just
because a kid had no desire to wrench or take things apart when he's 7
doesn't mean that they he won't develop that bent later in life
- it was 50/50 whether the grandchild or his/her spouse held out for their
part of the tool collection. My sister didn't care for anything, but her
husband wanted the skil saw, a hammer, etc.
In short, I suppose you want to look at the people 2 generations away. Your
progeny either are set in their ways so that they have a set of tools or
they don't see the need for any. Your mechanically-minded genes may just
skip a generation.
And, yes, I agree, inventory your collection so that even if no one wants
the tools, they recognize the value it represents.
Finally, if no one in your extended or to-be-family wants the tools, maybe
it's not that bad a thing that they get carted off to a pawn shop or a high
school shop or somewhere - at least the tools will become cherished and used
by someone else. Whether it was by design or by permanent loan...
Michael
P.S. The most cherished tool I 'inherited' was Gido's framing hammer. It's
rusty, the claw is broken, and the handle is very weathered, but it, and
every scar, is irreplaceable.
-----Original Message-----
From: jniolon@uss.com [mailto:jniolon@uss.com]
Sent: July 10, 2000 2:38 PM
To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: a weighty question
A thought came up the other day when I was considering my mortality about
my "stuff." I then read a Pete Egan article about his going to an estate
sale that offered a life-times collection of a man's tools. Please
understand I am not planning on having to deal with this particular problem
anytime in the near-term and I am not suggesting the same of you...but the
question is
"What do you do with the large collection of tools you have accumulated
over a lifetime of work when you can no longer use them?"
I have spent way too much time pondering this question. I have a son with
no mechanical ability being a phychologist he wrenches peoples minds
instead of cars, a daughter who will only soil her hands with chocolate.
My one option is my new(est) son-in-law who has spoken of an interest in
racing and cars, but I've yet to see his toolbox... I'll judge his
worthiness by how he keeps HIS tools.
I've accumulated quite a collection,... it's almost scary sometimes when
I've realized that my garage has been unlocked for three days... With
welders (wire & stick ) torches/bottles, plasma cutter, jacks, lifts,
stands, every hand tool I could beg borrow or steal or buy... sometimes
times two....or three... pumps , parts washers, power tools... hell, I've
got more vise grip pliers than some have tools total... It's s
troublesome problem.... not even including the truck I'm trying to build
(or the dream of a truck). My one hope is for a grandson/daughter that
will appreciate this fortune. And not for it's monetary value alone. I
have tools that belonged to my granddad and dad and uncles that mean more
to me than the keys to a Snap-On truck...(nearly). Hopefully before I
leave this sorry world I can impart the appreciation of this "stuff" as my
wife calls it... to either the son-in-law or grand child... or perhaps a
more realistic view would be grandchild THRU son-in-law.
As a backup plan I hope to inventory this collection with a value attached
to each item so if I depart before my time, Peggy and the kids won't be
screwed over by some unscrupulous flea-market/yard sale thief when they try
to dispose of my lifes work.
As a backup/backup plan, Peter Egan's idea doesn't sound too bad... Egan,
who is childless, decided to leave all his stuff to " some youngster he
comes upon who has a rusty screwdriver in his pocket and maybe a worn-out
pair of pliers trying to work on a lawnmower engine; whose eyes light up
when he hears a motorcycle pass by or sees a set of wire-wheels flash in
the sunlight." I think he is too much of a dreamer, but it is an
interesting/disturbing question.
It's a shame that there isn't a master craftsman somewhere who teaches
young mechanics/welders/fabricators and who has a place that needs this
type of donation. I'd hesitate to leave it to a tech school or high school
shop. I would wonder if any of it would ever get off the
teacher/administrator's truck... it is perplexing...
your thoughts please, gentlemen ???? and no you can't have my tools now
!!!
john
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