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O/T What is your oldest tool....

C

ChrisinMO

Member
...that you still use regularly?

Lemme see, I've got one of those little 4x8 utility trailers which I bought about 18 years ago. It is terribly useful around the farm, though it hasn't been on the road in years.

I've got a variety of masons tools that are something like 20-25 years old, but I haven't used most of them in more than decade.

The other day, I broke the fiberglass handle of a claw hammer my wife bought perhaps thirty years ago before she met me.

We've got a wheelbarrow that is at least 18 years old that we've gotten lots of use out of. It has gone through two or three tires, though.

I've got a Sawzall that is about 20 years old and still going strong.

And I've got a large number of hand tools which I have purchased over the years for $1 (or even less) at auctions. Most of them are at least 25+ years old, but probably older. They all still give good service.

Christopher
 
I have a crowbar (prybar) that my grandfather allegedly bought at an auction sale. Still has the previous owner"s name scratched into the surface. My grand father passed away in 1945... So it has outlasted him, my dad, and I"m 65... That"s a lot of rocks pried outta the ground, not to mention all the other things it"s been used for.
 
I have my grandfathers vice from the turn of the century 1900. The oldest purchased tools are a set of Craftsman tools purchased in 1974 and still in weekly use.
 
Thanks REAL much for getting me thinking about this.

I have hand tools I bought myself 50 years ago or darned near it.

I also have hand tools I inherited from my Dad, no telling how old they are. Late 1930's or early 1940's at a guess.

20 year old equipment is the "new" stuff on my place.

(Howthehell did I get so old so fast?)
 
got an old tachometer that I use when I need to determine the rotional speed of a shaft. My great grandfather and his brothers brought it up from La Crosse wi along with their sawmill when they moved up in 1899, and it was old then.
 
i have a level my granddad brought from the old farm in ILL when he made the run in 89.And thats probably one of the oldest i still use. He was a carpenter/farmer/lawman back in ILL. Here he claimed a town lot and did mostly carpentry/guard work. until he was knocked in the head with a axe handle during a break in at a warehouse he was guarding. Never really got over that and died in a mental institution.
 
Have a Porter Cable worm drive circular saw that my Dad gave me- when I got a new trigger for it, the guy said it was from the early '50's. Also a 1/2 drive SK socket set he gave me for Christmas in about 1961 (I was about 13 years old, but already doing a lot of the "wrenching" around the farm- he never liked mechanical work (or mechanical stuff, for that matter). Stihl 031AV saw is about 40 years old (I bought it soon after we got married), still works fine.
 
Still used? 50's socket sets, late 1800's picks, 1800's train jack, bunch of hand blacksmithed chain tighteners that are who knows old.
 
I'll buy that wooden crescent wrench from you and pay with wooden nickles,---deal?
 
Oldest is a set of pipe dies from about 1900. They were my grandfather's
My oldest power tool is a Sear,s Dunlop bench grinder my dad bought in 1931. Also a 3/4 drive craftman socket set from the 30.s
 
I have a Estwing hammer with the leather grip, 12 oz.,my Dad bought me when I was 12(he was a carpenter)it's 51 years old and I still use it.
 
Don't use that often ,but I have alot of stuff that was inherited from my Grandpa and his brother. I have no clue as to how old this stuff is but it all is older then me at 48. Most is in better shape and will for sure out last me too !!
 
Most of my hand tools are almost 40, bought them when I started in the trades, Have a lot of much older stuff, don't know for sure. I have a set of taps and dies that the 1/2 is 12 tpi vs. 13, that's over 100, I like the 40 year old stuff the best!
 
I have an old awl, for lack of a better word. It is actually a thin hardened but flexable sharp wire about 6 inches long on a small palm shaped handle. Cleaned many a carburetor passage and such with it. I found it in an old building in the late sixties. Quite handy.
 
I have a glass cutter that uses a diamond instead of a wheel to score the glass. The diamond is held on the tool by peening brass around the stone.
 
Wife bought me a set of tools Xmas 1955. They are -Arrow_ brand. Very heavy made. Only broke one socket (1 1/8) trying to take wheel off 55 chev truck with impact wrench. Still use the tools today.
 
Most of my tools are old. One that I'm especially proud of is a shovel that my dad used in his job as a landscape gardener. I remember going into Dillinger's Feed Store with him to buy a new handle for it in the early 50's, and I couldn't figure out why he wanted to look at every handle in the rack before he picked the one he wanted. He picked a good one, because it's still in the shovel. He carved his initials in it down near the bottom. The shovel head itself is worn down to about half the length of a new one. He rode a bicycle three miles to work, and he'd tie that shovel along the bar between his legs. He took good care of it, and would thump us kids if we used it and didn't clean and oil it. I use it often, and it still shines like a new dollar.
 
We have a unique looking Durbin Durco come along. Don't know how old it its. It belonged to James' dad and maybe his granddad.

Guessing its 50+ yrs old.
 
2 chisel sets Great Grand Dads, and Wife's Grandfather's Framing chisel set with Deep Mortice and Tennon Steel. 12 inch right angle bit on them. From Civil war era. Cast iron 1870 sprit level Jim
 
Our wood crafting cabinet shop has 1880 to 1920 flat belt drive tools. Sticker, Edger, Planer, Jointer, 4'wheel band saw, door sander with 260"X6" belt, and automated sawdust removal. Jim
 
Interesting topic, Chris! Counting guns as tools I've got a couple that still get used that predate 1900 by a few years. Very difficult to date some of my hand tools, but most of my "daily" use ones are at least 30 years old. Have a set of plumber's tools from a man that did lead solder and oakum work on plumbing in turn-of-the-century NYC according to the fellow I got them from. Have only used a few of those as obviously there's not much call for the majority of them in rural NY in 2011. Mentioned a few of my grandfather's tools recently on here--hand-made ones for working on Model A's and T's. Have used them a bit--a friend had a few of the old girls before his widow sold them--but while of course they're not going anywhere they probably won't get used much going forward either. Have a few axes and hatchets that have what I presume are the smith's initials or other marks in them, as they don't correspond to any maker's marks I can locate, and they look distinctly hand-forged, with tool marks and such still in evidence. Not necessarily proof of great age, but still probably 75 years old at a minimum.
 
Lots of tools made in Athol, MA, the home of L.S. Starett. I still use a pair of Starett micrometers that I started with in 1964, and a whole lot of other tools by them.
 
Not my oldest but an original set of Craftsman 1/2 sockets complete with the original box that belonged to my wifes grand dad. I think they were from the late thirties.They will go to my grandson as soon as he completes his four year course in the disel program at Ferris State.Ive used them on my wifes AC C and my W4. W4
 
My oldest tool that I got new is Sears Dunlap claw hammer. Dad gave it to me for my 6th birthday, 62 years ago. His exact words to me were "There, now you have one of your own. Leave mine alone!!" I have lots of tools from the 30's and 40's that I bought at garage sales. My actual oldest tool is a hand forged potato plow made by the father of one of my dads neighbors about 1860. I still use it, not worn out yet.
 
with the exception of some hand tools...origins unknown...
still use my grandfather's motorized concrete mixer on a semi-regular basis...he bought it used in the early 50's...so who knows...at least 60 years old
 
I bought a knife blade at a garage sale in a dollar box. It said Wilson-Hawksworth and Ellison -Carlisle Wares - Shefield. A google search tells me they went out of business in 1854. I put a deer antler handle on it with J-B weld. I don't think I have any older tools.Lots of Ford wrenches.
 
My Grandfathers 1948 Sears Drill Press, still working and in the shop today. Last used was last week to make a bracket to mount a buzz saw on our 1948 Ford 8N.
 
I have a carpenters square that my grandpa got from his father who was a contractor around Thorntown, Indiana. Grandpa was born in 1884 so it is older than that.

I haven't decided who to give it to. One of my boys is developing an interest in tools and doing his own work now that he is a homeowner. They didn't pay much attention growing up.

I always try to use it a little on a Habitat house or a project around here to transfer a little of the karma.
 
I have an old broom that belonged to my great grandfather it is still in daily use and as good as new but it has had 9 new shafts and 31 new heads fitted over the years!
Sam
 
Got set of FORD tools in leatherette case from my Dad. My personal oldest is a pen knife(remember those) from Mom and Dad when I was about 5. First thing I did was stuck it in a pillow on Mom"s bed. Wonder if she ever found out where that hole came from. Second was knife CAMCO boy scout knife when I was maybe 7. Still have all these. Very important to me. Dave
 
I have a claw hammer that my dad got from his dad and Grandpa died in the early 40ies.

Bob
 
You're kinda young, aren't ya? I'm like Fawteen in that 25year old tools are pretty new.

I don't use the really old stuff as it is retired and it is my job to guard them.

Time does pass to quick.
 
My Hammer was used to build the Ark. When my daughter tells the story, I was using it to build the Ark. Seriously, however,my old engine crane had a blackwell hydraulic pump, most likely from an antique snow plow, and I mention my early model ratchet from the 1950's or so.
 
I've got my great- great grandfather's carpenter's tool chest he used while working for the railroad (circa 1880). I use it to store tools making me the fifth generation to use it. Also inside when I received it, were a bunch of brace bits, planes, marking gauge, etc. All of those probably predate the chest itself.
 
Have a knife my Great-Great Grandfather made for my G-G Grandmother while he was in the Confederate
Army.Its about 12" long and sharpened on both sides it was for protection.
 
My grandfather was an IH dealer rep in the 40's 50's and 60's and I have a set of iron open end wrenches that came from his house. No markings on them. I am guessing they were wrenches from an IH tractor tool kit maybe? I'm 50 years old and remember seeing them at his house when I was a little kid and I dont think they were new then.
 
Well when I read the "use regularly" part it kinda messed up my reply.

What I was going to say was that my oldest tool I was born with, and it's still attached. I just dont use it regularly. :0(

Gene
 
Tractor related: The International wrench that came with the 1952 Super C. Used regularly, fits the axle clamp bolts and the mounting pad bolts and cultivator bolts. The L shaped set of wrenches for widening spin-out wheels on AC tractors. Came with the 1957 WD-45. 59 years use and and 54.
 
Pea scales from grand dad's late 19th century cotton farm. I still use them to weigh fruit and produce because recalibration is not required.
Ice tongs that are probably 100 years plus. Use them to handle cross tie fence posts,logs and such.
Oldest tools are furniture maker's tools brought from Europe by my grandmother's ancestors in the 1750s but I rarely use them.
 
1947 Craftsman jig saw. Pre WW2 craftsman 8"tilting Table saw, used regulary. Large, about 75#, craftsman bench vise ,use it daily .Pre WW era. mid 1930 s bench grinder/ wire brush that has a flat belt drive with an "Idler" pulley for a line shaft drive .Electric motor drive now.
Other wood handel monkey wrenches. Estwing leather handeled claw hammer.These tools have been in my family sense new.clint
 
Kind of a mixed question here.
You mean the tool I've owned the longest?
Or maybe a tool I have that is way older than me?
I would say the tool I've had the longest is a Toyo Koki brand 12" adjustable wrench that I borrowed off the ship to put a new u joint in my PU in 1974.
My oldest tool is probably my snath.

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P1010007.jpg
 
My main air compressor is three horsepower and came from Grimes Buick in Helena, Montana. It has a four inch wide flat drive belt. We always figured it was probably thirty or more years old when we got it, and we got it probably about forty years ago. My drill press is an old Craftsman bench top which was old when I bought it, and that was probably at least thirty years ago. I was given my old Forney welder over thirty years ago, and it was given to me because it was so old and nearly worthless. I actually do have a few tools which are less than twenty years old.
 
I have a rig builder's hatchet, found in the crawl space of a building built in Delaware 1899. Cleaned off the rust, new handle. Its by the wood stove now.
 
My Granpa Frank Weyer's SYTHE , that uncle Irwin sent home with me about 10 yrs back ,, it stays in the LIVING ROOM corner in a nice special SAFE but visible spot,, each yr , it seems that the electric fence has some aggressive weedin needed that the sythe is PERFECT for .. and then it is put back in its prominent place in the LIVIN ROOM
 
I've got a shovel my father got from a relative, it has worn down to paper thin in most places and is about 2/3 the original length. I've welded a crack in the heel about a dozen times.

Its still my go to shovel since it is so light lol.
 
I have my grandfathers tiling tools and two man saw. I also have my dads tools from the 50s and 60s.
 
They're hard to weld Ken. I've got another one that I welded a couple times, then gave up and cut it down to use for a "crumbing" shovel behind a 4" trencher.
 
My dad farmed with a cresent wrench and a vise grips so nothing I have came from him. I do still have most of the first Craftsman tool set I bought for farm mechanics school 42 years ago.
There are a bunch of older tools than that back in the store room but they're antiques I picked up at farm sales, never planning to use them. Jim
 
dabees, I have the same sorta pea scales from my G-Grandfathers' cotton farm. It has 2 peas, a 50# & a 20#. The old timers took good care of their tools. There's no rust on these scales and the label still has remnants of white paint in the letters. It's labeled 'Sargent' 300. We called these 'steelyard' scales, I have no idea where the 'steelyard' name came from. I keep the scales on the wall next to my G-parents picture and often wonder how many lbs. of cotton they weighed with those scales.
 
(quoted from post at 11:42:48 12/05/11) ...that you still use regularly?

Lemme see, I've got one of those little 4x8 utility trailers which I bought about 18 years ago. It is terribly useful around the farm, though it hasn't been on the road in years.

I've got a variety of masons tools that are something like 20-25 years old, but I haven't used most of them in more than decade.

The other day, I broke the fiberglass handle of a claw hammer my wife bought perhaps thirty years ago before she met me.

We've got a wheelbarrow that is at least 18 years old that we've gotten lots of use out of. It has gone through two or three tires, though.

I've got a Sawzall that is about 20 years old and still going strong.

And I've got a large number of hand tools which I have purchased over the years for $1 (or even less) at auctions. Most of them are at least 25+ years old, but probably older. They all still give good service.

Christopher
Click to expand...

The oldest tool I have is a large plane that was my great granddads. But I don't use it regularly.
 
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