question about inherited tools

[echo_four_romeo]

So my grandfather passed a few months back. He was a farmer all his life and built most of his own farm implements. While we were cleaning out the house and workshop we found a massive amount of tools. Those that were still in good condition we brought back home and I found these in a drawer wrapped in a towel. They looked really important to him. I know that one set is micrometers but I have no clue about the others. Or what they would be used for?

 

[rotortech71]

The middle pic looks like part of a depth mic set, and the last, the telescoping gauge set, is used to measure inside bore diameters. Some just call them T gauges, or snap gauges. I use everything in all three pics on a daily basis!

They are all precision measuring devises, and need to be well taken care of, hence the reason for him keeping them stored the way he did. He sounded like a man who knew how to take care of his expensive tools. Sorry for your loss, I'll bet he was an interesting guy.

 

[Pterodactyl]

E4R,

Your signature line reminds of British Field Marshal William Slim writing about when he commanded the British "Forgotten Army" during WWII in Burma, (paraphrasing) When we attacked the enemy we would attack a squad with a company, a platoon with a battalion and a company with a regiment. Some said my tactics were like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. This is quite alright if you do not care what happens to the walnut.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Was Grandpa a machinist in another life? That's some high end stuff.

 

[Dogdaze]

E4R,

Your signature line reminds of British Field Marshal William Slim writing about when he commanded the British "Forgotten Army" during WWII in Burma, (paraphrasing) When we attacked the enemy we would attack a squad with a company, a platoon with a battalion and a company with a regiment. Some said my tactics were like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. This is quite alright if you do not care what happens to the walnut.

Not to hijack, but my father served under FM W. Slim in Burma, just brought back a memory of my father. Carry on.

 

[ace50]

The middle pic is a inside micrometer set. Bottom right of pic is the micrometer.

 

[tubebender]

That's a very nice set. Keepers for sure.

 

[echo_four_romeo]

The middle pic looks like part of a depth mic set, and the last, the telescoping gauge set, is used to measure inside bore diameters. Some just call them T gauges, or snap gauges. I use everything in all three pics on a daily basis!

They are all precision measuring devises, and need to be well taken care of, hence the reason for him keeping them stored the way he did. He sounded like a man who knew how to take care of his expensive tools. Sorry for your loss, I'll bet he was an interesting guy.

Thanks for the description. He was a very DIY kind of guy. Maintained most all of his tractors and trucks on his own, welded and assembled most of his plows and such. I think he modified a few of his tractors to run on propane instead of diesel. Towards the end, he would sit down with me and tell stories of his time in Germany after WWII. One he told often was how he helped transport prisoners to Nuremberg for trial.

E4R,

Your signature line reminds of British Field Marshal William Slim writing about when he commanded the British "Forgotten Army" during WWII in Burma, (paraphrasing) When we attacked the enemy we would attack a squad with a company, a platoon with a battalion and a company with a regiment. Some said my tactics were like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. This is quite alright if you do not care what happens to the walnut.

Pterodactyl, I probably laughed a little too much at that. But in war, sometimes cracking a walnut may need a hammer. Teaches the other walnuts a valuable lesson.

 

[rotortech71]

The middle pic is a inside micrometer set. Bottom right of pic is the micrometer.

Yep, you're right. Actually went back and clicked the image and see what you mean. Just glancing past the image I thought I was looking at depth mic rods.

After my grandfather passed, my brother and I were cleaning out his garage. Among all the tools, we found between 10 and 12 sealed boxes that hadn't been opened. We looked inside, and found dozens of bottles of IW Harper whiskey. Don't know where he got it, or why he had that much! Growing up, I don't remember ever seeing him drinking it. It will stay a mystery I guess.

 

[EricV]

Questions have been answered well. I spent 25 years using presion tools. Old Craftsmen stuff is good quality. The modern stuff is more home owner grade. If you sell them, do some research and have them calibrated. That will help you get a fair price. Make sure to document the calibration so the prospective customers will know they are good. It won't cost much and anyone in the trade will be able to verify that they are still in spec.

 

[patrickg450]

Questions have been answered well. I spent 25 years using presion tools. Old Craftsmen stuff is good quality. The modern stuff is more home owner grade. If you sell them, do some research and have them calibrated. That will help you get a fair price. Make sure to document the calibration so the prospective customers will know they are good. It won't cost much and anyone in the trade will be able to verify that they are still in spec.

+1

Well not 25 years like Eric, but 12. My problem was (WAS DO YOU RESEARCH) when I went to sell my stuff, I could not get a fair price. It was about 12 years ago and I changed my career field. Mine were no longer needed, I tried to sell and because they were "too old" the resale price was like 10 cent on the dollar. Some stuff I simply could not find an interested party.

I am not saying you SHOULD sell them but if you do..........I wish you better luck than what I had. I remember chatting with you in AR 2014, cant remember what you do. If you think you will use them keep them as trying to purchase similar tools will cost you. Even if it sits for 10 years, you may wind up making something or measuring something later in life. You seems to me like you were early 30's, and your "I may give up riding" post from way back when obviously faded. At any point in time a buddy or fellow rider may need them. Even better, a guy like me could say "man I could make it for you if I had the tools............."

For the record I have a set of box wrenches that say Montgomery Wards on them. My grandpa was not allowed to serve in WWII as he had (he passed) epilepsy. I took like the military references...............carry on.

 

[patrickg450]

on a side note I cannot remember when "Roebuck" was dropped from the name, someone older than me chime in.

 

[echo_four_romeo]

+1

Well not 25 years like Eric, but 12. My problem was (WAS DO YOU RESEARCH) when I went to sell my stuff, I could not get a fair price. It was about 12 years ago and I changed my career field. Mine were no longer needed, I tried to sell and because they were "too old" the resale price was like 10 cent on the dollar. Some stuff I simply could not find an interested party.

I am not saying you SHOULD sell them but if you do..........I wish you better luck than what I had. I remember chatting with you in AR 2014, cant remember what you do. If you think you will use them keep them as trying to purchase similar tools will cost you. Even if it sits for 10 years, you may wind up making something or measuring something later in life. You seems to me like you were early 30's, and your "I may give up riding" post from way back when obviously faded. At any point in time a buddy or fellow rider may need them. Even better, a guy like me could say "man I could make it for you if I had the tools............."

For the record I have a set of box wrenches that say Montgomery Wards on them. My grandpa was not allowed to serve in WWII as he had (he passed) epilepsy. I took like the military references...............carry on.

I figured the right person might pay good money for them if they were in spec. However, I plan to keep them for my life. I have an ever growing selection of tools, I think I inherited the handyman trait from my grandfather. I recently bought a house so who knows what tools will come in handy. I was finally able to get back on the bike and move on from that "rough" experience. Currently the bike is waiting for new suspension to come in. Maybe I'll see you around at another rally of some type? I'm planning some big trips this year on the bike so might be looking for route info in various states.

 

[patrickg450]

going to WV this year?