Iowa Tool Auction *LINK*

Wow! Unbelievable.

WoodburnBob

>I've always imagined there were auctions like this one. Really fantastic photos on the site.

There is a certain sadness in them, though: Some fellow's life work being auctioned off. Do you know anything of the background to the collection?

Re: Iowa Tool Auction

Wayne Anderson

>Probably just one of many auctions and sales to come like this. There are several "mature" collectors who will be liquidating in the near future, and it will be interesting to see what happens to the collectable tool market. Hope the new guys coming in equal those leaving...in numbers and enthusiasm. Wayne Anderson

Re: Wow! Unbelievable.

David Miller from Iowa

>No - didn't know him or anything about him.

There was auction in Fort Dodge, Iowa a few months ago that was almost this big. I knew that guy and had sold a Jenny to him back before I knew what I was doing. The guy had collected all his life and always told himself he would sell out when he needed to. He planned the auction 2 years in advance, came to it and watched the whole thing, garnered a very sizeable sum and left. My brother had sold him a complete #41 about 10 years ago, and we went to repatriate it. He didn't get his old one, but got another one just like it with less japan. I spent more than I should have as well.

Re: Iowa Tool Auction

David Miller from Iowa

>And I hope the new guys have the cash - there were a number of speculators at the other auctioned I mentioned who apparently were looking for bargains they could turn on ebay. But with a room full of galoots the stuff went a lot higher than I expected.

Re: Iowa Tool Auction

Matt Malin

>I'm going to try and make it. I live in Boone.

Yowza!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>That's one heck of a collection. Scott wiping drool of my chin as I type.

Re: Wow! Unbelievable.

Mike in Mystic

>I agree, it is sad to see this type of thing.

It always makes me wonder - what exactly is the satisfaction of owning so many handtools? I mean, I can see having a collection where you get a mint copy of each one, but these collections always seem to have a dozen of each one (somewhat exaggerating, I admit). It just makes no sense to me.

Honestly, once I am too old or incapable of using my tools I'm going to give them to my son or a high school or something. I probably will keep the few that my grandpa gave my dad who gave them to me, but that's a bit different.

Anyway, any of you collectors care to enlighten me about your obsession?

Collecting psychosis

David Miller from Iowa

>For me, once I have all I need to work (I crossed this line a long time ago although I may NEED the new LV shoulder plane) it's not really the "having" but rather the "quest". It's about finding, tuning and gloating. In my case, there is also the compulsion side, like having a strange desire to have every model of Stanley transitional plane, or every type of #45. It is indeed a sickness, but probably better than compulsive gambling or alcoholism or something.

Tools are actually a decent investment and I have had to dip into the vault a few times when finances were in a crunch.

Re: Iowa Tool Auction

Rob in Kansas

>So David,

Think most everything is collector grade and price to go along with it? I'd like to find some user wooden planes (moulders, plow, smoothers) but I don't want, nor could pay for $100 moulders!