The Todder 78

Re: The Todder 78

Glenn Madsen

>I'm not one for buying old rust, and then spending a lot of time trying to make something of it. Other folks can deal with the electrolysis and all of that. And buying from eBay is for folks more adventurous than I.

Patrick Leach, at www.supertool.com, also sells through a mostly monthly email list. I've been quite pleased with what I've purchased off of his list. The prices have been reasonable, IF you steer away from the collectibles... User tools, with lots of life left, and little futzing required, fit my budget.

Pete Niederberger, at pniederber@aol.com, has a side business in old tools as well. I've met Pete at one of our club meetings, and would do business with him in a heartbeat as well.

I understand that my two dozen handplanes don't come near to making me a collector. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Are 78s all that valuable?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I had the impression that the 78 was a pretty common plane (waiting for Todd H. to weigh in...one beat...two beats...nope, I guess he's not online today), although I have to confess I don't follow the collector market.

It's a surprisingly useful plane, in ways I didn't expect when I bought mine from Alister Orme.

Re: Are 78s all that valuable?

Greg Sloop, Portland Oregon

>I really don't know, though some very nice ones, quite similar to the Todder one seemed to go for ~$80-100 on ebay recently...

Man, is that a gift or what?

Cheers,

Greg

Re: Are 78s all that valuable?

victor parisian

>I recently acquired one made in England on Ebay didn't pay near $100.00 for it maybe $50.00 plus shipping. The box was in rough shape, but otherwise all was there and I believe to be unused. Surface rust here and there no signs of wear on any parts. Should make a nice user. Just the other night I noticed another one on Ebay that meets this discription.

Victor - who used the hand drill acquired on ebay to hang a kitchen undercabnet radio and some towel bars for my bride today :>)

Use it

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I would use that plane. Be happy that you get to be the one to break it in and keep it for your main user.Once you find out where it is useful,you will use it and be glad you kept it.

Only my humble opinion.---Jack

Re: Are 78s all that valuable?

Todd Hughes

>I just did a quick search on ebay for completed auctions of 78s with box and saw more then a couple simular to yours in condition, prices ranged from about $65 -$88. The Higher priced one was an older style one.Some English and Blue ones went for less then the $65 but don't think it fair to compare them to yours. Judging by this I would guess the plane is worth around $60-$75... Common Plane prices on ebay have really fallen, I have gotten this much or more for just good clean user 78s a few years ago. Think back then I sold one in the box for $175 but things are different now. I think many bidders realise that these common planes are well "common" and no need to bid to high as another one will come thier way so prices have fallen.Strange though but I believe some tools like large chisels[just sold a big witherby gouge for $130] are at an about an all time high....

Personaly if the 78 had been used or sharpened I wouldn't worry about using it some more, doubt if you are going to use it up, just put the box somwhere safe.If the plane is mint and was never used or sharpened I think I would put it away and since good "user" 78s are so cheap and easy to find pick up one of those to use......Todd

Don't use it

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>If it was mine, I wouldn't use it. While not completely un heard of finding tools 30-50 years old that have never been used is getting harder and harder. I'd display it and be the envy of of my rust hunting buddies, not because I have a 78, but because I have a mint, never been used, with the box and it's original paperwork, never been used, that was bought at a flea market in 2004 for $25 and given to me as a thank-you gift by a good buddy whom I never met # 78

78's are dirt common, tho to get one complete, even a user more than likely you'll pay more than $25. I know that Todd e-bays 78's and their related parts all the time.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the delemmas of old tool fanatics eh? Should I use it, should I not, shouldn't I or should I?

"And the beat goes on"...(sung in my best Sonny and Cher imatation)

Todd O.

Say it ain`t so!

Bob Hackett

>Could my buddy and fellow bottom feeder,Todd O.,be crossing over and becoming a ccc... colll...collector?The horror,the horror.

Wait a minute,now I know why he gave it away.He did it so that he wouldn`t be won over to the dark side!He knew he would be tempted to use it for the good of mankind(and as it was intended)instead of placing it on a shelf only to collect(there`s that word again) dust and never to fulfill it`s destiny and true calling in life.

Sorry I doubted you chum.I knew you were stronger than that.;^)

Mainely,Bob-Hoping Todder never sees the barrister`s bookcase full of wood(NOT block) planes and large chisels in his living room.

Well Bob........

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>If I could find mint tools like that more often than I do think that I could really become a ccc, coll, collector. Coarse, that might be a bit of a strong word to, as I'd be more of a Keeper than a collector. A collector actively seeks certain things, while a Keeper just displays nice things that s/he finds. coarse, on that note, I've been known on occasion to seek out LARGE chisels. Uh-oh, are you thinking what I'm thinking? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nooooooooooooooooooo!! ;~)

Todd O.

Who even has a few old tools INSIDE of his house now. How long does denial last?

Re: Say it ain`t so!

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>Bob don't be like that you know Todd is weak when it comes to big chisels. When ever I find one I allways send a picture to him. It sure beats paying listing fees.

CRS moment?

Bob Hackett

>Todd,have you forgotten those planes stored under the bed?

MB

As a matter of fact Bob

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>I have more or less forgotten about those LN's under my bed. Thought more than once about selling them off to buy more rust. I bought those while in Japan when I was making the big $$$ and didn't know diddly-do about e-bay. Most of 'em have never even touched wood!

Thought that once I got my shop set up I'd have a decent place to store/display them, but that isn't going to happen, plus I'm afraid that they'd attract theives. Besides, I'm with Ernie, I like giving a loving home to old and misfit tools that need someone to give them some lovin' again. In my book there is nothing like giving a new life to a long neglected tool.

Just can't decide what to do with those LN's.

Todd O.

Ain`t but one thing to do!

Bob Hackett

>Send them back where they came from.

I live within driving distance of LN so I would be happy to deliver them for you.;^)

Mainely,Bob-Who thinks that you may have bought them just because of where they were made,which ain`t a bad thing at all.

Partly Bob

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>You kinda' hit the nail on the head there Bob as being made in Maine was a major influnce on my buying decision.

I will never for get the moment when back in '98 I ordered a scrub plane to flatten my new 2x4, edge glued 30"X60" workbench top. Glue all dried, and I'm bumming because the scrub hasen't showed up yet, when my daughter walks into the garage and says "Look what I found behind the bush by the front door" yup, the Scrub. I opened it up ready to get at it, but was so taken aback by it's beauty that I admired it for 20 minutes, and bragged to my daughter that it was "Made in Maine". I showed it to everybody who cared or not, and bragged, bragged, bragged, that it was Made in Maine. a few times when somebody admired my old planes I said, "You should see the ones from Maine", and dig them out to show off.

Where I live my shop door opens to the street and I get lots of teenagers that look kinda' like rotten apples to me going by and looking in. I fear that if they saw these nice, shiney, beautiful tools that'd become crack fodder in no time. As it is I don't think anybody will bother with those old "junky looking ones".

Ahhhhhhhhhhh the cons and worries of living in Surburbia. :~(

Todd O.

Challenging one`s perceptions

Bob Hackett

>Hey Todder!Knowing what a big heart you have I`m a bit surprised that you haven`t thought about adopting one of those local homeboys as a GIT.It`s a risk I know but if it works out everyone wins and you get the best security system in the world,a person on the inside looking out for you.

Ping me offline if you have any questions or need more advice on this.I`m serious here.

Mainely,Bob