Garry Chinn- Garrett Wade founder interview.

Re: Garry Chinn- Garrett Wade founder interview.

Ray Newman

Mark: thanks for posting the link. Just finished listening to it. Brought back memories of the Whole Earth and the Garret Wade stores in Berkley CA. Living in Castro Valley at the time, they were a short drive away. Believe when the Garret Wade store closed, another short lived wood and tool supplier took over the building – Rose Wood?? Woodsmith also had a store in Berkeley. Offered some classes and a periodic tool swap/sale in the parking lot. Discovered lie-Nielsen there. It did not last too long either. Also recall Woodline -- the Japan Woodworker in Alameda. There I learned about water stones and Japanese chisels. There was another Japanese tool dealer in Berkeley, but never got to it. Cannot recall the name and wonder if it still open.

About ’81-82 to replace the SEARS radial arm that I sold, I bought a Delta 34-444 contractor saw from Western Hardware and Tool,49 Bryant St, San Francisco. Hole in the wall, but was packed with hand and power tools. Later moved to So San Francisco, but like the large Delta showroom on Milton and San Pablo --Oakland and the Porter- Cable/Delta shop in San Leandro, it succumbed to flood of Asian imports.

Some heady days for woodworkers. San Francisco Bay Area had 2 large wood/tool show a year and Sacramento had a very large show. Could spend a day at each show. Always seemed to run into wood workers I knew from the local tool stores and lumber dealers.

About this same time, wasn’t there a catalog tool catalog named Lechtung?? The name rings a bell.

Leichtung was the name

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Kind of degenerated into consumer-y stuff later.

The Woodcraft catalog was the one to drool over.

Re: Leichtung was the name

Ray Newman

Bill H: yes, Leichtung was the name. And yes the Woodcraft and the Constantine's catalogues were a woodworker's wish books. Reminds me of when I was wee lad and could order AC Gilbert Erector Set parts for Christmas.

On the video Garret Wade mentioned 800 telephone numbers. I thought 800 numbers and dealers started accepting credit cards over the phone were the greatest things in the world. No more going to the Post Office for a money order and mailing in the order.

Re: Garry Chinn- Garrett Wade founder interview.

William Duffield

There was Misugi Design, who have also closed. In addition to tools, they had tansu hardware and also furniture on display from College of the Redwoods. And there was a dealer in antique woodworking tools, whose name I have forgotten, but he may have been in Alameda.

The other Japanese tool dealer in Berkeley is Hida Tool. They're still there, and well worth visiting.

http://hidatool.com/

Re: Garry Chinn- Garrett Wade founder interview.

Kevin Adams

Yes, so many great old names from the past. I remember getting some of these catalogs and also the first time to set foot into Garrett Wade’s grand HQ (not haha!) in lower Manhattan. And Kayoko from Misugi Design is still around and a wonderful friend to a few people on here. She would literally visit craftspeople in Japan to handpick a special natural stone or hand tool. At least now, there are so many great craftspeople and boutique tool makers who do fine work and we have access to via the internet.

Thanks.

Kevin