Re: Cool Old Tools
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 1:37 pm
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Nice restoration, or maybe that was a rejuvination.Unk wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 5:42 pm I picked up this little 3 1/2" Littlestown Foundry vise at a estate sale this week. Didn't need it, but it was in such good shape I had to buy it. It was very dirty, and had the obligatory white paint splatters all over it, but it cleaned up nice. Still need to scrub some of the white paint off of it - I wanted to keep the original paint. Only took me about an hour to take it apart, clean it up, and put it back together. Doesn't look like it was used much.
I am assuming this was probably made in the 1950s. although the dark green paint was supposed to be common in the 1920s to 1940s. It's kind of a light to medium duty vise - I think they were pretty cheap back in the day, so they sold a lot of them. They are still pretty common. Littlestown Foundry was formed in 1916 and is still in business, although they ended tool production in 1982.
Why did everyone back in the day feel the need to splatter white paint over every tool they own? What's up with that?![]()
That's quite a find!Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2026 1:24 pm Found this old machinists box in an old bldg we are tearing down . There’s a few good things to go thru, threw the rest away . Will clean up the box and put new green felt in and use it for knife stashing. The Snap on socket set was an awesome find . It’s a 9/32 drive from around 1944 and possibly made for military. Have to do more research on that . The knives are Imperial and Colonial.
Nice find, JP! You have probably run across a lot of good "stuff" on demo jobs over the years, eh?Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2026 1:24 pm Found this old machinists box in an old bldg we are tearing down . There’s a few good things to go thru, threw the rest away . Will clean up the box and put new green felt in and use it for knife stashing. The Snap on socket set was an awesome find . It’s a 9/32 drive from around 1944 and possibly made for military. Have to do more research on that . The knives are Imperial and Colonial.
Woah dude. That's what dreams are made of. Cool cell and solid bolsters on the knives. The ruler and ice pick....and scissors! Something for every collection in there.Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2026 1:24 pm Found this old machinists box in an old bldg we are tearing down . There’s a few good things to go thru, threw the rest away . Will clean up the box and put new green felt in and use it for knife stashing. The Snap on socket set was an awesome find . It’s a 9/32 drive from around 1944 and possibly made for military. Have to do more research on that . The knives are Imperial and Colonial.
Nice score, JP! Is that chest a Kennedy?Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2026 1:24 pm Found this old machinists box in an old bldg we are tearing down . There’s a few good things to go thru, threw the rest away . Will clean up the box and put new green felt in and use it for knife stashing. The Snap on socket set was an awesome find . It’s a 9/32 drive from around 1944 and possibly made for military. Have to do more research on that . The knives are Imperial and Colonial.
Thanks Jeep. Yes, this one was a quick clean and oil, and put it back together.Jeepergeo wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 7:15 pmNice restoration, or maybe that was a rejuvination.
I have no idea on the white paint, but white paint is better than rust or pitting in my book.
I have a ball peen hammer that was my grandfathers originally. The handle has grease embeded that no doubt dates to Grandpa's use of the hammer. I will never attempt to remove that grease.
Mike, it is a Kennedy . The tag is missing . The little research I have done am leaning towards model 520. The machinist chest the felt was wool for wicking up moisture and they had Bakelite drawer handles.The number on latch is a key code for getting new keys made.Unk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2026 1:29 amNice score, JP! Is that chest a Kennedy?Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2026 1:24 pm Found this old machinists box in an old bldg we are tearing down . There’s a few good things to go thru, threw the rest away . Will clean up the box and put new green felt in and use it for knife stashing. The Snap on socket set was an awesome find . It’s a 9/32 drive from around 1944 and possibly made for military. Have to do more research on that . The knives are Imperial and Colonial.
Hi TF. The label said American Gage & Mfg Co. based in Wauseon, Ohio, but the jack was made in Canada I think mine came out of the same factory in Canada that made the Jackall brand now owned by Maasdam. What was left of the label said 3630 KG, or 4 ton / 8,000 lb lifting capacity. Probably made in the 1960s - 1970s, as best I can tell.treefarmer wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 4:26 am Unk, that Hula Hoe is a new on on me.
I see a couple of interesting things in your stash, the blue jack, what brand is it? I've got an old Handyman that Miss Joy bought for my 21st birthday. She bought it at the Mid-Florida Livestock Market in Orlando in 1967. It has been a life saver for many years. It could also tell some mighty good stories from the perspective of an abused jack! Looks to be a come-a-long hanging on the wall, those are mighty handy around most outdoor activities.
Enjoy seeing your wonderful tool collections!![]()
Treefarmer