What's it worth?

 

Many people want to know the answer to this question about old and vintage tools that they have acquired or inherited. The answer is the same as the answer to "How long is a piece of string?"

 

No, I'm not taking the Mick, it's just that there are so many variables that have to be taken into account.

I'll list a few of them here.............

 

 

 

Ø  1. Condition.........Obviously an old tool that hasn't been used or has had little use and is in pristine condition will attract a much higher price from collectors and dealers alike, than a similar tool that has been well used and shows the ravishes of time and wear. Also, if a tool has its original box, this will usually add to it’s value.

 

Ø  2. Rarity……… There are some tools which can command very high prices because they are rare, in other words, you are very unlikely to ever come across one again in your lifetime. Rarity is not the same as age. Just because a tool is over a hundred years old and you have never seen one before doesn't mean it is rare although age can help determine higher prices in some cases. More about that next. Stanley, for instance, churned out a massive amount of tools over a hundred years ago but not too many of them are rare.

 

Ø  3. Age..........As mentioned above, age and rarity aren't the same. If we take Stanley as a guide, they made many models of their planes for well over a hundred years. For example, the common modern Stanley No.4 and No.5 bench planes are essentially the same as the same numbered planes that were being made in 1907 and before, with slight variations but obviously because the 1907 models are older, a collector will pay more for one of these than he would for one made 10, 20 or 30 years ago.

 

Ø  4. Desirability...........A strange one this. Some manufacturers or tool makers are more desirable than others to collectors. Names like Norris, Spiers, Mathieson and Preston being particularly sought after by a fairly high percentage of collectors. This is usually because of the quality of the tools that these manufacturers produced and the somewhat prestigious nature attached to their names. One can argue that an old plane is an old plane no matter who made it but is an old Ferrari car the same as an old Ford? I think not and this is where the "Desirability" comes in to play. Some may liken the Norris to the Ferrari and the Stanley to the Ford. Personally, I have a thing for Stanley Planes. This is very much a personal preference which leaves some collectors of the more prestigious planes scratching their heads in wonderment. Later on, I plan to write a bit about my fascination for Stanley stuff. Stay tuned.........

 

Ø  5. Who is buying........Yes, it all depends on who wants to buy your tool and how much they want it. There are many tool dealers out there who will usually be happy to offer you a fair price for your vintage tools but remember, dealers have to earn a crust and they hope to turn what they buy over for a profit so they want to buy at the best price they can and sell at a higher price. This is the nature of their business and that does not mean that they are out to rip you off. Always remember, you are the one with something to sell so you should have an idea what you want for it. If that price isn't acceptable to the buyer they will say so and possibly make you a lower offer. The door is now open to try to meet somewhere in between. If the buyer already has a similar tool in his collection or in stock, then he won't be prepared to pay top price. On the other hand, if he doesn't own one like yours, you may find that you'll get your asking price.

Private collectors will usually pay a bit more than a dealer would but don’t expect too much more. Everyone hopes to get a bargain but as mentioned before, it all depends on how badly he wants your item.

      Once again, there are many factors to be taken into account when selling an old item. These have been just a few of them. 

 

 

The Price Guide Will No Longer Be Added.

 

Apologies to all those who have been waiting for this up-date

but the task was more daunting than I had anticipated and once I had learned that

an important new publication by Tony Murland,

world renowned Antique & Collectable Tool Auctioneer of 30 years experience was to

be released, there didn’t seem much point in pursuing my own price guide.

 

Murland’s Antique Tool Value Guide was published in England recently (ISBN 978-0-9533721-1-9)

and is a very comprehensive guide to the identification and valuation of the world’s finest antique tools.

With short histories of the major tool manufacturers of the 19th and early 20th centuries such as

Stanley, Norris, Preston, Record, Spiers, Mathieson, Union, Sargent, Hotzapffel and Millers Falls, each chapter full of illustrations with prices, of all their main and also their not so well known tools, this is indeed an invaluable work for the serious collector and beginner alike.  There are also chapters covering rare and beautiful Tools Are Art, U.K. General Metal / Infill Planes,

U.S.A. Patented Planes (prices in US dollars) and a comprehensive chapter on Braces, with many illustrations of Ultimatum and other framed braces by Marples and others.  If you are into tools, then this book is a “must have”.

Thoroughly Recommended.

 

(Wednesday 10th October 2007)

 

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