Stanley—A Famous Name in Tools

New Britain, Connecticut, was an early center for iron work. The shop belonging to William and Frederick Stanley was the first in the city to use steam power. In 1842 the brothers began to manufacture bolts and door hardware. They soon expanded, and by 1852 they were able to cast, forge and manufacture metals, and […]

Fire-Fighting Equipment

For collectors, fire-fighting equipment is in a field of its own, and there are many who will buy anything that relates to a fire department, including helmets, hose nozzles, belts, photographs, and fire-chief trumpets. Fire marks were first used in the eighteenth century and could be found on many homes until the 1870s. These plaques […]

Advice For Tool Collectors

The best advice for a novice collector of tools is: If it looks like an unusual tool, save it. Try to identify it by consulting books, museums, the Internet, or old-timers. Don’t paint it, wax it, refinish it, or otherwise change the condition. Photo: Conestoga Auction Group

Woodworking

Woodworking tools have been used for centuries, and many of the tools seen today are similar to old ones. The ancient Egyptians put models of tools into tombs, and these, together with many wall paintings, have left a good record of early woodworking. By the first part of the sixteenth century, houses were built by […]