Collecting Antique Tools: An Interview With Tom of Yesterdays Tools

I had seen Yesterdays Tools booths at several antique malls in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. From the quality, variety and sheer volumne of tools, the displays in cases and general layout of the booths, I could tell the owner had a real dedication to his collection. I never failed to spend extra time just pouring through the unusual gems in the booths and even managed to find a trinket or two for my gage collection.

Wifey and I stopped at the Family Heirloom Antique Mall in downtown Waukesha, where I saw the latest addition of Yesterdays Tools, in a back corner booth. I knew it was time to contact Tom, the booth’s owner and have a conversation about his collection.

I made the call and we met at the mall this week. Tom brought along a ton of tools from his own personal collection.  He would bring out one tool at a time and quiz me on the use for each, then describe the function and age when I was wrong or had no clue. Piling each atop a tool chest, I quickly learned the extent of the work Tom puts into cleaning and researching all of the prize possessions in his personal collection. 

I’m a bit modest, many of the tools had obvious functions, the ice shaver, (similar to the Coolator version I have with my ice box), an ice chipper, leather cutter, two meat tenderizers, one in common hammer form and one that looked like a three pronged fork with rebar for tines.  A pair of wood handled forceps, a great tool if wood could be sterilized and a coffin maker’s screwdriver are part of his collection. Both seemed a bit macabre. Tom has a cork cutter set, plus the cork cutter sharpening tool, a needed combo in its day. And who could be without a gasket or washer cutter, cutting two circles at one time.  The sugar beet field knife had the look of a warrior’s short sword, but when Tom explained the way it was used, the old dim light came on.  One common tool for any wood worker is the steel carpenter’s square, Tom’s is two pieced, to break down and fit neatly into a tool box.

We then sat down for the interview. I asked further about his collection. I know wood workers’ planes are quite collectible and Tom had several in his booth for sale. He professed to having one in his own collection, a 1921 Stanley, one of only 2000 ever made, and with great luck he has a wall chart showing the exact plane that he owns. The chart itself is rare, with only 2000 produced. Both items together can only be considered a very special prize.

Tom is a member of the Midwest Tool Collectors Association which helps with info gathering through the member contacts and from their newsletters. Tom collects locally, and finds this area to be full of unique tools because of the  rich history of tool and die shops, and small to large manufacturers with special needs that have provided a treasure trove of old tools.

The internet, antique shops, estate sales, garage sales and auctions all have their place in finding new old tools, but with his reputation in the area, Tom has many people contacting him with their stuff.

It’s now that part of the interview when I get into the background details. With such a vast array of knowledge, and the dedication to collecting tools, I was sure this was a life-long obsession, so I was shocked to learn that he only started in 2002, at the time of his early retirement. And when I asked about other earlier collections that got him started he professed to having “some” toy soldiers and a collection of twelve trumpets. (go figure that one out.)

The Fun Of Collecting Tools? I asked.  Well, he enjoys the interactions with people he meets at tool shows, appraisal fairs, and when he works the counters at the antique malls with his booths. Tom has dedicated some of his time to showing his collections at senior centers, with a show and tell.

From the length of our conversation I could tell he really enjoys sharing his collection and what he has learned.

I pressed Tom on his high end purchases;  One was the 1921 plane, another a Stanley wood dowel cutter.    Wooden you just know it wood be the fancy plane.

The Hardest Part Of His Work Collecting? I wanted to know. Parting with the tools. He would love to keep them all.

New Additions To Your Tool Chest?  Tom points out the lawn mower made by Monta Mower of Michigan.  His is an older version with wood handle and later models had steel. An unusual arrangement of gear like teeth meshing together to create a cutting action, and Tom assures me it does cut grass.  The thing is too long to fit into any tool box.

If you have an unusual tool, that you haven’t found a function for,  give me a reply below, and  email a picture or two to me and I’ll see if we can stump Tom The Tool Titan. 

dean-ferber@sbcglobal.net