I know I’ve mentioned a time or two about checking out tool
collecting clubs as sources for used jewelry and watchmaking tools.
I belong to Rocky Mountain Tool Collectors which covers the Colorado
and New Mexico states. I haven’t attended a meeting for a while but
since they a meeting today about 1/2 mile away from my home I stopped
in. I am about to bust at the good bargains I found…
8 and 10 ounce rawhide mallets (very good condition)–$5 and $6
respectively. Parallel round nose pliers–$10. Machinist tool chest
(steel with lots of velvet lined drawers)–$25. And last but not
least…
10 inch lapidary saw with gravity feed–in almost new, out of the
box shape; Diamond Star 8", 3 wheel and 1 flat lap lapidary
machine–excellent condition; 2 dop pots; 2 boxes of asst. lapidary
junk. Price $120. I asked the guy twice if he was sure, then wrote
him a check and loaded the stuff up.
Generally used lapidary equipment can be in rough shape as the stuff
sits in people garages rusting when they lose interest in the hobby.
The point is that most members of these clubs are into collecting
rare and unusual tools. They buy tools in lots at auctions and
estate sales as well as cruise garage sales. They may buy a lot of
50 tools for the one they want to collect, then they sell of the rest
as “user” tools. So if your looking for bargains and maybe unusual
tools check out your local tool collecting clubs. Mid-west Tool
Collecting club has chapters accross the US. Website:
Happy bargain hunting!
Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://home.covad.net/~rcopeland/