OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

10638 Zane A. Saunders <zaswttp@s...> 1996‑12‑09 Re: Bio, Zane A. Saunders
Hi, I'm Zane Saunders. I'm 34 and for the past two years I've lived in
Hillsville, Virginia, where I am a freelance writer and photographer. Before
that I was publications supervisor at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and
a photojournalist in western North Carolina. Freelance writing in the gentle
mountains of southwest Virginia is not as lucrative as some fields so I am
also a budding carpenter. My most ambitious project to date is helping
restore a log cabin. 

My interest in old tools goes back to early childhood but I still consider
myself an old tool newbie. Both grandfathers had massive tool chests filled
with tools. When I visited, I liked nothing better than to rummage through
them to see the wonders they held. My Grandfather Saunders had several tool
chests including his father-in-laws' and it was crammed full of drawknives,
saws, chisels and the like. When my grandfather and grandmother moved from
their house to an apartment the tool chests and much of their contents were
sold at a yard sale. :( But Grandpa held back some of the tools and gave me
and my brothers each a tool owned by our great-grandfather. :) I was given
his crosscut saw. And years earlier I'd acquired another great-grandfather's
crosscut saw. 

Over the years I continued to find and occasionally use old tools but my
interest intensified early this summer when my apartment-dwelling
grandfather gave me his vise and my great-grandfather's heavy steel framing
square (made by P.S & W. Tools). Unlike the saws, the framing square comes
with a story of utility, generosity, envy, deception and conflict. Which is
far more than one would expect out of a single, lowly framing square.

This particular great-grandfather was, among other things, a carpenter and
he used the square while building houses and other buildings in his
community. Apparently his was a square without peer because it was highly
sought after. Men would come long distances to borrow it. And my
great-grandfather would loan it out (which seems like a strange thing for a
carpenter to do but he did it). After my great-grandfather's death, one man
who was especially fond of the square walked many miles to try and trick my
grandmother out of it by saying it had been promised to him. (Proving that
some people will go to great lengths for a good tool). My grandmother
listened for a while but knowing better than to believe him, she finally
told him he was lying and sent him packing. 

So the square remains in the family. Receiving the square and the story
behind it sparked a renewed interest in old tools and I set out to find
tools to complement those I already had. I also set out to find out more
about old tools and how to use them. In that quest I discovered this group.
I've lurked for some time now learning all that I could. As a lurker it has
been a pleasure to experience the breadth and depth of knowledge available
here as well as the comradery that is so evident.

I look forward to learning even more (and maybe even contributing a bit) now
that I'm officially signed on.

Pax.

Zane Saunders,
Hillville, VA 



Recent Bios FAQ