Well, I’ve spent the better part of the last 9 months trying to absorb
the contents of the archive. I figured any question I thought to ask has
already been answered. And, by god, I was right! There’s a vein of
knowledge to be mined there and I know I’ve only scratched the surface.
About me: Walt Quadrato Born and raised in Connecticut; been here 54
years now. Started working wood with my grandfather when I was 5 or 6
(details rather hazy from that far back). He was a toolmaker for Scovill
Co., the major employer of the Naugatuck river valley in our “glory”
years. Over the years I went back and forth with simple projects. Always
had a workbench even if it amounted to a pieces of ply propped up on a
couple of cinder blocks and a tool chest right out of Rube Goldberg.. I
now work out of a 2-car garage that has never seen the tracks of tires.
Moved into it 12 years ago and have been seriously acquiring tools ever
since. Went through the p*w*r tool phase and amassed a fair assortment
of electron splitters. Revelation came one day when I was rummaging
through a box of misc. stuff and happened upon my grandfathers #5. I had
put it away when he passed and like all packrats just stored it away. It
hadn’t aged gracefully. Major amounts of crud and rust but holding it
brought back some sweet memories. Cleaned it and sharpened the blade;
trying to remember some of the things I had been taught. Enjoyed using
it so much that I figured I’d keep an eye out for more of these old
tools. I guess you could call me a bottom feeder; been going to fleas
for most of my life; so finding things was no problem. Found my first
scraper plane about 5 years ago and things went downhill from there.
Somehow I’m attracted to the geometry of these things; the style and
grace of how they work. Seems that I have a few shelves of these things
now; not collector’s pieces, just good solid users. Some nights I’ll go
out to the shop and just scrape boards..kind of a Zen thing. When I went
looking for information on toothing blades I found you guys and now
Bob’s my uncle. The boring details: Home Waterbury, Connecticut (aka the
Brass City). Married 26 years to the same patient LOML, two daughters
who have since left the nest. I own a record shop (17 years now); yes, I
do have vinyl albums (a galoot thing) in addition to cds; and a growing
assortment of hand-tools that the younger crowd is amazed by (especially
when I’m sharpening a blade or testing a plane). Still enjoy the fleas
and junk shops and like the feeling of old rust in my hands. Don’t know
if I have a lot to bring to the table but will chime in if I do. So, if
you see a guy with long gray ponytail at a flea in CT. it could well be
me…stop and say hello!

Thanks

Walt Q

Alan wrote < I love my Stanley type 5's.>
My Stanley #5 type 5 is my favorite plane.



Made me think of my father. I was always using his tool as a kid and of
course I would never put them back and could never remember where I left
them.

Bill Rittner
R & B ENTERPRISES
Manchester, CT

"Don't take this life too seriously.......nobody gets out alive!" (unknown)
.net/oldtools/oldtools.html

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%&*$  MS spell checker...  *convenience*

> convince he created. Since that was lost in the "ether" so-to-speak,

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Trevor,

I don't recall him ever mentioning anything other than
using them to clear out brush and poison ivy (the bane
of many a lineman around these parts) from around
poles that had to be climbed.

I do know that the square hole found in many of them was
used as a wrench to tighten cross-tie bolts and whatnot.

Maybe if you were using it that way, on a pole, as a wrench
you might not want it to be so scary sharp.

I guess the answer lies in the fact that they were more of
a gardening tool and not a woodworking tool.

Later,

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Trevor Robinson" 
To: "John Pesut" 
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 5:47 AM
Subject: Re: [oldtools] Bio

> Hi, John
> Your grandfather cought my attention. I have always wondered why
> Bell System hatchets are never found sharp. It has made me think that they
> were not used like ordinary hatchets, for chopping wood. Do you happen to
> know? If so, I think that many galoots would appreciate the information.
> Trevor

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  Welcome Steve,

   Enjoyed the Bio and the offer.
      Being as I dought I'll venture that far north any time soon, I'm sure 
I would be be more comfortable in your shop than the Husky. (Should'a got a 
photo)

    With all regards, Lamar

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