My Dad obtained this tool kit some time in the 1940s. The wire cutter pliers have U.D.F.& T. Co., Utica, N.Y. No. 50 stamped on them. The combination jackknife/tool handle is stamped Utica Cutlery Co. Utica, N.Y.
I am tossed up about what to do with this toolkit. My son, who has his mother's de-cluttering genes, will probably toss it after I am gone. This steerhide-cased, leather-laced kit deserves a better end than rotting away in some landfill.
What do you guys counsel?
This is a pretty good kit. Utica made them in 3 grades. Celluloid handle or wood or jigged bone. Yours looks like the rosewood model.
When you find these, the wallets are often damaged bad, accessory blades missing and rusted to pieces.
Like I said, yours is a pretty good kit!
If you are like me, you have to find something else to do with your tools. My son's house --is-- the inside of a target store. Nothing over 3 years old. Guess I better start giving them away, sigh.
Of course whatever I do the majority will go to yard sale. 25 cents apiece just like I got them in the first place. Some lucky young guy will score!
If he's an idiot he'll leave therm in a rusty bucket behind the shed to fill up with rainwater, and they will be totally gone in a week. If its a smart one he will get a lifetime of use and pleasure and thensome.
Smart ones come around about 1 in 500.
Its just the law of life
yours Scott
Quote from: scottg on February 25, 2013, 12:36:44 PM
Smart ones come around about 1 in 500.
Optimistic, as always, Scott! LOL!
OP, you need to be a real mensch and send that awesome kit to me immediately for safekeeping...
call up utica see if they have a museum they may need one bob w.
First step Uncle Wrench should be to DISOWN that boy if you can't rule him out with DNA testing.
Then you could send the kit to your newly found adoptable nephew who would tote it around in his ass pocket showing it off to everyone he knows.
Odd as it seems in 2013, those kits were generally Christmas appreciation gestures from industrial salesmen to their customers back in the 50s. I happen to have a screwdriver set that was given from a hardware house in Rochester. I'm the 3rd owner. I also have a WW-II Marine Corps sewing kit.
Let me know if you need my address Uncle Wrench.
I think you are not giving your son enough credit, I do not see anyone not appreciating that kit.
Update on my son: he has already told us he does not want to inherit our antique furniture which includes a Duncan Phyfe tilt-top table that John Quincy Adams sold as he was leaving the White House. He is a Hokie Grad and Post-Grad and, it's my belief, they drained all aesthetic and historical sense out of them in Freshman orientation. The tool kit is going on eBay tomorrow evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. True, there are a lot of Hokie grads out there so it may not sell.
Link us to the item on Ebay, one of us may be interested.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121072772088?ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1554.l2649
If it doesn't bring $300, then it would make a great weekly giveaway for some TTpersonality.......(he said dodging arrows)
DM&FS
QuoteThis listing (121072772088) has been removed, or this item is not available.
????????????????//
It will be available tomorrow evening
Quote from: Wrenchmensch on February 25, 2013, 08:52:02 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121072772088?ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1554.l2649
Unc ,yer breakin this nephew's heart!
I'll send you Christmas Cards.
I can swap you a genuine photograph of Franz wearing a suit & tie.
You know why colleges are huge repositories of knowledge?
Every Freshman arrives with a lot of knowledge. Every Senior graduates with damn little knowledge.
Most knowledge stays at the college.
Dad's little old tool kit is now on eBay, earlier than I thought it would be.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121072772088?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Is anyone here going to bid?
It has 4 bids on it and is around $55 right now- 7:10 Sunday morning. Ends in 50 minutes.
ok so which one of you beat me............LOL
Sold for 65.70. I was in at $54.20. I was watching from work. I don't like to sign in to ebay from work. It went way too cheap. Hope someone here got it.
Quote from: sumner52000 on March 03, 2013, 08:03:43 AM
Hope someone here got it.
me too. I was at 55.01 and bumped to 60.........
I was watching and tempted, but Krusty said he had bid, so I stayed out, Should have gone for it!
Quote from: Papaw on March 03, 2013, 08:40:51 AM
I was watching and tempted, but Krusty said he had bid, so I stayed out, Should have gone for it!
it wouldn't have hurt my feelings noel......I sincerely hope someone here got it. that way wrenchmensch could get it back when he gets sellers remorse!
I bought it, the story of the un-appreciative son got to me and of course I thought it was a pretty cool kit
Good for you!
Glad to see its going to a good home.
glad you got it 1930......
Thanks, everyone, for your support!