Some of you know I've been diligently working on a new tool history site.  This came about as a consequence of whatever life changes the AA site owner has been / is experiencing.  There have been many revelations and discoveries since he quit editing his AA site, and they've not been captured anywhere but random forum posts and are doomed to be lost unless someone fixes it.

I've spent 3 weeks and 2 days so far on this site, with the help of many folks from here, other sites, and some folks that don't frequent forums.  I have a new found respect for just how much effort went into the AA site!  We are nowhere near the content they have where they left off, but we're working on it, and we've found many new discoveries already!  So, I'd like to invite you to take a look around, register if you feel compelled, and contribute what / when you can.  Unlike AA, I've designed this site so any registered member can contribute pictures, knowledge or whatever to any and all of the content, AND WE NEED CONTENT.  This way, I feel we will capture a much broader knowledge base and ultimately become THE source for old tool identification, dating, etc.  The vast majority of information is in Plomb and Bonney, but we're working other sections as well.

Just this morning I discovered 2 new company acquisitions on the part of Plomb, previously undocumented!  Those are under the "Timelines & Case Studies" tab, under the Plomb timeline.

My current project is a "webified" catalog browser where users will be able to explore, sort, combine, discover production dates, etc. of 1,d, 3 or all catalogs at the same time.  All catalog data will be stored in tables so, for example, one could select a given socket set, and view it's contents/configuration over it's entire lifespan, all in one spot.  By the end of the week, I'll also be adding the capability for anyone to upload their catalog scans as well.

Ladies & Gents, this is a LOT of work and we could use all the help we can get.  So, register and post up your knowledge!  Last important note: Do NOT copy ANYTHING from the AA site.  I humbly request anyone who contributes to respect his wishes, which are to not use ANY of his content.

www.toolarchives.com

Thanks!  Todd.

Thanks for the effort Todd. I tried to register , came up with a server error.

Is the plan to stick to small hand tools or expand into ???? vintage air tools or machines used in fabricating old car bodies?
I just was looking at the what is it's, good stuff. Don't worry about slow starts, it will take off and you will be swamped with stuff! 

Registered under my real name and hope to participate as I am able. Great idea, Todd!

registration is working fine. no problems!

Do you think that AA will eventually allow you to clone the site? It would be the right thing for him to do.

Thank you all for registering!  As far as the "genre' of tools, it's whatever people want!  If you want machinery included, I can make you an editor of content and let you go to town!  Lostmind, try again, you're the first I've heard to have a problem?  In terms of AA, as I understand it, he's grieving and not very receptive, which is certainly understandable.  Who knows what the future holds.

I just tried again , here is the message

This page error has the following parameters:
clientIP -
gatewayHostname - starkgate-p02
originDomain -
resolveOriginDomain - toolarchives.com


It won't go any further.

Has anyone downloaded the AA site to preserve the information when AA eventually craps out? 

I saw a post on another site where someone has copied it.

I see that Rose Antique Tools is not online anymore.  Is it somewhere else? If not, I downloaded most of the pdf's and could repost them

Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on September 04, 2015, 10:31:45 AM
I see that Rose Antique Tools is not online anymore.  Is it somewhere else? If not, I downloaded most of the pdf's and could repost them

http://www.blackburntools.com/articles/rose-tools-catalog-archives/index.html

I'm having the same problem as Lostmind. I keep coming up with the same error message.

Quote from: Mitch on September 05, 2015, 03:37:21 AM
I'm having the same problem as Lostmind. I keep coming up with the same error message.

I changed my " handle" and it accepted it. Guess it didn't like " Roy "

Huh, I don't know guys but I see Roy got in.  Perhaps there is some limit I don't know about in terms of the length of usernames?  Lot's of new info being posted daily including new patents found, new catalogs, etc.  As a teaser, I have a catalog coming (I think) from 1888 for Bonney Tools.  Did you know the company wasn't called "Bonney" during that time?  It was Newkirk, Ritchie & Bells starting in 1885, then Newkirk, Ritchie & Bills in 1887.  The 1888 Bonney catalog was put out as "Newkirk, Ritchie & Bills, Catalogue of Bonney's Patent Vises, Ritchie's Champion Vises, Hardware Specialties."

Man I'm finding some cool stuff!!!!