Hand tool values (planes etc)

[caroleb]

OK - a serious enquiry for you serious galoots out there.
I have a large collection of stanley, record and various other manufacturers planes, chisels and other woodwork extravaganza. Including some rarer items (Stanley 444, a 5 1/4, the flip t + g stanley plane and other 'weird' models) as well as some Spiers and Marples infill numbers. Some lovely Ward and Payne chisels and other stuff made by them, A large marples collection. About a hundred OLD moulding (mouldy! :lol: ) planes by variouis esteemed names (Gabriel, Mathieson, Griffiths et al)

This is not any sort of gloat ; this lot has taken time and money to get together and I know I am in good company here. Most of you have the same sort of collections as I, so I wondered if you could give me your opinions.

I do not really consider myself a 'collector' and find myself with a lot of planes I am never going to use. For some time I have told my partner they are an 'investment' and that they are increasing in value as time goes by. I still believe this, but money is tight and with Xmas coming I have to consider their value.

Do you guys think the market for old woodworking tools is likely to continue to rise, as I think it has, or do you think interest, and ergo value, will wane in the coming years? If I keep the more unusual models are they likely to be a good investment (I had thought that the moulding planes in particular might rise more, perhaps they could be sold in the US for more than here) or do you think that I am just kidding myself ( I do like them myself, so maybe I am 'biased' somewhat!).

In short should I let 'em go? It'll kill me, but as we are having a power tool 'cull' I did wonder if the hand tools should be included. I am worried about cordless tools sitting unused, batts going off and tools becoming obsolete. Collectible hand tools, of course, are not subject to the same sort of problems......

I would really appreciate your opinions. As I say the vast majority are not used ever, so I won't feel it at all.

Thanks in advance

Caz

 

[G S Haydon]

It will be interesting to see if the hand tool trend continues. I think they will most likey rise in value over time. If you do want to move some stuff on perhaps keep an eye on the leading hand tool blogs. If they mention a tool prices do seem to have a temporary peak.

 

[caroleb]

GSH
You are right; I remember the boost the Bosch POF500 got after being publicly rated on this forum. I used to pick them up for a fiver, now they get £30 a go!!
Thanks for answering; I really could do with some help deciding what to do. I would be pig sick if I put the planes up on ebay only to see them fall flat, and a few months later rise in value! As I said we have plenty of power tools we can sell with no impact to the business, but I just don't seem to get so attached to power tools!
I was a little surprised to see a Stanley 444 change hands for only £300 at a tool sale recently - even in its fair condition I expected it to raise more.
Anyway, thanks for your answer.

Caz

( i guess the crux of the question is - has the hand tool revival peaked? )

 

[G S Haydon]

No, I think they will steadily climb in value, especially if they are good. Vintage power tools are kinda cool too, a new market to be realised?

Moulding planes are a great example of something that has become more desireable. Pairs of new hollows and rounds are quite expensive so the vintage ones have become more sought after too.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I'm not sure that anybody can predict what the value of antiques of any description will be like in the future. Some people make luckier guesses than others. Some people discover that the old tat nobody wanted when they chucked it in the loft decades ago is now sought after. That said, they ain't making antique tools any more, and as the supply of decent handtools from house clearances gradually dries up to be replaced by endless cordless power tools with dead batteries, the rarer stuff probably will appreciate in value over the much longer term. What it'll do over the shorter term probably depends on whether or not the economy continues to improve, and more people have spare cash for indulgences like collecting.

If you did want to realise the value of some of the collection, it may be worth putting the rarer stuff like Stanley 444s, and sets of things like Ward and Payne chisels, through a specialist auction such as David Stanley, so that you put them before a concentrated group of serious collectors with bank balances to support their desire to accumulate. I tend to think of Ebay as the place to go for potentially restorable down-at-heel items and common-or-garden stuff straight from old sheds. Also, there are some things, such as chisels and moulding planes, that were made in such huge volumes that they aren't even now in any way scarce, which reflects in their value - though a group of Gabriel or other early planes may pique collectors' interests.

In short, I'm not sure that there's any definitive answer. Really, only you can decide whether to keep or sell on, and only for your own reasons.

 

[caroleb]

Mr GSH and CC
Thanks for your replies, both valuable to me. You are right CC, I know it is ultimately my call, but the truth is I am not quite as confident in my own abilities to identify valuable items as I should be. Having read Salaman and BPM several times (bathroom library) I know what tools are but any information on values is always going to be transient, isn't it? I hadn't really considered David Stanley, or Mr Murland, before. I guess I could email them. In fact I shall. Thanks,

The moulding planes I have are SO varied, there are some quite unusual planes in there (spill planes!) and I do also have some old wooden planes the size of jack planes that have a fairly basic profile in the base (perhaps a window makers plane) but at least one of them is missing its blade. I have a few moulding planes that are missing their wedges, and had considered making new ones from scrap woodies to try and get a half decent match.

Can I ask you folks what you think of the potential for selling tools on ebay USA?

Thanks again

Caz

 

[AndyT]

It's an interesting question. To sell your tools, you have several options.

If you are confident of setting a price, you could sell on here. You could post photos of individual items and ask for guesses/opinions.

You could put them in for Auction at David Stanley or Tony Murland.

You could offer them in bulk to a dealer. There are not very many but there is a pretty good list on Alf's Cornish Workshop site.

Or you could sell on eBay. The existence of eBay has had all sorts of interesting effects on the collectables market. You can offer one item or a hundred with no overheads except your time and their fees. Your as can be seen the world over. You don't need to do anything special to get your items seen in the USA, just include it as a country you are willing to sell to.

There are a handful of dealers who buy old tools in bulk, pick out the good stuff, sell it on eBay and get good prices. Their listings are easy to spot. They work for their money, by listing accurately, taking clear pictures and building up a reputation for fair dealing. You are unlikely to make as much as they do unless you are very lucky.

Because eBay is so visible and so easily searchable, it probably sets the price that many people are willing to pay. You can see odd little bubbles of interest for tools such as snipe bill moulding planes. They are not common but after a well read blog and book said they were necessary, prices shot up to over £100 for a pair in some cases, presumably because relatively wealthy Americans were equipping themselves.

If you are lucky you might be selling tools that are in fashion. Rare ones like your Stanley 444 can drop out of favour. Tony Murland's 2007/8 price guide lists them at £400 to £750 -much higher than Caz's example.

Overall my guess is that user tools including common moulding planes, will stay low while there are still so many about and so many people see them as junk. Collector tools might make you a few hundreds in profit, but are more likely to oscillate in price short term.

 

[bugbear]

I think one peak was 4-5 years ago, tools are a bit cheaper at the moment.

BugBear

 

[Harbo]

I think prices are low at the moment - I've been thinking of selling a couple of Norris planes that I never use and have been watching similar ones on the bay.
Prices are way down on what I paid for them a few years ago?

Rod

 

[caroleb]

Harbo, Sir, you are spot on. I paid 200 plus fees for the 444, althought there was a couple of other small stanley planes thrown in, but to see one sell last week for £250 broke my heart! And, although I got most of the moulding planes for next to nowt I still think they MUST be worth more than they seem to be getting on ebay at the moment.
BB, so, the law of, well, stuff, must mean they will reach another 'peak' soon then? These things tend to move in circles don't they? Windows of opportunity turn up every so often. I guess I will hold onto them for now, although I may contact mr Murland or David Stanley to see what they think they might do.

Andy - Snipes bill. Funny old things, aren't they? I do have a couple and must admit I didn't know what they were until looking them up in Salaman. So, now may be a good time to sell them.

Thanks guys.

Caz

 

[bugbear]

BB, so, the law of, well, stuff, must mean they will reach another 'peak' soon then? These things tend to move in circles don't they?

(famously) Fractal, I'm afraid.

BugBear

 

[Richard T]

Hi Carol

I would recommend attending a David Stanley auction - even if not intending to buy or sell it is a huge eye - opener into the value of things away from ebay. Always lots of early and rare Stanley there too; on stalls as well as in the auction.

There is an extra sale next year on January the 3rd. Maybe more people will still be on Christmas/New Year hols and able to make it to a a Friday sale. :ho2