The Long Road Home - Dad's Old Cabinet Bench

[mn pete]

A few weeks ago I traveled back east for Memorial Day and to bring home some of my Dad's things from his old shop. His cabinet bench is a real treasure to me and its nice to have it here in my shop now.

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... -home.html

What are your prized treasures that have been handed down from that special person who started you on the woodworking path?

 

[rileytoolworks]

My condolences on the passing of your Dad. Sounds like he was a fine man.
It's obvious the pleasure you're going to get every time you use it.
I wish you well, and hope you and your children can share many memories at that bench too.
All the best.

Adam.

 

[Dangermouse]

Very moving story Pete. My Grandfather started me off on woodworking, when I was under ten. he had a small workshop and a few hand tools, but bags of skill and he tried to pass that on to me. I hope I have done him justice over the years.

 

[Jelly]

www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/a-particula ... 65010.html

As detailed above, i've got my great grandad's woodworking tools and some of my grandad's engineering tools too, its quite a special feeling to use them; the plane in that thread is my daily user and I wouldn't be without it now.

 

[MickCheese]

I have a very ordinary but very special to me Stanley No4 given to me by my father about 35 years ago. He died when I was in my early 20s and he was just 50.

Now I am 54 I realise he was too young to go.

I still miss him badly. He would just love my workshop.

My Stanley may be ordinary but it is a prized possession, I use it lots and it's actually very good.

Mick

 

[custard]

That's a very moving story. It's surprising how many of us can trace our woodworking back to some inspirational figure, I hope some of us are able to similarly inspire one of tomorrow's woodworkers, that would be a worthwhile legacy.

 

[mn pete]

Great stories guys! Keep telling them.

Just read your thread Jelly. Wonderful story!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

My father died at 50, when I was 20 - I'm near 60. I always remember that he was capable of ruining a tool with a single glance - which is ironic, as he was a very successful builder.

 

[[email protected]]

Such a moving story, It made me really think about my dad and to cherish every moment we have with our loved ones.

R.I.P

 

[Harbo]

A very special story.

My father died 9 yrs ago aged 87. He'd been a hobbyist woodworker most of his life and when he died I inherited all his stuff including a lot of tools that had belonged to my Grandfathers and possibly Great Grandfather?
So much that a lot of it is still in storage boxes and occasionally I have a rout through and clean up a few bits.

Pride of place must go to my Grandfathers Tyzac saws branded Frederick Willey, Leeds (c1880) where my family lived.
Also a set of J D Addis carving chisels that my father bought as a teenager.

How big is Arlington and can any veteran be buried there? Cemetery space is getting very scarce in the UK so generally the only option is Cremation?

Rod

 

[mn pete]

Very cool Rod. The saws are beautiful. Did your Dad do any carving while you were growing up?

Arlington is the second or third largest national cemetery here in the US. Over 400,000 soldiers and family members are buried there now. Over the years they've conducted several expansion projects, and I think there are a couple more phases in the works. There is a list of criteria for internment, but basically an honorably discharged veteran who served active duty is eligible. I think most soldiers are buried in their home towns or maybe some place special to their families. Arlington tends to be the choice for folks who served an entire career or were wounded or killed in action. Dad was a 30 year veteran of multiple wars/conflicts all over the world, so for us Arlington is that "special place." There are several generations of our family there.

 

[adidat]

i lost my dad almost 2 years ago a week before my 21st birthday. He was 62, and in some ways a genius, he pioneered the internet many moons ago. which leads to a very funny story about a primitive swear filter and an upset vicar from scunthorpe!

he could have sold snow to an eskimo!

adidat