Author Topic: Another tool story  (Read 3839 times)

wayne R

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Another tool story
« on: January 24, 2019, 13:12:50 »
Thought i would follow on from Rolfs item on tools.
In my opinion this is the best made phillips screw driver ever made.
Yes made in good old USA,----the make is  Apex Daytona,the plastic one about 20 years old is a later version of
the original wooden handle version,that is 45 years old.
They are 12 inches long, and last a life time, because when the tip wears out, you just buy
new 4 or3 inch tips available anywhere, held in with spring clip.
The extra length gives you incredable power and strong on extra hard screws to remove.
The wooden ones, i purchased 6 of these from US,  40 years ago , when i managed a Aluminuim
window workshop in NewZealand and i kept this one all those years.
I dont think they are available now, but if you ever see these old  ones for sale grab it, you wont regret it.

stickandrudderman

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2019, 16:09:49 »
When I was 18 my father bought me a craftsman tool kit.
I still have some of those tools and they are still as good as ever.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2019, 17:04:36 »
Hi Colin,

I bet that tool kit from your Dad helped to make you one of the best Pagoda/Pagode Mechanics :)

Dieter
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

neelyrc

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2019, 05:20:33 »
When I was 18 my father bought me a craftsman tool kit.
I still have some of those tools and they are still as good as ever.

I suspect that the craftsman tool kit Stick's father bought for him was not a kit of the "Craftsman" brand that we know in the USA.  In the USA "Craftsman" was the store brand of Sears Roebuck and Company (the brand is now owned by Stanley Black and Decker) and was a high quality, but economical tool  with a life time, unconditional guarantee.

In the 1950s as a teenager I first started wrenching on motorcycles and then on cars, mostly flathead Fords.  I bought myself a Craftsman brand tool box, a set of Craftsman 1/2" drive sockets and a set of Craftsman open end wrenches.  When I had a little  spare money and as I tackled more complicated work I would add tools, usually Craftsman.  I stall have the box and most of the original tools.  See picture of the box with some of the tools below.
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

Mike Hughes

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2019, 18:33:59 »
That's a great toolbox, Ralph! You've got a wonderful set of decals there, too! That basic Craftsman box had changed very little by the time I bought my first teen-age driver's tools and box in 1970 - only the removable tool tray was painted same silver gray as the exterior and the handle on the lid was plastic instead of rolled metal.  It just barely fit in the space between the fuel filler neck, spare tire and chassis rail in the trunk of my first MGB and has been well used in many cars over the years.  Like you, I've still got most of those tools, but started out with 3/8 drive sockets.
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

stickandrudderman

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2019, 18:05:38 »
Quote
I suspect that the craftsman tool kit Stick's father bought for him was not a kit of the "Craftsman" brand that we know in the USA.  In the USA "Craftsman" was the store brand of Sears Roebuck and Company (the brand is now owned by Stanley Black and Decker) and was a high quality, but economical tool  with a life time, unconditional guarantee.

My Father was a steward on Concorde and was in America every week so yes, it is this brand I'm referring to.

neelyrc

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2019, 03:49:29 »
Stick, please accept my apology for suspecting otherwise. 

Being a gift from your father, I am sure your Craftsman tools have great sentimental value in addition to their utilitarian value.
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

waltklatt

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2019, 18:39:54 »
I'm also joining Stick in the ranks of just losing my father-1/21/2019.
Will collect all of his tools and sort them out, keeping most and leaving a good set with my mother's house.

It's a joy to see the worn, scratched and nicked surfaces of the old tools.

Walter

Mike Hughes

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Re: Another tool story
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2019, 19:44:39 »
I'm so sorry to hear of your father's passing, Walter.  I suspect in days to come sorting through the tools will bring back a lot of fond memories of times shared passing them to and working with him.

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)