Comments on: Tool Quality, New vs. Old School http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:23:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: rich http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-176412 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:17:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-176412 Dear Mr. Prowell, I was taught at a young age to respect tools. Especially when I didn't put them away as agreed.) But I don't always remember to think of great old tools as pure objects of inspiration. Usually, it's the things created with great old tools that inspire me. But tools, toolmakers, and tool users are also worthy of that admiration. Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to hunt a 96 down on ebay. -Rich PS-I'm jealous. Dear Mr. Prowell,
I was taught at a young age to respect tools. Especially when I didn’t put them
away as agreed.)
But I don’t always remember to think of great old tools as pure objects of inspiration.
Usually, it’s the things created with great old tools that inspire me.
But tools, toolmakers, and tool users are also worthy of that admiration.
Thanks for reminding me.
I’ll have to hunt a 96 down on ebay.
-Rich
PS-I’m jealous.

]]> by: Charles Prowell http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-167240 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:38:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-167240 I own a Stanley #96. I've known it since I was a kid working in my grandfather's shop in Champaign, IL. For years it was among all the other tools in my own shop, more for its aesthetics than functionality. One among the many hand tools that I took possession of upon my own father's death 30 years ago, presented to me in a long grey wooden toolbox my grandfather had built. For the first ten years, I used what was in that box, even showing my own son, barely out of diapers, what they were and wh they were important. But when they began to go missing, and show up later, month's later, in the sandbox or at the bottom of his toy chest, I gathered them all up and returned them to the long grey wood toolbox and stored the toolbox on a shelf in the shop where it collected dust for the next 32 years. Reading this post, b shere accident, I went out yesterday and pulled down the toolbox and pulled out the #96, still in it's olive green box with my grandfather's name engraved on a small plate provided, I assume, for that very purpose. What an unbelievably gorgeous tool. I'm in the business of inspiration, and innovation, and I promptly brought the #96 into the house and made room for it on the bookshelf--a bookend between Tolstoy and Dumas. And tomorrow I'll show my youngest son, now in his twenties and in charge of the shop, this tool he won't remember. This tool he used to leave in his sandbox, because it's important that he know from where he came, the heritage of why he's driven to spend his days in the shop. A tool like this will outlive us all--currently on it's 4th generation of Prowell's--and how it's functionality stacks up to the current fleet of Stanley offerings is, well . . .missing the point all together. It inspires us, and it's all about inspiration. I own a Stanley #96. I’ve known it since I was a kid working in my grandfather’s shop in Champaign, IL. For years it was among all the other tools in my own shop, more for its aesthetics than functionality. One among the many hand tools that I took possession of upon my own father’s death 30 years ago, presented to me in a long grey wooden toolbox my grandfather had built. For the first ten years, I used what was in that box, even showing my own son, barely out of diapers, what they were and wh they were important. But when they began to go missing, and show up later, month’s later, in the sandbox or at the bottom of his toy chest, I gathered them all up and returned them to the long grey wood toolbox and stored the toolbox on a shelf in the shop where it collected dust for the next 32 years. Reading this post, b shere accident, I went out yesterday and pulled down the toolbox and pulled out the #96, still in it’s olive green box with my grandfather’s name engraved on a small plate provided, I assume, for that very purpose. What an unbelievably gorgeous tool.

I’m in the business of inspiration, and innovation, and I promptly brought the #96 into the house and made room for it on the bookshelf–a bookend between Tolstoy and Dumas. And tomorrow I’ll show my youngest son, now in his twenties and in charge of the shop, this tool he won’t remember. This tool he used to leave in his sandbox, because it’s important that he know from where he came, the heritage of why he’s driven to spend his days in the shop. A tool like this will outlive us all–currently on it’s 4th generation of Prowell’s–and how it’s functionality stacks up to the current fleet of Stanley offerings is, well . . .missing the point all together. It inspires us, and it’s all about inspiration.

]]> by: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » eBay: A Stanley #96 Rosewood Level http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-81340 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:15:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-81340 [...] I’ve wanted one of these ever since reading about them in Sean’s great post on new vs. old-school tools.  Yeah, they’re not as good as the new Stanley levels, but I have a new Stanley level.  I don’t have a #96.  But since I’m low on discretionary cash right now, I’m going to pass this find on to you. [...] […] I’ve wanted one of these ever since reading about them in Sean’s great post on new vs. old-school tools.  Yeah, they’re not as good as the new Stanley levels, but I have a new Stanley level.  I don’t have a #96.  But since I’m low on discretionary cash right now, I’m going to pass this find on to you. […]

]]> by: BJN http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64842 Mon, 14 May 2007 22:09:38 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64842 I'll accept that a contemporary level can be more durable and accurate than a lovely old wooden level. But this marketing crapola of calling everything "extreme" is ridiculous. An "extreme" level? I'll use it with my extreme pencil when I need something extremely level. Stanley's current stuff is often more about styling than function, and no, I don't think their current product designers really distill Stanley's cumulative expertise into the new stuff. A beautiful tape measure would indicate the tape body length is large, contrasty characters, not mold it illegibly and hide it behind a belt clip. Here's something to chew on. Which of these levels would inspire you to do a better job or attempt something more difficult? Which shows that craftsmanship can be an art form? I’ll accept that a contemporary level can be more durable and accurate than a lovely old wooden level.

But this marketing crapola of calling everything “extreme” is ridiculous. An “extreme” level? I’ll use it with my extreme pencil when I need something extremely level. Stanley’s current stuff is often more about styling than function, and no, I don’t think their current product designers really distill Stanley’s cumulative expertise into the new stuff. A beautiful tape measure would indicate the tape body length is large, contrasty characters, not mold it illegibly and hide it behind a belt clip.

Here’s something to chew on. Which of these levels would inspire you to do a better job or attempt something more difficult? Which shows that craftsmanship can be an art form?

]]> by: james b http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64746 Mon, 14 May 2007 15:47:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64746 Saturday, I picked up a new stud finder that came with 'bonus' Stanley level. That POS level isn't worth cutting up to take out the spirit level. Not all Stanley tools are this bad, but this one is. It speaks poorly of the brand that they would put their name on this twisted plastic. Saturday, I picked up a new stud finder that came with ‘bonus’ Stanley level. That POS level isn’t worth cutting up to take out the spirit level. Not all Stanley tools are this bad, but this one is. It speaks poorly of the brand that they would put their name on this twisted plastic.

]]> by: Freddie http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64659 Mon, 14 May 2007 08:34:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64659 stupid double posting firefox...mumble......^$*&$&^.... stupid double posting firefox…mumble……^$*&$&^….

]]> by: Freddie http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64658 Mon, 14 May 2007 08:33:05 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64658 Let's ask stanley to laminate the FatMax... why shouldn't good tools look cool too? Let’s ask stanley to laminate the FatMax…
why shouldn’t good tools look cool too?

]]> by: Freddie http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64656 Mon, 14 May 2007 08:32:30 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64656 Let's ask stanley to laminate the FatMax... Let’s ask stanley to laminate the FatMax…

]]> by: Kurt Schwind http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64246 Sun, 13 May 2007 02:51:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64246 I've had this very conversation with people. I think part of the difference is comparing a high-quality tool of yester-year to ... well... what *I* have in my shop. If you compare a modern cheap tool to a high end tool that has been well taken care of, you might have cause for real comparison. Example: This guy inherits an old planer from his grandfather who was a cabinet maker. He compares that professional-grade tool to the modern planer I have and I'd rather have his too. But that's a comparison of a modern cheapo tool vs. one that was the highest standard of the day. I’ve had this very conversation with people. I think part of the difference is comparing a high-quality tool of yester-year to … well… what *I* have in my shop. If you compare a modern cheap tool to a high end tool that has been well taken care of, you might have cause for real comparison. Example: This guy inherits an old planer from his grandfather who was a cabinet maker. He compares that professional-grade tool to the modern planer I have and I’d rather have his too. But that’s a comparison of a modern cheapo tool vs. one that was the highest standard of the day.

]]> by: Michael W. http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64151 Sat, 12 May 2007 19:00:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/12/tool-quality-new-vs-old-school/#comment-64151 Nice and thoughtful, Sean. Are you getting all philosophical on us now? Just kidding. I agree with what you're saying. While not all new tools are better than some of the classic old tools, there were junky tools made in the past also. Nice and thoughtful, Sean. Are you getting all philosophical on us now?

Just kidding. I agree with what you’re saying. While not all new tools are better than some of the classic old tools, there were junky tools made in the past also.

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