Pre-War Swap Meet This Weekend - Luray VA

[Wowabunga]

I'm headed to vend at my first prewar swap meet this weekend.   They will have vintage tools, auto parts, steam power,  and farm related goods at the swap.   There is a huge once a year prewar swap in Oklahoma, and now some folks are try'n to start one up on the east coast

I'm bringing a very old carpenter's square that was hand made by a blacksmith.  Is there a term for this square as I just cant find any web references to find out what the value might be.   Numbers and ruler markings are hand punched into the metal.   I can get a close up of the markings if that helps.

Also pictured is a sliding square marked "truevalue", and the number 3 planet jr wrench.   Here's a direct link to the swapmeet website.

http://www.mapwsm.com/

[HeelSpur]

I wish I'd known about this before I made plans, I'm not to far from Luray.

But plans can be tinkered with, sometimes.

[wvtools]

I collect measuring tools and have several of those hand stamped carpenter's squares.  I try to pick them up for 5-10.00, but I have paid 35-40 for larger or interesting ones.

Look in the corner area for a maker's name, which can add to the value.  There were several square makers in Vermont in the 1830s to 1850s.  They merged into Eagle Square Co. in 1859 (EAIA, 1999).  If you find a name (George, Essex, Whipple, Beach, Hawes, Loomis were some of them), then I can look it up in the EAIA Directory of American Toolmaker's and give you a date range.

There are also quite a few unmarked hand stamped squares out there.

I am going to a flea market in Lewisburg, WV at the Fairgrounds this weekend or I might try that Luray swap meet.

[Wowabunga]

Hey there Mountianeer.... that was a WEALTH of knowlege about the angles.   Not familiar with care of tools this old, am I allowed to clean this up with steel wool, or should I go easy and keep the patina ?  I'll look at the corner... and report back.

[wvtools]

I usually use a soft wire brush and/or steel wool.  Just be careful not to overclean it and make it real shiny in one spot.  If there is any lettering there, you can usually see some of it before cleaning.

[Branson]

Look in the corner area for a maker's name, which can add to the value.  There were several square makers in Vermont in the 1830s to 1850s.  They merged into Eagle Square Co. in 1859 (EAIA, 1999).  If you find a name (George, Essex, Whipple, Beach, Hawes, Loomis were some of them), then I can look it up in the EAIA Directory of American Toolmaker's and give you a date range.

I have one stamped SMALL.  I'd appreciate any information you could find.

[Twertsy]

So how was this meet?  I knew nothing of it and drove right by headed to the Winchester flea.  Interested to see if it's worth putting on the calendar for next year?

[wvtools]

There was a Jacob Small listed for Manchester, NH, other tools, 1856, but none for squares in Vermont.  That is a possible candidate though.  I figure there are a lot of them out there that were maker marked by unknown/undocumented makers.

[Branson]

Thank you WV.

[HeelSpur]

So how was this meet?  I knew nothing of it and drove right by headed to the Winchester flea.  Interested to see if it's worth putting on the calendar for next year?

Do you got to the flea market next to Dinosaur Land? Double Tollgate?
That's my favorite one.

[Twertsy]

So how was this meet?  I knew nothing of it and drove right by headed to the Winchester flea.  Interested to see if it's worth putting on the calendar for next year?

Do you got to the flea market next to Dinosaur Land? Double Tollgate?
That's my favorite one.

Almost every weekend.  I get a LOT of good stuff there.

[Wowabunga]

How was the swap.... for a first time event it was pretty impressive in terms of merchandise.   I bought 3 jacks that have me smile'n from ear to ear ( 30's Packard and 20's Ford ).   Total vendors were 25, everyone I spoke with will return.

One couple had their uncles estate, and they looked like a well stocked general store: buckets of old turn of century wrenches, early army shovel, jacks with original handles, oil cans.... a wide variety.