Looking for advice on Civil War era tools

[ScottyM]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice or a point in the right direction to know what to do with some tools I've inherited.

When my grandmother moved from her home into a rest home, she passed on to me a tool box full of tools. I've learned that many of these tools, and the tool box itself, belonged to my great (x2 or 3) grandfather, who served in the Civil War. He was a carpenter by trade, so these tools date at least to the 1860-1890's, if not before (I need to do a little more research about him to know when in his life he served and when he was a carpenter). I know they are of that time period because they are stamped with his name: "S.H. MCCLAURY".

The tools and chest have not been well cared for, and are quite rusty, dirty, and battered. The chest has moved between tool sheds and garages for many years with little thought to the potential antique value of the tools.

Here's a few quick photos of the tool chest and tools:

As an amateur wood worker, I am thrilled to have such items with family significance and thus sentimental value. My initial thought was "wouldn't it be amazing to restore and display these tools in my shop or home, and restore/refinish the tool chest in which they came?". It would be something I could pass on through my family.

However, if there is more than sentimental value in the tools, if they have historical or collectible value, I don't want to destroy that value by altering them. I would hate for the woodworking community to lose an opportunity to learn about the tools and techniques of the late 19th century.

What I don't know is how rare these tools are, and who to talk to about their historical value. I'm not interested in selling them, so collector's value is not really in my equation (unless it could pay off my mortgage, and even then ???). While it could be that museums are full to bursting with tools from this era, it could also be that these are very rare and need to be studied.

I've posted more pictures of the tool chest and tools here on my photo-sharing site if you want to take a look: http://mcclaury.smugmug.com/Woodworking/shmcclaurytools/

Do you have any advice for an amateur woodworker and newbie to antique tools? Thanks for your insight and advice!

Scott

[Jonathryn]

Wow, that's a very special assemblage of tools there. Looks like great gramps did a little bit of everything in addition to carpentry--some cabinet making, some window repair (or maybe he made sashes?), some wood carving. Some of those brace bits and chisels are *very* old. The cabinet appears to be a very pleasing apprentice's chest. Some things appear to be missing from it. In the top tills he would have had his saws. There are also irons for a plough plane but the plane is missing. He'd probably have had a Yankee style plough, but that's just rank speculation. He'd also would have had a brace to go with the brace bits. I'd speculate that he would have had a more complete set of planes too--judging by the antiquity I'd bet he would have wooden-bodied bench planes. He may have been able to put some of them in the upper cabinet, but this guy seems to have had the experience and skill to perhaps have had separate plane storage, with a set of hollows & rounds, maybe some panel raisers, decorative moulding (the pig sticker mortise chisels indicate cabinet making). If it were me, I'd restore the tools and the cabinet and use them. You may want to call on some specialists for first and second opinions about what to do, like Walt at Brass City Records, and Joel at Tools for Working Wood, or the tool guys at The Best Things. Here's where a previous relationship as a customer comes in handy. I couldn't pick up one of those chisels and say, "this is the only one of its kind in existence," but they could. Most likely none of it is like that because rare things are, well, rare. But one of those guys could probably spot something special.

[darrelsingleton]

It looks like the link you gave is going to the wrong album. How about Civil War Tools link

We probably didn't want to see Lori's crash. I hope everything was OK.

[ScottyM]

Thanks Jonathryn! I appreciate the detailed explanation. I'll check in with the references you listed and see what I can find out, but your advice is encouraging. My heart wants to restore and use the tools; it's quite a feeling of connection to my roots, especially learning that he seems to have been rather skilled (or at least diverse in abilities). Thanks so much!

Thanks Haydar for the catch on the link. I've edited the post to fix it (should be OK now). My wife's fine, she limped away with a broken foot and has recovered like a champ. Prius, not so much.

[jlloydparks]

You need to throw an email Stephan Shepherd's way he is a period woodworker that bases his period around the mid-19th century. Take a look at his blog over at http://www.fullchisel.com/blog/ or his main site has contact information http://www.fullchisel.com. He will be able to help in directing you on restoring or preserving this awesome tool set. This would be right up his alley.

Best of Luck!

[Kari Hultman]

Scotty, I would definitely hold onto the tools, not only for sentimental value, but because many of them can easily be restored. Looks like superficial rust on most of them, which can be removed with steel wool. Replace the broken handles and sharpen everything up, and you have a very nice collection of users. I don't see anything in mix that looks rare, but knowing that they were owned and used by your ancestor is priceless.