OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

137208 "John Lehman" <jobel@p...> 2004‑09‑26 Bio and small Gloat
I have been lurking around the porch for about 6 or 7 months and haven't 
taken the time to submit a Bio and I thought it was time to do so.
I have been a tool collector of sorts for about 20 years. I did the Flea 
market circuit in Texas for about 3 years, buying and selling old tools, 
primarily planes At one point I had over 150 planes in my booth and never 
had less than about 50. This was a lot of fun and somewhat profitable. But 
then the planes started to get harder and harder to find and I shifted gears 
and started to build children's furniture to sell. I did this for about 5 
years until my back gave out on me and I couldn't keep up with the demand. 
Now I am retired and settled down here in SW Oklahoma just doing my own 
thing, mainly loafing and a little woodworking.
I have seen a few of the rare Stanley's from time to time, but being in the 
business to make money, I couldn't keep them.  I did manage to save a fairly 
nice set of Stanley's, #2 through #9 in both standard an the C's, all but 
two of these are sweethearts.  Couldn't afford to hang onto a #1 and I only 
found 1 of those in the wild.  I now  have 78 planes in my collection and I 
consider all of them as users.
The rarest thing I ever found was a Bailey's 1855 Patent Jack plane. Gave 
$30 for it and sold it for about $1000. It later was sold at auction for 
over $3000.  but unfortunately not by me.
This weekend I went to a Threshing Bee here in Oklahoma and found a 45 type 
4 almost complete and with about 60 to 70% of it's plating in tact but only 
one cutter. The plane is only missing the  nickker  and one or two screws. 
The cam and slitter are both there. Best  part only $30. I have an almost 
complete set of cutters for this vintage of 45 so they are no problem. . I 
also pick up 3 nice molding planes for $10 a piece.  I was surprised to find 
anything in the plane line here in S W Oklahoma that was worth picking up. 
Most of the stuff has laid around in a barn somewhere until  it is almost 
beyond recognition and S W Ok is not noted for being a Mecca for craftsman 
either.
John Lehman 



Recent Bios FAQ