Rusted antique tools
Not too long ago there was supposedly a real market for an auger, hand rasp or plumb bob that came out before the civil war. My daughter told me so, and she quit lying to me after college.
Do you all know if this is still the case? And for instance, if someone had a mess of these things collecting rust and dust, would you be inclined to clean em up before selling, or are the cobwebs part of the "patina"?
Appreciate your thoughts.
And if you're wondering what all tools I've got?
Yes.
Even that one.
6 comments
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoYou'll never know if there is a market for them until you get them listed.
Clean them up a little, take good photos and write a good description and see what happens.
Some items I've listed, thought they might sell kind of quick and they just set there.
Listed a few items I thought were trash and they sold in no time.
You never know what a buyer is looking for and don't if an item will sell until you get it listed.
maxine*j
·3 years agoIt's generally best to compromise: Shake off or lightly dust off the loose dirt, debris, and dead bugs.
Otherwise, leave things alone.
Some buyers want the "barn patina," and they'll be happy with the implements as they are.
Others will want cleaner implements, or may even want to restore them to their new condition, and those buyers will themselves buff the things up to the degree desired.
So, clean and tidy things a bit, but use a very light hand.
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soh.maryl
·3 years agoIs/was your daughter an expert in antiquities?
Why not just list what you have and find out whether there is a market?
nopi1956
OP3 years agoShe used to go with people to auctions and help them decide what and what not to get. Fancy stuff. She's no tool expert, if that's what you mean. But I think she's got a basic idea of what she's saying.
She's rarely local anymore and when we talk, it tends to be more personal stuff, unless she needs advice. Then I'm the encyclopedia.
To your next point, after implying that someone must be an expert to know if old farm and building tools are sought after...
Why on earth would I go to the trouble of cleaning, measuring and photographing them if they aren't popular anymore?
I came here to ask about the current market.
Like yourself , I also have an advanced degree in the blatantly obvious.
Perhaps the dean of knowledge and consideration sees this and answers my question.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoThank you for your reply.
maxine*j
·3 years agoIf you want to know the market on eBay. check eBay Completed Listings. Note what sold and what didn't sell, what the sold items fetched, what kind of titles and descriptions successful sellers used. (You should be able to use Terapeak, too, but start with searches anyone can do.)
You need to refine them, of course, to see items that are more comparable to what you have, but here are two super-quick searches to show you what I mean:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=antique+plumb+bob&_in_kw=3&LH_Complete=1
and
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=19th+century+plumb+bob&_in_kw=4&LH_Complete=1
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