This is the first of several entries from my Pacific Coast road trip.
Making rapid U-turns in small towns to investigate an antique store is common-place in my life. I’m at the point where I don’t even think, “I wonder if they have anything”, I just go in. At the very least, there is always something interesting, even if not tool-related.
After driving a bit south on highway 101 to compensate for a detour, I ended up in San Miguel. The vintage spirits (no not those vintage spirits) must have been smiling upon me, as the moment I exit the freeway a gentleman is putting up a sign-board for an antique shop. Approximate location here. I found a Stanley No. 67 spokeshave and a diminutive breast drill there. One of the store owners recommended I talk to a gentleman up the street, he’s the resident tool guy.
He is definitely a tool guy and a bit a junk accumulator too. He’s a stage 5 galoot more or less. If you don’t know what I’m talking about: read this. We talked about his extensive collections that he sold off and the nature of tool collecting. At one time or another he was just ahead of a major collector movement. But he’d given up serious collecting and sold a lot a flea markets. This meant that there weren’t many excellent specimens he had for sale and I walked away with some decent user tools and a ‘laundry basket o’ rusty saws’.
It’s nice to come across good people that share your interests entirely by happenstance and friendly locals.
I just wanted to type a word in order to thank you for all you are sharing here. [...] and look forward to tons of [reading].