Beginning the 2nd Friday of October each year and running for 10 consecutive days, Parke County, Indiana holds their annual Covered Bridge Festival. This little county of ~18,000 has and maintains 31 covered bridges, proclaims itself as the "Covered Bridge Capitol of the World" and is home to the single largest Festival held in Indiana. In the festival's heyday, estimated crowds for the ten day run were in the 1-1.5M range with people traveling from all over to attend. Some of the covered bridges are located in or very near extremely small communities. At least two of the communities still have operating mills powered by water wheels. You can learn more HERE

 

During the festival, these small communities swell in size and commerce with vendors selling everything imaginable including many hand-crafted items. In addition, access roads to, from & near these areas often have fields, lots etc. where vendors gather. Large garage, barn, and yard sales are also the norm. However, the last 4 or 5 years it seems the popularity has waned somewhat.

 

While I don't venture into the mass gatherings every year like I once did...(LOTS & LOTS of walking plus the traffic on narrow 2 lane highways, very narrow & winding county roads and  even some gravel), I do attend some of the flea markets closer to home and along the main route (US 41). While I didn't take any pictures of the markets, below are the items I saved by paying their ransom.

 

The ratcheting spiral screwdriver is a GlobeMaster (Made in Japan). For those who have been around the block a few times, you probably recall seeing GlobeMaster Tools at your local hardware, lumber yard, farm supply store and even in the aisles of some grocery stores from the late 1950's to the mid/late 1970's. The tools were knock-offs at the time, usually in a bin or rack with signage GLOBEMASTER. Anyways, this spiral is very similar to the Stanley it mimicked. The #2 straight bit would interchange with the Stanley's. I'm guessing this one is late 60's to early 70's. Marked a buck and was in the $1 bin pile.

 

On the left (red) is a Millers-Falls No 100 (aka Buck Rogers), push drill. Also in the $1 bin as was the (black) Millers-Falls No 188A. The top plane (bottom in pic above) is marked BL, but may be a Dunlap, or Millers-Falls thumb plane similar to the Stanley 101?? It has some heft to it. The bottom (top above) is marked 102 and I immediately assumed a Stanley 102. It's identical to the Stanley 102 and the Defiance 102 (made by Stanley) I have...but.?.?

... the blade is marked "Lakeside." From what I know, Stanley made a line of planes for Montgomery Ward identified as "Lakeside." 

 

The thumb plane has only some surface rust on the body but the sole needs some work. The Lakeside (102) needs a soaking in Evap-O-Rust, probably a re-paint and sole work.

  

 

Edges aren't to bad; neither appear to have been resharpened; a good soak in Evap-O-Rust, then we'll go from there.

 

The 100 needs some TLC. I know thereis at least one bit in the handle; maybe more, but the body is stuck and it will not rotate. Worse than the one I bought last year. It's soaking now. The 188A needs TLC too, however, I did get it disassembled (I'll post a How-To/Refurb thread on both soon). There were no bits with it. It appears to have been disassembled before. The chuck jaws are missing the the return spring but I think I can match something up.

The guy had $10/each on the planes and a $1/ea for the drills & screwdriver. He came down to $15 for the two planes + the $3 on the others. I offered $15 for the lot...he took it.

 

Next up, different vendor, were these four treasures. Prices marked were not what I paid. As marked, total is $15...I paid $7.50

 

Sorry pictures is a bit fuzzy; middle item above is an Irwin 900 screw starter. Should clean-up nice.

 

The two spiral, ratcheting screwdrivers taped together. The 133H is a North Bros, but after Stanley acquired their business. Just a later version of the 33H. Works fine and has an original #2 bit, albeit a bit chipped on the tip. 

 

Yep, the North Bros. Mfg. No 33H has the shaft broken. What remains is bent. IDK, someone must have used it as a jack handle. What a shame. This pre-dates Stanley's acquisition of North Bros. Note: Patent Pending in picture above. This is one of the earliest North Bros. Yankee Handyman tools of this type. Oh, well, it was worth 50 cents. The ratchet works...I may try to swap with the 133H

 

And finally...a Taintor Mfg. Co, Positive No. 7, 5 position Saw Set in excellent condition with minor surface rust. The (P) in Positive sort of disappears due formed hole in the handle for a spring seat.

 

Hard to see all here but marked with five Patent Dates beginning May 5, 91; May 24, 92; Jun 18, 93; Oct 23, 1900; July 30, 1907

Better here...

 

It all works. Anvil is in great shape. I just need a good saw vise and oh, a lighted magnifier, then maybe I can tune up some saws. I'll practice on some old beaters first.

 

 

Well, there you have it. Another Covered Bridge Festival pick in the books.

 

A side note: I typically make a couple of trips but this year other commitments and the weather was less than favorable. Cold, rain and the last weekend we had the 60+ mph winds. Most probably packed up their tents & trailers before then. I went on Wednesday, a sunny day, cool, but comfortable...two days after the rain. I've gone to this site for years now.

 

The total number of vendors were down 30-40% over previous years. Some had already left, others had items out, but covered with tarps and no one attending the space. A few of the long time vendors were not present this year either. It used to be a mecca pick site depending on how much you wanted to spend...Not so the past couple of years. Times have changed. I probably have too.

 

Thanks for looking. I'll post some pictures once all have been reconditioned...may be next spring or summer though.

46 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Thanks for looking.

yur welcome...

I'll be watching this space...

1 hour ago, Cal said:

I'll be watching this space...

do you suspect it will do something???

Nice gets Dave. 

I've got a hat with your above post on it, but I don't wear hats.

6 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

I've got a hat with your above post on it, but I don't wear hats.

You must have "hair there and everywhere"?

Without one, my top either gets blistering red or blizzard blue

Edited November 3, 20187 yr by Grandpadave52

Nice buys Dave.  I got one of those screw starters this Summer at a sale.

15 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

You must have "hair there and everywhere"?

Without one, my top either gets blistering red or blizzard blue

Dave,

If I brush my hair down over my face I can do a pretty good imitation of Cousin Itt.

5 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Dave,

If I brush my hair down over my face I can do a pretty good imitation of Cousin Itt.

Not sure I've gone enough years left Larry for mine to grow that long in back to do a brush-over

I do have an old rag mop though...still have to wear a hat to hold it on though