So the most recent local on-line auction had one item I really wanted. Most tools in this auction were made of platinum but I scored a 75+ y/o, Sioux, 6" bench grinder for $4.00 plus auction premium and sales tax making a grand total of $4.92. "Why would I want that?"...glad you asked...keep reading if you have nothing else to do.

 

Back story first: I have an identical working model I've used at home since 1978. Prior to that it was used in a family owned, small town John Deere Ag dealer shop started in the early 1930's and I began working at in the fall of 1973. The grinder was old then; I wasn't. When new owners purchased the dealership and built a new facility in 1976, the grinder (which had quit working) was replaced with a 1hp, 8" model.

 

I bought the old grinder for a buck in 1977 dollars, took it home and eventually replaced the switch and cord. IIRC, I also replaced the motor bearings, then painted it with some discontinued JD snowmobile paint. I also built a stand using discarded, steel John Deere snowmobile/ Garden tractor shipping crates. It's served me well but it never had the original tool rests. In recent years I've mostly used it with wire wheels having purchased at auction grinders with eye shields, full wheel guards and tool rests...but I digress.

 

The auction score is the only time I've ever seen another Sioux, 6" bench grinder in the wild. Low and behold, it had the OEM tool rests but no shields. Anyways after nearly 60 years, I have an almost original grinder or at least parts to make one.

 

The "new" one has the original, although non-working switch, a cord that should never be plugged into a working, live receptacle😉, ball bearings that are very sluggish but it has a good right side wheel guard, the original tool rests and the guard screws which mine is missing one. It does have two good wheels (fine/ course) although they need dressed. Oddly enough, a previous owner painted it green too however not a perfect match to a JD paint color that has long been discontinued.

 

So long story to an end, I'm happy. I'll give a more recent auction score, a newer model 6" Craftsman to my SIL. That'll only leave me with 4 working bench grinders but I'll manage to get by. Some people collect routers...wait, I think I have 10 of those

 

My current working Sioux Grinder. It's only a 1/3 hp but it has torque that will eat about anything up to and including but not limited to fingernails and flesh

 

Current switch is a toggle which I installed close to 50 years ago.

 

Broken, missing piece which includes the mounting guide part of the tool rest mount for the right guard

 

The "new" old grinder fresh from the auction.

Tag is hard to read but it's 70+ years old.

This is what's left of the original switch. Missing the handle

 

A brochure picture I found showing the grinder. It also shows a D-handle, inline drill. I have that drill in a working 1/4" model that belonged to my granddad. He had it in his shop equipment when he co-owned a Minneapolis Moline/ J.I. Case dealership in the 1940's and 50's.

 

 

A side note, Sioux Tools were probably even better known in many shops for their top notch, premiere Valve Refacing/ Stem/ Rocker Arm face grinders, Valve Seat Grinders and Valve Seat Replacement Cutter tools.

 

I've reconditioned 100's of valves/ cylinder heads using that shop equipment.

 

In the middle 1990's Snap-On Tools bought most all of that segment of Sioux Tools.

 

If you're still awake, grab a donut and Thanks for stumbling and crawling along with me on memory lane.

Edited December 20, 2025Dec 20 by Grandpadave52

Nice score!

Always interesting how special "finds" like this are, at least in part, due to the associated memories. Looks like you found a great match. 

1 hour ago, BB1 said:

Always interesting how special "finds" like this are, at least in part, due to the associated memories. Looks like you found a great match. 

I'm an avowed tool-aholic Barbara. If only these old tools could share their journey.

 

I still have (and use) my first Snap-on wrench I bought new over 60 years ago. I have a few of my dads and his dad's Snap-on tools as well as some other brands.

 

One of my prize possessions is an 8-1/4" Skil saw in its original metal case plus some saw blades that belonged to my granddad. It has to be from the late 1940's. It's a beast but with a sharp blade cuts through 2" rough sawn white oak like butter. It'll cut through the cord quick too when it kicks back. Dad and I transformed a dairy milk barn into a 30 crate swine farrowing house using all 2" white oak for the farrowing crate stands. That saw cut it all; rip & crosscut.

 

Thanks for your response. That's what old people do... remember what they did last century then find new people to tell it to.

I enjoy hearing those stories. Here's a bit of mine, with a link to older tools...

 

I started my woodworking a little over 10 years ago after buying a sliding miter saw to put in some laminate flooring (after doing a couple rooms with only a jig saw and square). First projects were out of cheap boards from Lowe's - TV stand, storage/sitting box for the mudroom, firewood box.

 

That hooked me on learning more via books, dvds from Woodsmith, and later from YouYube and online forums.

 

My grandpa did woodworking but he passed away when I was in high school. Would have been so neat to learn from him. My dad ran across a small hand plane and spokeshave of his several years ago and gave them to me. They were dirty and rusty so needed cleaning and sharpening (that's still very much a learning process).

 

Although not perfect, my heart is happy when I have opportunity to use them on a project. Wish I had more of his hand tools, but cherish these two.

 

So, your comment about old tools being able to tell their journey- I very much get that! This post is a long winded way to say keep telling the stories as they inspire others to appreciate older tools and give them extended use.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by BB1

@BB1 Love the story!  BTW, I have a little block plane just like that.

13 hours ago, BB1 said:

I enjoy hearing those stories. Here's a bit of mine, with a link to older tools..

Great story and memories Barbara. Excellent first projects to begin your journey also.

 

Amazing transformation and restoration on your plane and spokeshave. When I saw the block plane, I knew you had something special and fairly rare too. I've never seen a #130 in the wild. Sadly it appears it has been modified or perhaps accidentally dropped and broken so one end is not usable as originally intended but cool nevertheless.

 

The #151 spokeshave is not as rare but still a desirable collectable. It looks like your granddad scratched his initials in the handle which was common and really cool. Interestingly, new versions of that spokeshave are available but not to the same quality IMO. Best guess, yours probably dates pre-WWII to possibly just after WWII. Hard to make out the markings on the blade before your clean-up,  which BTW is awesome.

 

STANLEY #130 BLOCK PLANE STORY

 

STANLEY #151 SPOKESHAVE INFO

 

18 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Amazing transformation and restoration on your plane and spokeshave.

 

Thanks - the added info in the link was interesting. I'm so glad my dad found these amongst his shop stuff and gave them to me.

 

The plane had seen some hard times! The back corner was chipped out, and there was Ford blue paint on it (my dad enjoyed restoring old Ford tractors so guessing living in his shop provided this color addition). Here are some more pictures of the parts.

I struggle with getting the plane adjusted -guessing technique issue on my part as I'm not very knowledgeable on hand tools.

 

The spokeshave is fun to use. Here are a few more pictures of its parts

Thanks for the additional pictures Barbara. If you don't know already, the SW inside the Heart is referred to as Stanley's Sweetheart Era. By your particular logo on both the plane and spokeshave blades the manufacture date is 1923-32 or the last series of the original Sweetheart tools. There is a revived modern version of the Sweetheart line but not to be confused with what you actually have. Very cool.

 

Who's Your Sweetheart 

 

@Grandpadave52

Great link on the Sweetheart tools. I didn't know all of that - very neat! Thank you for sharing that. 

I have a set of Stanley 750 Sweetheart Chisels. Love them. However, I bought a four piece set and after getting them wish I had bought the 8 piece set. I wanted some of the other sizes and finding them individually has proven impossible.