Top 5 VINTAGE Tools to Look For (+ Where to Find) - Old Tools I ACTUALLY USE!

Today I'm showing you my top 5 vintage hand tools that I buy every chance I get. Plus, I'll tell you the best place to look for antique tools to add to your collection. Even though I collect old tools, these tools are not for display. These are hand tools I actually use...all the time. That's why you should look for them too. You may find that sometimes old tools are better than new. These tools have and will continue to stand the test of time.
I am just showing you some examples from broader sets. You may recognize some of them from my snap-on tool box tour ( • MECHANIC TOOL BOX TOUR... ) or my EDC tool bag tour ( • EDC TOOL BAG ESSENTIAL... ). If you want to see more of the sets, you can check out those episodes.
Thanks for watching! If you want more videos that inspire you to get outside and work with tools and equipment, hit the subscribe button.
You can find me on social media:
Instagram: @oldschoolmillennial
Facebook: oldschoolmillennial

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I'm giving away a BRAND NEW STIHL MS 261 chainsaw! Enter now through November 23, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day). Details here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHO5pmqtZ6d4oq8

[@kevindouse]

Very grateful to have my grandpa's old tool chest with his wrenches and 1/2 socket sets. He worked at General Motors assembly plant for over 30 years.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Awesome!

[@marcspencer800]

Mine owned a Ford dealership so I have a ton of tools snd parts newer and old

[@SchizoGamingChannel]

my grandpa did too

[@johngalt2931]

I love using my collection of vintage tools. I believe that all the previous owners that have long passed, live on though my using their tools. It always brings back great memories. It gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I love this and totally agree!

[@kerryklopfstein4260]

I’ve had wizard sockets from Western Auto my whole life. Got them in 1976 when I got my first car. Along with Westline brand they made good tools

[@user-em4hv5fq3k]

Your first 4 picks left me unimpressed but I heartily applaud the utica fence menders which I used for 20 years for a million things from HH maintenance to repairing my 1971 Fiat 850 accelerator cable. Lost them after leaving them in the engine compartment one day but now I'm gonna buy me another! What a great tool.(Still use my SK 3/8" ratchet too!) Thanks.

[@JollyRogerHobbies]

I'm sure you learned more about the fencing tool. But I just wanted to say that horn, the pointy side, is also for wrapping and tightening the fence and wire loops. It's hard to explain in text, but if you saw it in action, you would immediately understand. You have a great collection and keep it up!

[@wildcaughtfirewood1511]

There’s almost nothing better than vintage SK sockets. I have my late father’s, and 1/2 drive sets from 2 grandfathers.

[@roadrageburleson]

I could not agree more. I hit estate sales most every week and find great old tools. Just this week I found a perfect handle wrench from the 40s and some klein and sons (older klein) screwdrivers. Most are overlooked due to rust and grime but a little cleanup and they can be made like new and added to the daily work tool bag.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Awesome find! Yea, I love once I find these old tools because of the quality and the cool factor, and I can put them back to work after they may have been sitting for several decades.

[@realbartlett8882]

Got all that stuff and it is great. Best load I ever scored was my wife's grandfather's stash. 40's 50's 60's Craftsman, hand and power tools, what a haul. Also came into my father's, uncle's and great-uncle's collections. As I was pretty much the only guy who could actually use them, they all came my way.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Awesome! I love the old Craftsman tools.

[@rg1599]

I like that ring, I have one too. Class of’84.

[@kelseywatson1974]

Love the fence pliers. Definitely would add hand planes and chisels to the list. You can find some high quality steel for next to nothing and are a joy to use.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Good call! I didn't think of those, but they would be up there on the list.

[@BradsWorkbench]

Nice finds and channel. I love hunting down old woodworking tools

[@rustybloom47]

I am 76 years back in 1955 id say i pulled 5 miles of old 4 strand barb wire on our new 110 acre farm with your utica staple puller i was 8 at that time cant say it brought back good mems but keep up the good job your doing

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thank you! That is a great story! I'm trying to teach my kids similar things that you learned growing up.

[@yellowdog762jb]

Interesting vid! I like to pick up vintage files and ax heads. I have a wire fence puller that was my grandfather's. It's not super old, but at least pre 1980's. Some buddies and I were building a fence on the deer lease last year and I whipped it out to attach to a come-a-long. The guys were impressed. Several of them are engineers, so it was a real geek moment. I also like Yankee screwdrivers and drills, plus hand drills and old drill bits. I carry the Yankee drill and screw diver in my vehicle. It's nice to have every once in awhile, and no batteries to go bad from the heat!

[@karlmiller7500]

I have a Craftsman cantilever box exactly like yours, I've had it about 50 years and it was old when I bought it, like yours, it is in very good condition

[@stevenmarcinkowski8577]

Very cool. I have one of those old S K ratchets. Found it in a junk car over 40 years ago. Good fine tooth ratchet

[@mattsfirewoodvideos738]

I have a bunch of older snap on tools and mac I also found personally I love going to pawn shops they tend to have alot of buckets of hand tools for next to nothing

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

That's a good tip!

[@wildcaughtfirewood1511]

From what I can tell, that Crescent wrench style was made up until 2011. After that production was moved to China. Yours looks similar to the 2011 version but I’m not sure how long that style lasted. I’ve read that there may be a manufacturing date code on the jaw if you completely break it down but I’ve never done that. Either way, it’s a great USA made Crescent

[@vintagecafe4540]

fantastic! beautiful box and tools!!!

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks man!

[@KUGW]

I like the old Utica Crescent style adjustable and old PEXTO tools, and vintage locking pliers, old Vice-grips or Samson pliers, now days I collect prefect handle tools

[@sicsempertyrannis4613]

I still have my grandfathers tools from the 50s. He was a mechanical engineer after ww2.. He was very smart and made some of his own tools.

[@TF856]

I'm in the process of collecting antique egg beater drills. Also known as cordless bit drivers. Not the plain Jane boring ones but the fancy ones and the two speed ones or with ratcheting features like the North Brothers 1545 or 1530 etc. Or any nice North Brothers tool before it was sold to Stanley and degraded. I also like different variations of the old vintage Miller's falls drills/bit deivers, and how all of these can easily be converted to screwdrivers, nut drivers, paint stirrers, or other things. I use them mainly for driving screws. The famous Yankee screwdrivers were also designed by engineers at North Brothers engineering back in the 1800s before Stanley got a hold of it. Just recently I picked up a two foot Rigid pipe wrench that looked like it was buried for 50 years and got it working. I have been lucky to pick up a few antique tools at rundown junk shops and yard sales.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Awesome! Thanks for the history on some of these tools and what you're working on. I always love to learn more about vintage tools!

[@paulaleeper5389]

nice video thanks, your tool box the craftman name plate i beleave its from the 1950s. i buy old tools to. its fun.

[@karlmiller7500]

I came across a Goodyear wrench, Goodyear made them for a short time for hardware stores

[@irishgoldstacker8018]

Great video. I've always liked vintage tools. I've got a small collection atm but I actually just found those in the course of my scrap metal work. My favourite tool I have atm is a German made pipe wrench. The brand is Knipex cobra and it's patented because of the unique mechanism for adjustimg the the tool. There is weekend flea market near me and I cant wait to start bulding my collection. But I'm subscribing to your channel to learn more about tools. I'm gonns have a look at your previous videos so I can learn more. All the best my friend, you have a new subscriber.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Welcome, and thank you for supporting my channel! I love knipex tools, they work great! I love collecting tools and equipment. Good luck growing your collection!

[@markatkinson9963]

My dad's SK stuff is awesome.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I love my SK tools!

[@marko11kram]

One of the main uses of the "Hooked" end of the fencing pliers is to pull the fencing tight as you prepare to attach the fencing to the next post. usually at least in my experience, with a come-a-long

[@chas7193]

I have some Husky tools from the early 70’s when they were made in USA use the daily and still working great

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I love old tools.

[@RoyOfCranberry]

Interestingly, I have a Snap On tool box that is identical in design to your Craftsman, but in Snap On red. I bought it new from Snap On in the late 80's or early 90's. I also have a 4" or 5" Snap On plier that looks like your larger one. I would have purchased that from Snap On when I started building my miniature tool collection in the mid 80's.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks for the input. I love these Snap On pliers. Thanks for watching!

[@user-dn2rt5lq4w]

Great episode passionate topic

[@tomsanders9491]

Logo is the only way to date tools such as these. Snap on logo can seen on their site. Craftsman logo changed about every 10 years. Only vintage tool here is the fence pliers. The rest are fairly contemporary

[@xrtgx22]

Utica tools were fantastic quality

[@CleaveMountaineering]

I keep a fencing plier in the pouch in the driver door of the truck... haven't used it yet but has a few tools and could even work for glass breaking or self defense in a pinch....

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Nice! That's where I keep mine too.

[@theangryYouTube]

According to the date code stamped on the snap on pliers. It was made in 1996. Some snap on tools still have the classic logo stamp on it

[@daig1984]

I’ve got a crescent wrench was my grandfather’s extremely good quality 15 inch version

[@kjhkj]

Snap on alot of times have a marking on them like circles with something on the inside for aging. You can also use websites like alloy artifacts website for history on tool companies. Alot of times the metal will be made different. Also brands like snap on change their names on ratchets all the time so u can age them that way better. Most tool numbers will be in play for 20ish years or they will make changes like channellock 420 has 3 different changes before they went to their blue handles

[@wbwilhite]

I must be getting old, for sure, because these tools were common when I was young.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Some things get better with age!

[@Fearsome4some74]

I too like the history behind old tools... The things that were made fixed or otherwise... Its a great hobby although im turning into a complete toolbox hoarder lol thanks for the content 👍 happy tool hunting

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

It's kind of addicting. Once you find some cool old tools and learn about them, you want to go out and find some more! Haha. Thanks for watching.

[@EdgetonWolfeDrezwellington]

I have a garage full of old tools i use and restored to create Art and Modify furniture and Electronics the past 30 years. Currently concepting ideas of small transportation that runs from H2O. With hidden storage and a way for me to get around each day without using my Cane or Wheelchair. My biggest plans to one day create once approved is a wider modified vehicle ran by reflective magnets, galvinized pistons in a porclain cast engine block. The wheels are each one molded hardened peice. Only used to gain speed. The magnets and perpetual large brushless electric motors work as one reflecting its weight to hover above the ground. Using metal fragments deep within the earths surface everywhere. Some items I have not found yet to propell this once 10-15 above the ground. I gave researched and experimented many trial and errors since I was 19 yrs of age. Now, at 47, have developed much further, but have yet to gain support or approval for this and many other inventions. But, never stop being creative, my Grandfather aleays said.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Awesome! Great story!

[@Residew]

Nice channel name. Cool video, thanks for sharing. Never thought of storing sockets on a zip tie. You do that with common sizes as well?

[@CharlesJohnson-yd9ym]

You are the Man!!! Thank you... Chuck in Michigan

[@kindywoodandiron1756]

I have found my best tool finds at Estate Sales.

[@bmck-ss3zb]

Those cantilever boxes were the original packouts!

[@ianprososki6804]

Not even more metal the older tools generally use a higher quality metal too

[@robertrollins8506]

When I was 19 I started working at a shipyard an my dad an me would go to a pawnshop an he would sell alot of tools .so I began buying some tools every Saturday for work an my car .30 years later an I still have the sockets proto,William, an other ones also. I have a big top an middle craftsman boxes filled with craftsman tools also. Now I have a tool cart from harbor freight tools and I'm filling it up with Pittsburgh tools

[@TF856]

It would be nice if you would explain all the features of the fence plyers and any other tools that you show.

[@artiebbarber1845]

Snap on tools have always been dated by year. There is a "odd" looking marking on the hand tools. That marking corresponds to production year. you can find the break down online as to which marking means which year on many of the vintage snap on sites...

[@roysnider3456]

Someone’s probably already told you this but the cross shape below the staple puller is for twisting wire together like splicing a new spool of wire to the old spool or repairing gaps in a strand.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Let me know if you have a better idea on any of the dates on these!

[@drfrankenbass]

I have an almost identical toolbox. I believe it is from the 60's. Also, the S-K ratchet is probably from the '70's at the oldest. Throughout the '60's up until maybe '68 S-K was called S-K Wayne, and the tools had that logo.

[@RipRoaringGarage]

The Craftsman sockets are V codes, which means they could either be made by Moore Drop Forge, between 1946-1967, but judging by the etching on the chrome plating, they are Easco, which started making the V codes from 1968 up until possibly as late as 1990. The tools in general look to be 80s. The Mac logo is what they were using in the 80s. I have a bunch from that era, but I will comment more if I see more Craftsman, since they were always easier to identify based on the forge codes.

[@mikeykrydooski1769]

I thought the numbers you read like it was a model number was actually the date. Didn't you say 1932?

[@sparkplug-ne5wi]

that box is air plain mechanic box really cool they also use pliers for horse shoeing

[@jeffjohnson8443]

Vintage USA forged hand tools, bench vises, C clamps, etc. they're like abandoned puppies. They follow me home.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Haha. I know what you mean!

[@tomballard8877]

If you ever get slip joint pliers with indented jaws at the tip. They are for getting old spring type radiator hose claps off.

[@kevinmckenna2877]

How about the Eifell wrench. Like a pliers, but come together square. Nice old tool.

[@donnierobitson7221]

I use old tools too! Better than new stuff and paid for. I work on heavy duty machinery/forklifts

[@rawbacon]

Some tools are impossible to date accurately, I wish they were all stamped with a manufacturing date on them.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

True that. Thanks for watching!

[@TF856]

Luckily some of them at least have a patent date on them. Sometimes that's not very accurate either because there might be more than one patent date on a tool that has parts patented in different years. My North Brothers 1545 has several different patent dates ranging from1889 to 1911, and they may continue to use the same patent date for quite a few years. They may not even put that patented design into production for quite a while.

[@sbyurt1]

Heavier sockets will also transfer torque better on an impact gun

[@bluracer766]

I've been to a gazillion estate sales and never found a Snap-On tool, a Cornwell tool, a Mac tool, and no Matco except one mini flat head screw driver.

[@geraldsmith4761]

I have the 1/2 drive SK still in the steel box it came in. $19.95 in 1968

[@shericreates]

I inherited my dads workshop! Lathes, drill press, band saws, grinders, routers and then the tool boxes and buckets full of tools. I have 8 tool boxes in front of me. One is 4 ft long. I also have 4 home made boxes that say “4th generation tools” on it. Diving in, cleaning, de-rusting and oil and waxing everything to see what treasures I have. I am also wondering about the tools like Black and Decker jig saws, to name a few. I don’t know how many of those I have. Really, how many jig saws or crescent wrenches does one person need?

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

That is awesome that you are able to keep your dad's tools and restore them. Those are so special. Speaking from someone who is sentimental about those things, definitely try to keep them in the family. As far as who needs this many jig saws or crescent wrenches. Just don't go in my garage or my dad's, haha. You can never have too many tools. I hope you enjoy using them!

[@paulaleeper5389]

the badge tells me its from the 50s its ok they built great stuff then. its a great looking tool box.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks!

[@scottjohnson9225]

The Air Force still used those tool boxes in the late 70s.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Crescent may have invented the adjustable wrench, but I’ll take my Diamonds. From Crescent I have the Crestoloy side cutters.

[@cinemaipswich4636]

Impact sockets used with impact airguns will last forever. A thread file is rare (used to repair damaged threads).

[@nicholaskorner2258]

Have you heard of the brand of tools that Kmart used to sell, they were called "Benchtop" and originally were made in the USA....they were actually really high quality...I dont know who made them, I seem to remember maybe Delta was the manufacturer...

[@dfanman1]

On the fence pliers you forgot the cutters for cutting fence wire on the side.

[@drewtremble2838]

I just spent an entire day cleaning up these old tools. Got them from a buddy for helping him move. Belonged to his grandfather. A couple original brand name Crescent wrenches. Nail pullers, pipe wrenches, a Crescent wrench, and regular wrenches that all say "West Germany". Other wrenches that say "Billings" and "Williiams". The most unusual one of all is some weird looking shears that say "Italy B-58" and "forged steal". They are spring loaded shears. But its not a normal spring. Very wierd looking thing that acts like a spring. Everything cleaned up real well in vinegar. Totally removed all the rust and they look really cool. Anybody have any idea what I got? Age?

[@yellowdog762jb]

I use vinegar to clean old tools as well. Then I hit them with the power washer to remove the black slime. I washed some treated tools in the kitchen sink once. Once! Wife was not happy! Lol! I read to soak them afterwards in some water w baking soda for a bit to neutralize any vinegar trapped in crevices. I don't always do that, but I do when cleaning up old files since they have so many crannies. It doesn't seem to hurt. Then I wash them in very warm water so they dry quickly, and then I hit them w Corrosion-X to stop surface rust on the bare metal. On the small stuff I sometimes then run them thru my ultra sonic cleaner also. The ultra sonic cleaner really does a great job on stained and grimy plastic handles and things you don't want to use a wire brush on. Certain additives to your cleaner solution can pit some metals though, so read up on that. Simple Green works well on many things, but it pits aluminum for example. When in doubt, just use plain water.

[@Chungustav]

I don't believe Craftsman every made anything themselves so you really have to know the year it was made and the company that made it for them. Its quite a deep dive

[@jtwhiddon]

Judging by the logo on the the Crescent wrench it is likely made sometime in the last 20 years. Your Snap-on pliers and wrenches are fairly recent makes as well. That model of S&K ratchet is still being made it’s probably between 10-20 years old. The fence tool is pretty old. The Utica tools brand has been out of business for many years.

[@josephbohme7917]

Many years means I don't know. Everyone on KZbin says tell me if someone knows.... they don't and won't do the research because that is hard work I guess.

[@macd8985]

Would you know where to get a vintage blue point tool and die set appraised of its worth, it was my fathers

[@TylerSnyder305]

That toolbox has a 1950's logo on it. I'm not positive what logo they used in the 40's, but this is the 50' logo. Through the 60's until I believe 1972 they went to the crown logo. Around that same time is when the A in the stamp on tools went from a pointed A to the barn roof a. Btw Snapon is not really the best brand to be looking for, the tools are good but rarely ever priced well. It's better to look for other brands like Vlchek, Thorsen, Cornwell, Wright, New Britain, Blackhawk, Armstrong,and Bonney ( Bonney tools are top notch and a real gem to look for ) For pliers you want Utica, Kreauter , Channellock ( or Champion De'arment for their earlier tools), diamond Calk and Horeshoe / Diamalloy, and Crescent or Cee-Tee.

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks for the information. I have found most of the brands you mentioned at estate sales over the years. The old tools work great! Also, I just love using the older stuff.

[@eugenepolan1750]

How about 1932 for the Linesman Pliers?

[@wadeott7463]

I am pretty sure the date is written right on those fence pliers?

[@mikeykrydooski1769]

I think he said 1932 but thought in was model # or something.

[@austincalda6646]

Fencing pliers also cut wire fences

[@bruceschweigert6457]

the good crescent wrenches will say jamestown ny and size is in inches NOT mm yours is70s or newer.

[@DEXTOOLS-SLD]

Old tools are the best made with steel and easy to clean

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Amen!

[@maddog3080]

S-K is short for Skinned Knuckles

[@fragiadakis]

hi i do have some old tools from ww2 can i send you some fotos to estimate the value of them .... regards panos

[@phildoetsch7565]

If it says made in like Toledo Ohio that is generally from the 50’s or older

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks for the tip, Phil.

[@TF856]

That crescent wrench looks like it's from the '70s. It looks like the early cheap stamped look. I believe the older ones had a smoother area on the inside of the handle in the lettering was a lot crisper. Those red-handled slip joint pliers look like the 70s also. I could be off though. I also have my dad's old tool box that looks alike like that. I think it was from the 1940s. The fence plyers might be from the 50s or 60s. These are nice vintage tools but not antiques. Find some nice antique multifunction , what many people refer to as, eggbeater drills. They are fantastic tools with a hex adapter on it for screws and bolts. They are great collectables!!!

[@markatkinson9963]

A Bench Vise.

[@donnierobitson7221]

SK ratchet is from 1969-1980’s

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@paulrash8861]

Hit any pawn shop😂

[@tjacksonwoodworker3726]

No tool like an old tool

[@TF856]

Some old tool companies made fantastic tools. Then other tool companies would buy out those tool companies and make those same tools cheaper and crummier!!! For instance Stanley bought out North Brothers manufacturing and started making their tools crappier than the original factory did. North Brothers was the original manufacturer of the Yankee line of tools. Stanley turned some of those great tools into garbage!!! Look for the original manufacturer of old tools! They are much much better!!! My favorite old tool is my North Brothers 1545 with 5-speed transmission and two gear ranges containing patent dates between 1889 and 1911. I also have a 1530 that is very similar that is made by Stanley and it is garbage!!!!! I love putting hex adapters in my hand powered drills/drivers, both have the same 5-way transmission, but when you try to remove screws or bolts the chuck opens and drops everything!!! The transmission is designed to work in both directions but the chuck is redesign like absolute crap!

[@randomdutchguy]

Estate sales.....not a thing over here. Snap on.......most never heard of it 😂. Same planet, different world

[@mattprice4358]

Amen! We are twin brothers in every aspect, I swear! Thx for the content. I have a secret for you on finding local estate sales! You are right about the estate sale. For example I acquired some prized possessions from the old badass infantry man who had to survive by silent knife attack(I’m serious he was a Mcdavid, google it) and wouldn’t let anyone touch them much less sell them. He literally had to pass on to relinquish them!!

[@kjdarty83kd]

Hi my father has passed away..li got so miny... tools

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

[@paulbuckner375]

What makes you think these are vintage tools. Look the same as tools I use daily.

[@tommywisse2002]

old tools just feel better using them

[@OldSchoolMillennial]

I agree!

[@no_handle_required]

Seeing this old stuff just showcases how bad china has screwed industry

[@Tudalouu]

I’m pretty sure your dates are way off

[@ZackariahCombs1]

U look just like cody from the wranglerstar channle! Lol foreal!

[@thekelpayton]

Man or woman!

[@bobbythomas-xy2xk]

1932 is the year not model

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

These aren’t old or vintage tools

[@EitriBrokkr]

What a clown 🤡 they still make and sell all of those. Don't waste your time watching this video

[@lorrainewilliams7896]

Nope. Not a guy. Not watching your video. Show some respect for women and I will watch.

[@MrJruta]

What?

[@southerncomfort7490]

Don't be stupid: 'Man' is a collective term which includes reference to both sexes. Good enough for the Old Testament: Good enough for me.