Why Adam Savage Is Fascinated by This Old Toolbag!

[@spurgear4]

My dad was a lineman for 40 plus years. When he passed away I kept his climbing gear and tools. Every few years I open up the duffel bag and go through them, Just the smell takes me back to childhood and my dad walking into the house after being on a call out somewhere. Miss you dad, you were the best of us.

[@MakinHicks]

The scissors are what I remember always seeing on his belt or nightstand. I bet you know the pair…

[@mrbyamile6973]

It's men like your father that built this country and kept it running. I have more admiration and respect for him (even though I don't know him) than any famous person or sports athlete.

[@spurgear4]

@@mrbyamile6973 He was a good guy , Cancer took him too soon.

[@tekvax01]

Such a loving tribute to your father! Thank you for sharing.

[@tomasruzicka9835]

I think Adam would appreciate a photo of the tool bag and the tools, to better understand the usecases for the customizations in Tony's toolbag

[@garycopeland8429]

Adam, As an old retired pre and post breakup AT&T and Bell employee, I wanted to let you know some of our tools didn’t have the a bell or at&t stamp on them, but those that didn’t typically had a “KS” number, or Western Electric (WECO) stencil or stamp somewhere on them.

[@MFunkibut]

Many of my grandfather's tools [Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph lineman] are/were also Western Electric

[@edsnotgod]

ACME tools were the best

[@thepropmasterwithrobertwal6186]

Yes, I was going to point out that many of my father‘s tools were branded Western Electric, but you beat me to it.

[@garycopeland8429]

@@edsnotgod I don’t think I ever had any tools from that company, however, I wasn’t a lineman or outside plant guy. I worked on step-by-step, crossbar, AT&T 1, 1a,2, & 3 ESS, Nortel, Genband, and later VoIP platforms, as well as satellite and cell equipment, so I may not have encountered those tools.

[@illiteratebeef]

Pretty easy to find Tom's obit. " US Army Veteran and a retired factory machine mechanic for Hershey Foods for nearly 40 years. He loved his 1963 Stingray Corvette"

[@berndeckenfels]

I so expected a Tony here

[@Prophes0r]

@@berndeckenfels I know a Tony with the same last name, who thinks he was named after his grandfather, who was a lineman for Bell in the NY/CT area. So it might be Tony instead of Tom.

[@cjc_0167]

You beat me to it. But yes... this could very well be the person.

[@michaeljohnson1057]

Probably the more emotional vids from Adam. I appreciate his vulnerability. I also appreciate and agree with his sentimentality.

[@shannonm3841]

he looked like such a cool guy , i love that he got even a little bit of internet fame over this hand crafted item and how much joy it brought someone who will love it

[@TheodoraBrass]

As a young man, my dad constructed a carpenter’s toolbox for himself out of wood. It is a rectangular box with a drop down door. He eventually upgraded to other tool storage, but gave the box to me. I asked him if he could make a stand for it and it has been my coffee table (and storage for my own tools) for many happy years. It is full of marks and dings and is one of my most prized possessions. It still has his old saw inside, which is held in place with a mechanism he crafted himself. Love this video!

[@YerUnclePhil]

My dad also built his woodworking toolbox. It was all part of his apprenticeship. First thing they built I believe.

[@ericthompson3982]

Too cool. I lost the toolbox I built in a house fire, and wanted to pass it down to my kiddo, so that really bummed me out. I'm thinking of building a new one after I get back into my house and have the space to do it that I can eventually pass down to her. That's boss, my friend. I'm so glad you still have that.

[@Drew_Snydermann]

Waiting for the inevitable, "My grandfather was Tony Diviattore and he was a lineman and a leatherworker, here is a photo of him with the tool bag." Because Adam and the internet make dreams come true.

[@SA12String]

I would not be remotely surprised if this happened. It would be awesome, but not surprising.

[@unwired1281]

Only wish there was a way to see the picture. It has a wonderful home now. 👍

[@Prophes0r]

I know a Tony D, who thinks he was named after his grandfather, who was a lineman for Bell in the NY/CT area. Age fits, but I have no idea how the bag would have made it's way to the west coast. Someone else claims they found an Obit for a Tom D who was a mechanic that might also work.

[@michael-michaelmotorcycle]

@@Prophes0reBay. He said he bought it on eBay. eBay is a global marketplace for the most part. Likely the eBay seller shipped it to the west coast as eBay’rs do.

[@NickHorvath]

@@Prophes0r I'm sure in the intervening years it's been sold a few times, maybe on ebay. Pretty easy for things to move far from their origin now.

[@IanMcKane100]

My grandfather worked as a Technician in Philadelphia for Bell of PA for 38 years! He passed away exactly 1 year ago today at 92 years old. He collected tons of tools and kept many Bell System branded and stamped tools including ones made by Klein, Crescent, Channellock, and many other companies.

[@chrisfromthelc]

I still have a pair of Bell linesman pliers (made by Klein and Sons) from my grandfather. He passed a few months before I was born, and was a Bell lineman for his entire career once he got back from military service in Korea. His tool bag (just like the one Adam shows) was lost to dry rot, but I remember it well when I needed to use tools while at my grandmother's house. Those pliers are still my absolute first grab when I need pliers. They'll cut through a framing nail with a one-hand squeeze. They've been faithful to me in jobs as an electrician, network engineer, vehicle electronics, and more. I've since dipped the handles to help with slipping, but they're otherwise good as the day I got them back in the mid 90s.

[@PUBHEAD1]

I have my grandad's old leather carpenter's bag from England which was his father's. It is well over a 100 years old. I holds so much sentimentality for me. I still use it on occasion to cary my tools from time to time

[@Scot-p1v]

When I still worked rebuilding pianos, a helped a lady clear out her parent’s house. Father had been a telephone lineman. I got two sets of number punches, and used them to stamp piano serial #s when I replaced pinblocks. Most of his tools were quite old-and specific to technology no longer used, so I took particular delight in using them on instruments that often pre-dated the telephone itself. 🙂

[@RyanKlapperich]

"AT&T/Bell was the OG vertically integrated monopoly." Standard Oil would like a word.

[@ibanezleftyclub]

@@RyanKlapperich go back further, the Vanderbilt’s and Rockefeller’s ran the entire railroad industry in the second half of the 19th century. Probably the true first industrial sized monopolies of the US.

[@HaunterV]

Rail system then just after that the car industry that bought up the rails and then ripped up the rails so ppl would drive cars not ride trains across country.

[@aggonzalezdc]

Im sure the Dutch East India Company would at least like to throw their hat in the ring. They always do.

[@sshelle]

Adam, I started working for Mountain Bell in 1980 which became U.S. West, which became Qwest, and I retired in 2010 just before it became Century Link. I started as a TSPS Operator, I became a Frame Attendant, then a Test Desk Technician, then an Installer, then a Repairman, a Cable Splicer and finally a Central Office Equipment Installation Technician. Thanks for allowing me to take a nostalgic trip.

[@johnralph3704]

I love how nerdy and passionate Adam gets over things like this.

[@thinktank8286]

My grandfather (born 1932) worked for Bell. I inherited some of his tools made and marked for Bell Systems. I love them. Land Cruiser kit video?

[@TrevorHigginsDustysqueak]

My grandfather was also a bell line man and I have a good number of his tools as well.

[@garthor]

Been wanting a Land Cruiser build video for a while now... I second a land cruiser walkthrough video! :D

[@justinmatthews9904]

Your love and excitement is amazing thank you for sharing your love and collection

[@bonzici]

Telephone repair technician here 😎 Great story! Thank You so much for all of the content. Greetings from Europe!

[@martymcpeak4748]

I love Adam's enthusiasm, I actually find myself smiling when I see someone who has such a passion for the things he collects. to me, he's like a museum curator and conservator and tour guide all rolled into a package that makes geeks like me happy and gives me things to think about. Peace and Subscribed

[@jimmyeatshoe]

12:21 You can literally hear Adam think “Oooh I need another diving suit!!”

[@dragoncracker]

has a couple already

[@lordcheeto]

If you think "Brass Angle Iron" is weird, there's a scrapyard by me called " Iron and Metal" that no longer accepts ferrous metals.

[@xw6968]

😅😂funyy

[@Ron-d2s]

We had a recycle place called "Hide and Fur" I never saw either when I took in my cans.

[@gfdia35]

Names, we don't change names, are you maaaad , lol 😂

[@Lisa-vd5vu]

I left a comment earlier but I can’t find it now. Thomas Divittore of Pennsylvania worked for 40 years at Hersheys repairing their factory machinery. There’s an obit for him feom 2022.

[@hanslain9729]

You know the user of that bag dialed it in over time and it was just right. * chef kiss *

[@gl15col]

You bought it because you loved it's functionality. Use it. Mr. Diviattore would want it to fulfill it's purpose and that all his hard work will continue to be appreciated.

[@gussnarp]

This reminds me so much of my dad's cousin, who was really one of his best friends, too. He worked as a lineman for Bell from the day he got back from the Korean War until he retired. It gave him a nice middle class life and put his kids through college. The kind of job it's hard, if not impossible, to find anymore. I wonder what became of all his tools.

[@jonkd84]

As a lineman for 45 years including a many years at Ma Bell in the San Jose area starting in the early 60's, my FiL surely has boxes full of that stuff. He has tools, buckets of every insulator, a working hotel switch board, etc.

[@Zbas01]

Some days ago, I was thinking about why I love space and deep sea then I got to the same realization that I love any hazardous spaces and how humans can overcome them with crafts, oh the sheer technicality of staying alive is beautiful and inspiring.

[@appalachianunderground8474]

My Dad retired From BellSouth /AT&T in 2008 with 44 years, I currently have over 20years with the company… they’ve been good to my family for the most part. I have a large collection of Bell System tools , equipment, test sets ect . Really cool

[@masonandmepowerwheelsvids1690]

Absolutely love watching you rant and rave over objects like this. Pointing out why you enjoy it. Why it's unique. The thoughts that it brings. Thank you.

[@BlueOceanBelow]

My grandfather (though not T. Divittore) worked for Bell for many years and I inherited some really cool old phones and tool belts/boxes! I'm sure I'll enjoy this one!

[@lauramaeda7214]

I have an ADD diagnosis so i understand the deep dive into niche collections. I get the absolute joy when discovering a new item to add to the “collection “. Thank you for sharing your joy this morning. I needed this to start my day.

[@gfdia35]

......um ☝️......uh.....but........ What's attention deficit disorder have to do with your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

[@lauramaeda7214]

@@gfdia35 I have both conditions. I have a genetic mutation that results in ADHD and I have OCD and a smorgasbord of conditions. Be kind. You don’t know me or what i have to deal with on a daily basis. Just be glad that Adam’s post made me smile.

[@EasyMac308]

This is one of the best videos you've done lately. What a great object.

[@M6Props]

Its amazing how excited you get over new additions to your collections. I didn't know this morning when I clicked on your video that I needed to learn so much about a lineman's bag but I was right there with you and loving every second of the exploration! Thanks for having such an infectious sense of excitement and also expanding my vocabulary!

[@braydenbosch]

This whole kit is a masterpiece honestly. I come across a lot of “junk” at my current job and constantly bring home things from the thrown out pile only because I see the love that went into something most overlook. Probably got that growing up watching you as a kid. With this, I love the bent brass angle side holster. That triangle gap filler added in to alleviate the sharp edges is such a simple but perfect fix to an otherwise major issue. Goodness, what a good score that bag is. Thank you for sharing.

[@jaaqess2525]

As a cable lineman I can confirm, it is natural to make your own specialty tools, usually out of material on the job. I repaired the joystick to a bucket truck with some electric tape and a penny once, no telling how many trailer pins I made from copper bonding wire, plenty of lashing wire used to repair all sorts of things. Linemen have a knack for making things work on the fly, because a lot of the telecom linemen are paid per foot instead of hourly. Have you found a bell wrench stamped bell yet? Jonard tools makes the modern day equivalent, as well as Klein still makes them in 2 sizes to fit 5/8 or 3/4 hardware. Telephone is really heavy, so they use larger bolts, but the telephone wrench will fit the smaller hardware as well, you just have to use both ends of it in the smaller 3 bolt clamps.

[@Ruostevuori]

The bucket design reminds me vividly of sailmakers' ditty bags, which served an identical purpose; to keep a professional worker's tools within reach while dangling up in tall poles plying their craft.

[@TheNewJankyWorkshop]

Adam, you are not alone in your love of collecting old Bell System objects! I have not a large collection, but I add to it every time I can. That is such a lovely tool bag. I have some 10oz leather hanging around, I might need to make this! Thanks for sharing.

[@SA12String]

I wish I had collected my Grandpa's tools from his lifetime working at MGM. He was an electrician, Best Boy, and the only lighting Technician that Katharine Hepburn would let light her scenes. He had an entire separate building that he kept his tools in at home. Obviously, his kids got that stuff and after all these years, they've been dispersed across the world, or thrown away, or whatever. I miss you, Grandpa Picky. I wish I had talked to you more. I was a dumb kid.

[@alex70max]

It is such a joy to watch this

[@tonycosta3302]

When I was in elementary school (late 70s, early 80s), there was a connection box on a phone poll next to my house where they would connect/disconnect phone lines. When the Bell technician would do that, he’d leave short lengths of the twisted pair wires on the ground. We’d collect these as treasures, even sitting there to wait for him to finish so we could be the first to get the scraps. We especially liked the different colors and stripes on the wires. Good memories.

[@tekvax01]

The local bell guys would do the same for me, in my childhood.

[@ibanezleftyclub]

Looks like the words of the day is “anathema” and “cathect” ….this is why I watch and absolutely love you Adam.

[@sechran]

I knew anathema. I had to dictionary cathect. Even my browser's spellcheck is confused on that one, though.

[@ofdlttwo]

Really cool bag. After bing an Oakland Firefighter for 32 years I learned the adage was true when talking about the fire service. 200 years of culture, uninterrupted by progress. Or something to that effect. over those years, we were constantly trying to find a method to collect and hold the necessary equipment one would need to connect the hose to the hydrant. "lead off" was the name of the position a firefighter had on a given day. After years and years of collecting tools and trying different bags, we went to the tried and true lineman canvas bags. It held spanners, pipe wrenches, cheater bars, fittings and tamper proof adapters. Firefighters can and will destroy stuff but these held up. Also, if able, get a tour of the 16 story AT&T building on Franklin St. in Oakland. It will bring you back in time. John

[@jasonstorie8740]

My grandfather was a lineman for our electric company in our small town from the time he got out of the service from WW2 to 1986 and I have his first and last tool belts, climbing rigs, and most of his linesman tools (mostly Klein). As a service tech who collects vintage tools I cherish them.

[@BrassMtn]

That would be an awesome collection! Bell is such a massive part of our history

[@kevindesilva4588]

Love this one . I started my apprenticeship as a Carpenter and Joiner in the UK 50 years ago next week . I have spent my whole working life trying to find the perfect tool box/bag ! None of the commercial available one's have ever fitted the bill . So I ended up making my own . or actually several !

[@digitalranger4259]

My grandfather worked for Bell. His job was to run phone lines to Navajo outhouses. He was one of the first people to wire a head for a reservation. :)

[@williampogue2940]

My favorite old school phone device is a rotating metal ball on a cylinder that goes on the eraser end of a pencil to dial a rotary phone. My mother had a few of them. She was an operator and it was used to save your fingers from dialing all day.

[@hanslain9729]

Pretty awesome that Adam appreciates other's love of tools and how those tools and their evolution can tell a story... really cool.

[@StumpkillerCP]

As I recall the original "6 in 1" screwdriver was made for Bell field technicians. As a long time sailor I had a single toolbox that I distilled to the best and most used tools. From wood to engine repair to fasteners. It's plastic, gasketed & water "resistant" (about the size of a .50 BMG box with an inner pull-out shelf). It's amazing what you can do with insufficient tools if you are motivared enough. On road trips I toss it in the back of the SUV and it has been a blessing at times.

[@MichaelShimniok]

Really enjoy these videos. My newish woodworking hobby, a couple years ago, led me to bit braces which led me to learn there are veritable boat ton of Stanley braces stamped Bell System. I can relate to this fella who customized his tool bag to the nth degree of personal efficiency. My dad was like that too. His garage workshop space was a study in that concept. But rather more chaotic than Adam's workshop wonderland :) (I'm super envious of that space...). I had things just so with my old Jeep So it is with great trepidation, hope, and excitement that I am in the process of revamping my own humble garage workshop space after over two decades, removing lots of clutter and doing better at making a space for everything. I hope I can find things when I'm done lol. And yes I have a complete Allen wrench set. Just one. Out of half a dozen. I have to keep buying new sets when wrenches go AWOL lol

[@brianwaskow5910]

Still have my Air Force green canvass tool tote, and I always smile when I load it up with tools for a project.

[@aidandidit]

You’re a fun and interesting guy Adam. I love that you share your experience and thought with us all so willingly and easily. The best thing anyone can do is inspire others to create and live the best they can.

[@ArcticCustomProps]

As a leather worker, and someone who loves tools and uses them daily, I totally understand and share your appreciation for this tool bag. If I saw something like that, I would snap it up too! Imagine the stories it could tell! I hope you find the person it belonged to, or their family. BTW, I would love to hear your rant about telephones.

[@angryaardvark]

Haven’t even watched this yet, but I had to jump on to say that “This Old Toolbag” would be a good name for the videos focusing on tools!

[@tedfry236]

My dad worked for Ma Bell, and eventually retired from Verizon. In all the decades he's worked, I've NEVER seen or heard of such a tool bucket! That is truly a one of a kind piece of history. He's climbed poles, used bucket trucks, climbed down into vaults, and was part of the pilot program for the very first fiber optic systems in SW PA. HE doesn't even have something as unique as that.

[@BryonHendrix-cs8tm]

My father worked for Southern Bell as a lineman, and meet my mother while helping with the system integration in Ohio with Northern Bell. He has a large collection of Southern Bell memorabilia. Even a wooden phone booth.

[@ErgoCogita]

You would love my grandfathers collection. He climbed poles for Bell for about 30 years and collected antique (even for then) tools and hardware the whole time. He even has an over 100 year old solid oak phone booth.

[@benjibones]

My dad retired from Bell Canada. He was a PBX installation foreman (whatever that is) but I have his PBX installation cart, which looks like a fancy but robust cart that someone might make a table-side flaming crepe. It's the coolest thing ever, and I've never seen another like it. A bit nostalgic for the old days. :-) Thank you for this Adam!

[@Blank00024]

Current phone man here, PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. It sounds like your dad would have been in charge of putting in the systems for businesses that allow someone to route or transfer calls from one place to another. Like when you call a hospital and ask for a certain dept. and they transfer you to that dept. Honestly, it's extremely impressive they were able to do that kind of thing with analog components back in the day.

[@benjibones]

@@Blank00024 thank you!

[@ozpunk]

Love Adam‘s infectious enthusiasm

[@yadda_tools]

Love the passion for hand made things. Definitely looking forward to the two + rants mentioned.

[@JokerInk-CustomBuilds]

I am an electrician with 25 yrs experience. I judge other craftsmen by how customized their toolkit and setup is and how it is done... It tells me alot about how they work and who they are.... This bucket Adam found is one of the good ones! I could use that thing daily still! :)

[@unwired1281]

IBEW Local 1 retiree. I would do the same thing. One look speaks volumes. Don’t you love finding a guy who’s Kleins squeak❓

[@samholdsworth420]

good thing only God can judge us nukka

[@unwired1281]

@@samholdsworth420 yes it is but it’s wise to size up someone you’re working with that could possibly get you killed.

[@unwired1281]

@@samholdsworth420 it’s helpful to know if someone you’re working with isn’t going to get you killed

[@mitchmegaw7201]

Good grief! It’s so wonderful to watch you geek out on one thing. As someone who has worked a lot in estate sales, that bag is amazing. I love that you’re going to use it and I bet you made Fiore (if that name is correct) smile ear to ear.

[@Trashed20659]

I've customized many cases and tool carriers. It really helps improve your work flow and forces you to really consider what tools should be carried and which you need not bother to. I also loved finding new special tools that would make my work more accurate and easier, as that just makes the job more enjoyable.

[@TheWandererofStarfield]

Time to make your own Adam. Inspired by this one.

[@ChrissiX]

one of the most beautiful things about Bell System tools is that so many of them are still little changed from 80 to 100 years ago

[@kthfox]

an old well used custom tool is such a sacred, metaphysical thing. It was once an extension of someone. Its like holding the one piece of a person they chose for themselves.

[@Iareawesome100]

Im not an avid watcher of Tested but shit like this keeps me subscribed! Adam geeking out over something is just pure joy

[@libertyauto]

During my 3rd grade class, (1968) a fellow student's dad was a lineman. One day he came to class and showed us his pole climbing spikes and other tools. But what I remember most was a pair of working phones in a suit case. He set up one at the teachers desk and the other strung to a student's desk. He then proceeded to teach us phone etiquette, giving us each a turn. To this day, I still answer as taught: "Smith residence, John speaking."

[@mattshaffer5935]

My Dad was a Union Lineman for 35 years. Electrical not telecom but yes…the tools are beautiful and I’m so happy to use them still.

[@idkwhatimdoing8707]

As an eBay seller of vintage and antiques I appreciate the input some a collector. I sell mostly ephemera but I love finding tools.

[@CrossPlatforming]

My grandpa worked for AT&T and then after the split one of it's regional 'Baby Bells' as a lineman. Then my dad worked there in management. They both ended up retiring from there. I always grew up around the Bell logo and am really fond of it. I probably have some old 70's vintage bell tools around somewhere. There have been several times where I'll find an old tool, wonder what the hell is this thing? And then realize oh it's a phone company leftover and it does one specific thing well.

[@RandyPaints]

I'm a Telecom tech with BellMTS and I love all these old phone tools. I hope you have a Bell Meter. Essentially a simple and durable multimeter, they were the go to Meter for troubleshooting lines. They also had came in beautiful leather carrying cases.

[@OnnieKoski]

I love that with all the modification and hand-craftedness, it’s still got his name on it.

[@atlancon]

My grandfather worked for New England Telephone and several iterations of the company ending up as Verizon, for 37 years, he has the entire line from his old van and shop, the two pound hammers are fantastic. The linesman's pliers are perfectly broken in, everything stamped bell systems , I'll have to go through the boxes now, that bag or one like it is probably in the pile somewhere.

[@andrewschmidt5312]

I’m really learning to enjoy your convoluted conversation pattern. You wander all over and around the point, bringing up a ton of interesting information and experiences along the way, but it all logically comes home to the point. You would be a very interesting and fascinating person with which to share a conversation. Your friends are very fortunate.

[@TheSkandihoovian]

Man, Adam, you are like the Click and Clack of Makers. Folksy, intelligent, and inspiring in an entertaining way.

[@julia.h3673]

An electric company lineman's jacket: A few decades ago I picked up a wool jacket at a thrift store. It was a woven charcoal gray wool fabric, very thick (1/4" or 1/3" maybe) and so tightly woven it seemed like felt. It had a heavy duty zipper. The bottom edge and cuffs were trimmed in well-worn leather, as were the pocket holes...other than that it was very plain with a fold down collar (also trimmed in that leather) and shaped like a dress shirt. The reason I got it, aside from being really cool looking and fitting, was because it had the original ID label on the inside of the pocket. It was obviously a form printed on fabric, with typed identification information on it that was then sewn into the pocket. Turns out this was a local electric utility company worker's jacket and written there was his name: HARRY PORCH, Line Man. The guy's name cracked me up so much, I had to get it even if it didn't fit!. That jacket though, it was a workhorse. I wore it until the zipper didn't work anymore, and the fabric where I had folded over the cuffs started to get holes in it. Finally the moths took over & the label had faded away and was starting to fall off, so off it went to the clothing recycler. Thank you Harry Porch for the great coat.

[@elizabethtichenor]

I love that object. As a fellow Gen Xer I also miss so much about the old phone. No answering machine. Not home no calls. So peaceful

[@jokervienna6433]

It was the days where folks answered their phones, because it was likely important. I remember my grandparents phone, mad out of bakelit, and how determined and polite my grandmother answered (where I grew up, they always used to answer with saying the number, not their name).

[@theHardChargerVids]

Bellsouth was so awesome. The customer service was so good. Later in life when I started selling products to customers who retired under Bell but went through the change to ATT…they get real emotional about how they missed Bell and how it all went downhill from there

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

I 100% agree old land line phones worked way better. In the mid 90's 2 hurricanes Opal & Erin hit the gulf Coast of Florida back to back. No power ,No water ,No AC, gas stations and groceries stores closed for weeks ,but you could pick up the phone and it worked every time !

[@Artista_Frustrado]

just when i thought i couldn't feel more respect for Adam he drops that gem of an intro

[@mathewgosney7607]

the reference to it being a batbelt is great. things should be loved, and used, and cared for. epsecially tools. tools are not made to be on display, they are made to build, to fix, to dissasemble

[@bmflmf]

I too have a thing for old phones. I have a few that predate WW2. And I was given a lineman’s phone from a friend that worked for the phone company for decades. Love ya brotha!!

[@destro6971]

Speaking of the decline in Klein tools, I ran in to a video on a channel called Outdoor55 where the guy tested wire cutters to show how basically disposable they’ve become and then “fixed” them by retempering the steel and changing the bevel angle. Cool video, and I this this is a crowd that would enjoy it

[@dkw7703]

I had one of the label makers that made those 3D labels. The fact that the label is still in place goes to show you that things were made to last back then. I'm lucky if I get a few days out of a label I make today, let alone years.

[@kaocazbaubo]

Your method of searching for items mirrors mine. It combines my love for words and my love for "the hunt". I include misspellings in order to not miss out on a find. My search method and my love for tools get me into so much trouble (translation: too much money spent!).

[@dave2132]

IIRC, because Bell was a monopoly, was required by federal law to spend a certain percentage of its gross on service. Customer service back then was quick, complete, and impressive. Nothing now compares to their service back then.

[@terryleebo]

There is surely a story behind that toolbag.I love it.

[@michaelholmstrom7677]

My wife's grandfather was a repair man for Bell Telephone in Philly PA. I do not have any of his hand tools, but I do have one of the test phones he would use when he was trying to fix an issue with a line. It is really cool and super heavy for what it is.

[@bobcoombs7924]

Adam, I love your channel! I share a fair number of your passions/hobbies. 6 9s or 99.9999% was a target of uptime for the core of the telephone system. It is still a metric used in essential high-availability systems like air traffic control and stock market trading. 99.9999% works out to 31.5 seconds of downtime over a year. Back in the day, how often did you pick up a phone and not hear a dial-tone. POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) was built for reliability. Also, I think you could argue every residential telephone wire (phone number) had built in 'baby fat' because it only used 2 of the 4 lines. It was easy for Ma Bell add second phone number to an existing wire. Thanks for expanding my concept of maker. I am a chef and you have clearly stated that cooking is definitely making. I do sew occasionally, a seamstress if you will. I don't know a male version of seamstress but I am no tailor. And currently, I am fixing up my 190 year old house and customizing the snot out of my new e-bike. So much making. ❤❤❤

[@bobcoombs7924]

I reread my comment and I want to own up for ranking tailors and seamstresses. I made a mistake. I am sorry. If I think about the word seamstress for a minute, I remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory disaster. It blew me away of the level of disregard for the workers. That conditions were allowed to to exist at all is a crime against humanity. Sometimes, I sew with needle and thread. Sometimes, I use a sewing machine. I might be a sow-er. I was going to try 'stitcher', but that means a tradesperson with high level of skill. What would you call me? let me know in the comments

[@williampogue2940]

The term I have heard is seamster.

[@mattsmith3010]

The ability to change our environment, carry it with us, to adapt to the needs of the moment, is what makes us human.

[@ericthompson3982]

Yes! Use it! The opposite is like collecting important musical instruments and putting them on display without ever letting anyone play them. They're meant to perform their function!

[@AecernArchaeology]

Are you familiar with "Cruiser vests" that forestry workers, surveyors, archaeologists etc, wear in the forest? It combines the functions of toolbox, armour, backpack, and probably others in one garment. And yes, the Boreal forest can be a very extreme environment.

[@nickademuss42]

I bet the rail is for lock out tag out tags, sometimes you need dozens of them for a single system.

[@CatHeadKnows53]

@AdamSavage if you're building a toolkit for telecom linemen and workers, get yourself an amphenol tool! They're awesome! I worked in the budding telecommunications "interconnect" industry of the late 70s and into the 80s. We basically took on installing telephone systems for businesses, a function that the Bell System had taken away from it. AT&T was a competitor along with the so-called "Baby Bells" who still did the infrastructure stuff. Anyway, my job for the companies I worked for was to procure the tools and equipment for the crews. Your excitement over this tool bucket makes me happy! But, back to amphenol tools - there are smaller ones for 25 pairs of wires, but they got huge for big jobs when 50, 100, or more pairs of wires had to be connected by an amphenol connector. They were so much fun to use! At least for me, anyway. I wasn't on a job site. Seriously, you need one for this collection! I'm sure they're out there with "Bell" stamped on them.

[@emmadrinkall9078]

Love this Adam… you’ve also articulated neatly my philosophy on why I enjoy multitools and “kits” for each pursuit / job 😊

[@colbycalabrese8417]

Bell system tools are beautiful! I have the lineman belt with the small attachment bag, Klein tools pliers, and the Bell System tool bag

[@jimmyryan5880]

Adam, if you are looking for something weirdly meditative I recommend the Irish show "hands". It's basically just curated old footage of people working, making barrels, making carriages. Sometimes practicing skills that are almost lost.

[@tomgrigsby5401]

My dad started as a Bell lineman after WWII, ended his career as a senior systems analyst with Michigan Bell

[@whyitmatterstome]

I'm around Adam's age, and I too remember the Bell system. The 'good old days' when receiving a phone call was special - unless it was a bill collector - I even lived in a small town that still had party lines. We would get on the phone and often have to ask the local gossip to please let us make a call.

[@wakamiwailer]

My grandfather worked for Ma Bell and I have a bunch of his tools. Also, some rocks glasses with leather sleeves that he got for perfect attendance. Don't know how long he worked there but it was almost his entire working career.

[@mattfranklin8421]

I’m in 100% agreement that telephone conversations are way more difficult to enjoy today than when they were analog. That’sa cool piece of history. I myself have a thing for things I can put things in, primarily toolboxes.

[@Herbstfuchs]

fascinating weird, lovely, uncoordinated, funny, fidgety, obsessed, imaginative, driven. Adam, thank you for being you.