These tools are really cool /beautiful to me . first the electronic digi caliper that goes metric/English , because I'm a old school retired machinist it's hard for me to visualize mm because all my working years were with .001 . so these calipers are indispensable when building a bike .
Also in the picture is my new oil filter wrench it's really cool because the fingers are on gears so that when you rotate it the fingers clamp down , ok I just heard a chorus of . Mark , a oil filter you have to be kidding it does not qualify as beautiful . Well it is to me so I'm sharing , I have this little Diesel engine on my boat whose oil filter was located by some sadistic engineer , well now I have that turkey beat .


OK this next one is I think more on the beautiful side . And it was actually made by Crescent . So it is a double open end adjustable Crescent wrench .

The coolest tool I have (sorry, no pics) is a peg shaper and reamer. This is for violin making and it puts the correct tapers on the both the peg and peg-hole so that the peg resists the pull of the string tension. The reamer is just a long cone shaped steel with an edge cut the length of it. The peg shaper is like those pencil sharpeners, a block of steel with a hole in it and a blade set at the correct angle to carve the taper.

Beautiful tool?

Why thank you.

106100-002-026f by iabisdb, on Flickr

:-) Funny

Oh I am looking forward to meeting you iab..you do plan on being at Cino this year, yes?

Never should have sold it .... oh well.

As long as we're discussing C&V Hammers, what was the intended use for this one? I always figured it was for a rock hound or some geologic application. It came with a house I bought long ago. Never used it on any bikes, though!

As a matter of fact yes, I plan on attending with 3 other fellows. While we are thinking about all riding Cinellis in honor of Cino's 100th birthday, I really like riding the pictured bike more. Nothing like a challenge ride with 3 speeds.

That is indeed a rock hammer, 73Stella, but not the geologist type. That's a rock climbing hammer, for pounding in pitons. And a relatively early one too.
Possibly pre-war. Very nice.

[MENTION=57649]iab[/MENTION] - great shot. When I saw the title of the thread I thought about something like your response.

Then I thought about other meanings for the word "tool"......I digress.

I'll share a pretty sad story here, this thread brought up a bad memory. My dad had quite a nice collection of old hand tools, all well used and cared for. He passed 6 years ago. After everything had settled down, I went to his home to collect the tools, and my nephew had tossed them out, saying they were "just old junk". Not a fond memory.

Oh how sad. It's not surprising how some people, perhaps younger people (not all) don't recognize quality.


My newest west tool is modern....a Leatherman Multitool I bought yesterday with my REI dividend.

I have a lot of tools. But when I contemplated how many of them might qualify as being beautiful, it was tough to come up with many. Most of them are utilitarian items. Which could be considered beautiful in and of itself I guess. But aesthetically beautiful? These came to mind. I've had these old gravers for decades. I don't do metal engraving. I just like them because they are beautiful tools. Brazilian rosewood handles with german silver collars, which hold the gravers in place.
Made by the Ezra F. Bowman Co. in Lancaster, PA. Pat. 1889

As far as bike tools go, they don't come any more beautiful.

Ha, I was going to post it, too.

I have the Shimano - Campagnolo 2 sided tool, and use both sides.

This $6 Campagnolo tool was always a pain to use. You can see the gouges where it slipped off the lockring. I had to secure it with a quick release, find the 1 inch socket adapter, and use a torque wrench. The Abbey tool fits over the quick release that stays on the wheel, and the handle is the right length to secure the cassette without a torque wrench.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
C & V content:

My Dad had this 12 inch cast iron and brass level in his toolbox. Heavy!
"THE DAVIS LEVEL & TOOL CO, SPRINGFIELD MASS"
"PAT'D MAY 29, 1877.1883"

The level bubbles still work and are accurate.

Gian Robert chain pliers; VAR third hand, lock ring pliers, and cable cutters; and some cone wrenches with a patina (ATD and Kingsbridge).

Hitting both Neanderthal and retrogrouch buttons! Davis Levels are really some of the most beautiful tools ever. Jealous.

Of all the Campagnolo tools, I think the "peanut butter" wrench actually qualifies.

There are lots of beautiful tools here - Bridge City Tool Works.

Anybody else use the lock ring pliers to adjust the cup and lock the ring down? If the BB is properly faced and chased, threads lubed with grease, you can squeeze on the lock ring, and the additional friction will allow you to turn the bottom bracket cup. Then, relax your grip, and tighten the ring down. One handed job, so to speak.

I had to smile when I read this as I just got my dividend from REI, too

DD

I don't think any of us consider you a tool.

Nope - I figured he was referring to the bike

DD

Told the wife I was posting a picture of a "Beautiful tool".........she said I better not.......

Wellll ...

I say some pretty stupid stuff sometimes. But thanks for the sentiment.

Back OT, I have nothing to contribute. I am considering getting one of those army green Powermatic table saws. I am though really enjoying the pictures.

These also qualify as tools and while I do not use all of them on a daily basis along with my draughting 314's they are my go to "tools" of choice....Mac's a 3rd.



Regards, Ben

Some nice stuff - that level I could dig out my slides and find a photo of a vise... Not your every day vise, a Bugatti!! vice - yes, that Bugatti!!

My offerings:



My Grandfather's - the left one is a two speed.



This brace was his, also.



The left one is also his, a Disston 10pt crosscut, and the lower right is a backsaw he made, or maybe 'assembled' from various bits.



Speaks for itself...





Certainly more utilitarian than beautiful, a Regina freewheel tool.