Thread: Devaluation or Restoration?

I don't feel that it has been devalued in any way. Pretty much all my 'restored' tools are users anyway so it doesn't really matter.

It's an old long running argument, and there is no generally "right" answer, it depends on exactly what it is, and what you hope to do with it. If you are planning to use it, then you restore to the condition you are happy to use it in. If you are planning to sell it then it's going to depend on what the buyers want. Some would prefer things to be as original as possible. Not sure what that means exactly, I'd think careful cleaning to remove dirt and crud is ok, but heavy handed wirebrushing probably not.

What you've done looks fine to me, but I'm not into collecting planes, although I could perhaps be tempted.... now saws... that's another question.

Regards
Ray

In the case of the plane in question, I think you have likely increased the value, as opposed to decreasing it. It was way too rough to ever be considered by a collector unless it was very rare, which it is not.

It all depends on rarity and potential value. If you strip all of the old paint off of the Mona Lisa, and replace it with flawless new paint you will have destroyed it. Your plane the way it was, wouldn't have been a hot item on ebay because it looked awful, and there are better ones for the collectors to choose from. You did a nice job, and probably prevented the premature demise of an otherwise useful tool. And then there is the difference between a proper restoration and a ham fisted ruination or deliberate alteration of something. In my opinion you increased the value of that plane, but there are no hard and fast rules to this, you have to evaluate each item individually, and decide what is best.

Toby

Another way to look at restoration vs original is what would your non woodworking kids do with it after your gone? Use that as a litmus test.

For example a good condition collectable, and a well restored tool probably will appear to have some value and will be kept or re-homed.
A rusty, original will look unloved, unvalued and probably end up in the rubbish. You didn't care for it so can't be worth much.


In this case as it was would probably end up in the tip, now will be seen as an item of value……..With your box an item of much value.



Having said that I was recently at a car museum and a very old wooden wheeled car was sitting next to a restored counter part and the guy told me even though the restored one was done sympathetic to historic techniques the old one that the leather and fabric were rotted the timber falling off and the paint long gone (looked like it had been a paddock find exposed to nature for last 100 years) was worth at least four times the price of the restored one.

Not to my eyes and I would say not to most laymen.

As Toby noted, unless a tool is rare, or likely to become rare, then you can do what you wish to it. Paint it pink if that turns you on!

There is so much nonsense written about "devaluation", much of it coming from TV shows such as Antique Roadshow, where value is equated with originality. For many items that is true, but rarity must also be added to the equation.

The valuable tools are those that are rare and also in original (new) condition, not rare and in poor condition.

Cleaning up, re-japanning a Stanley Type 11 smoother is not sacriledge - there are millions out there. Time needs to be put into researching a tool to understand whether it has a rarity factor and needs to be preserved as is. Few do.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Yairs, I agree with the general mood of the replies so far. This "original condition" business is often mis-understood, imo. It seems to be taken to mean as found and there is a world of difference - the 'as found' condition of your plane was far from original! Collectors are a breed unto themselves, and rarity trumps all other considerations, it seems. Furniture collectors would have to be the worst offenders, in my book. You get absurd situations like "MY beaten-up, poorly made POS has two specks of original paint on it between the scratches & scars & six other coats of paint - your POS has a clean & re-finished top, so mine is worth much more"...... Surely, the principal value of original features like paint, wood & leather & attachments is for historians to glean some lost information on materials & methods of use. This would have to be far less important in the industrial age, since the methods are well enough documented or known (though of course there are exceptions), so most of the fuss over original condition seems completely mis-placed to me. I don't know whether your plane is for use in the workshop or to sit in a case as eye-candy, but in either case I reckon it is now better suited to either role than it was as found (you obviously know a little bit about restoring tools! ).

I guess I am a tool user, not a tool collector......

Originally Posted by DSEL74

In this case as it was would probably end up in the tip, now will be seen as an item of value……..With your box an item of much value.

You made the box/sign????? Awesome work!!!

Thankyou,
Yes I did make the box and sign, it's over in the Box making tread under Handplane Display Chest.
I'm glad you like it.
From what I'm reading, with some of the replies. I must be strange indeed, I do collect planes.
At last count about 70 of them, mainly combination planes.
I dont like to think that I'm ruinning them in any way!
I suppose I just keep hearing my Grandfather saying, you can always tell a craftsman by the condition of his tools.
In the hands of such people the tools can do so much, it's sad to see them in an uncared for state.
Hopefully without sounding to you now what.
A CNC machine can make some truely beautiful things, but I just dont see the craftsmanship in it.
I really enjoy collecting and using old hand tools, and hope to for a long time to come.
Cheers.

I like to use good tools. My only responsibility is to look after them, if I find an oldie I can use , I'll get it working any
way I can. Not fussed about orignal condition, that's for others to worry about.

Depends...will your restoration work make it look like the image on the left hand side or the right hand side...

_62441832_painting_centredeestudiosborjanos.jpg

Beautiful job on the plane.

The OCD in me just can't get past the untimed screws on the fence though

while you have done a good job - everything on it looks like new now - Its over restored for my taste, and a collector/dealer would also probably consider it to have been over restored.

I like to do a more sympathetic restoration so the patina and age/use marks are there but rust is gone.

each to their own

Cheers

Originally Posted by Thumbthumper

Beautiful job on the plane.

The OCD in me just can't get past the untimed screws on the fence though

Trust me mate if I thought the thread in the timber would hold, they would be timed!
But at leased this way, they look more "original"
Cheers.