For every purpose
Annual Atlantic Tool Collector’s Association shows a wide range including some real oddities
Scott Ross has some pretty unusual items stored in his desk at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.
There’s a mouse trap made by Vector from the 1950s, but instead of snapping down on a mouse like many traps today, when rodents tripped this particular trap, a wire like device pulled up killing them instantly.
Another tool he has was once towed behind boats to measure how far they went in the water. It would have been useful for lobster fishermen, for instance, measuring the distance between traps.
One of his favourite items is a device that took him about five years to figure out what it was. He’s learned that it was advertised more than 100 years ago as a device to increase one’s oxygen intake. After several years of being manufactured in Halifax it was discontinued.
“It was bogus, but the fact that it was bogus made it unique to me. They only made it for six or eight years.”
Ross loves looking at rare items like that and it’s part of what he enjoys most about being part of the Atlantic Tool Collector’s Association, which is going to be holding their annual spring show at the Museum of Industry this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The event is free for the public to attend.
“I’ve been a member since 2000,” Ross said. “I joined the club for identification, so I could learn how to identify the tools.”
What he’s learned since then has been immense.
“There’s a lot of knowledge out there if you want to take the time to go looking for it and listen…. It’s like going to the library. You’re taking advantage of the knowledge that’s already there.”
The Atlantic Tool Collector’s Association has around 75 members who are from various places throughout Atlantic Canada and even the northern United States.
He expects there will be about 35 or 40 at the Museum on Saturday with thousands of tools for visitors to see.
People who have tools of their own they can’t identify are encouraged to bring them and experts on site will do their best to solve the mystery for them.
“Between the entire membership I don’t think there’s anything that hasn’t been identified,” Ross said.
He encourages people to come out and enjoy the show.
“It’s such a wide range of interest. It could be anything from carpentry tools to watchmaker tools to pattern maker tools.”