So, I got off work tonight and drove almost two hours in the rain and traffic to look at a lathe I am interested in – an 1890s F.H. Clement pattern lathe. 

The lathe was fine – wished that it would have had more of the original accessories, but it was serviceable. The sad part was not the machine, but where it sat: huge shop, full of machines, sawdust, 1/2 finished projects, jigs, parts, and junk.  A lifetime’s collection that is now being dolled out one bit at a time. Sad that this man’s children couldn’t or didn’t want to use a space that he spent so much time, money, effort, and love on. I pray the my shop and my tools don’t suffer the same fate. I don’t want strangers picking over the carcus of my shop, looking for a deal, hoping to score a few molding planes, low-balling my wife on my carving chisels or bench to save a few pennies.

When it gets to be that time, I hope that I have the forethought and ability to pass it all on intact to my children or grandchildren or even someone outside the family who will love and create in a way that my tools and machines deserve.