Amazing Store Specializes In Old Tools AG WORLD When I walked through the door of Gayhart Swenson’s Old Tool Shed Antiques in Genoa Wis I thought I had died and gone to heaven The 1867 building is jam-packed with old tools They covered the walls floors and countless tables and counters of the store in this little town tucked alongside the Mississippi River Swenson and his son Rick buy and sell old tools that they have rescued at auctions estate sales and face-to-face Like his tools Swenson has a few years behind him but that gave him the time to accumulate an encyclopedic knowledge of old tools I was stumped every time I turned around but Swenson was happy to explain what the tool was and how to use it Many tools had a story that went with them Look around the shelves and floor space and you can find everything from $5 plumb bobs to a $2 400 foot-pedaled scroll saw Speaking of plumb bobs Swenson had 120 at last count in every shape material and price He estimates his hammer count is well over 1 000 Wood planes number in the dozens from tiny routers a couple of inches in length to handmade multi-blade units designed to carve a single decorative face I picked up an old adjustable dowel cutter for trimming ends of chair stretcher bars and such I also picked up a plumb bob and a few other things My most expensive purchase was a small table scroll saw at $35 Swenson offers much much more than just woodworking tools You can find everything from fire-hose nozzles to rope winders and even kitchen tools Two things really impressed me at the Old Tool Shed The first was the quality of the tools Everything looked first rate clean and in good order The second was the price Swenson’s is a place where you can find something of value for a couple dollars or a couple hundred Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Old Tool Shed Antiques 612 Main St P O Box 26 Genoa Wis 54632 ph 608 689-2066

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.