Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)
Holy Family, 1640
Oil on wood, Height 16-1/4 "; Width 13-1/2 "
Showing Joseph as carpenter with tools

The primary purpose of this site is intended to be, over time, a historical record of the most significant American patented hand and treadle tools in existance. A distant second goal is to be a vehicle for top collectible antique tool sales. Accordingly, requirements for inclusion on this site are:

• The tool must be of American historical significance. Very little after 1945 qualifies unless it is obviously a major departure from previous functionality (i.e. a "better mousetrap").
• The tool must be aesthetically significant. Essentially, it must be a work of art in itself. It must combine pleasing materials, designed for the job at hand, into a form of proportional relevance and the overall combination of materials must be both pleasing to the eye and functionally exact.
• Rarity, condition, and provinence maintain their usual importance.
• Power tools are not considered. Perhaps in 2020, when some power tools achieve "historical significance", they will be.
• Multiple listings of the same tool will not be accepted, from either the same owner or different owners. However, if a superior example of an existing listing is submitted, the superior example will be displayed and the inferior example will not be displayed.  Different type examples of a particular tool are allowed.

I serve as the final judge and arbitrater for any tool (and tool price) submitted to the site. I invite you to make your case, but please don't be disappointed if the decision doesn't go your way. I intend to keep the quality of this site at the highest standard. However, I am not attempting to sway opinion towards my views; I have a panel of tool collecting experts that, in borderline cases, I will consult and I will follow their majority judgement.

If the tool you submit is accepted, by your submission you agree that the tool description and picture are to remain licensed to this site for perpetual use and that no fee will ever be charged for this use. Optionally, you may place a sales price on your tool. After six months (or when the tool sells, whichever is shorter) I will remove the sales price from the listing.

If you have read and agree to all these conditions, please proceed to my submission page.