How modern are your tools?

[109er]

Just how 'modern' are your tools?

Below is a patents list. Click on the blue number and check out some of the dates

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/selected-...

[matthias73]

Some of the tools my granddad has were issued to him when he was in the Luftwaffe as an engineer.

He still uses the soldering iron with a manufacturing date of c.1935

Realistically, how modern does a spanner have to be?

[EDLT]

How the fk did they patent this?
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT855079

[Agrispeed]

My Favorite drawer in my workshop is filled with tools that my grandfather owned, and he died in the 70's! mostly stuff pre-ww2 but some from before the first world war. My pride and joy is a feeler gauge from the titanic era (which he was the engine engineer on). Without exception I think the tools are better made than the modern stuff I own. He refused to use adjustable spanners, regarding them as the devils work, so he made his own spanners to fit things!

Wouldn't like to use a hydraulic jack from the 1900's, so some tools are better newer!

[glazbagun]

I'm a watchmaker so some of the tools I use are too old for that list! That said, most of my favourite tools are from the WWII->60's era. It just seems the focus of competition was on making the best possible as opposed to most effective for the price. Would all be in vain without my digital timing machine, though! Visiting Greenwich and seeing the old Chronometer rating rooms looks like the mother of all headaches, back when men were men, etc.

[jamieduff1981]

I have some tools dating from the second world war. Less than a handful belonged to my great grandfather who was a fitter in the Royal Flying Corps. My grandfather was a technician in the Royal Air Force and my dad has worked on civilian aircraft all his life so I have a load of his too.