Brown Tool Auctions

Brown Tool Auctions It's "plane" to see who sells the best! Next Auctions:

Third Coast Auction - May 30, 2026
Ronora Lodge & Retreat in Watervliet, MI

What a weekend! A huge thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Third Coast Antique Tool Sale & Auction. From the ear...
06/04/2026

What a weekend! A huge thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Third Coast Antique Tool Sale & Auction. From the early morning tailgating and tool sales to the live auction, the grounds were filled with great tools, great finds, and even better conversations.

Collectors, dealers, and woodworkers came together to buy, sell, trade, and share their passion for antique tools. The sale tables were packed with everything from user tools to rare collectibles, and the auction brought strong participation both in person and through absentee bidding.

Most importantly, events like Third Coast are about the people. It was wonderful to see longtime friends reconnect, meet new collectors, and introduce newcomers to the hobby.

Thank you to all of our consignors, bidders, dealers, and attendees who helped make this year's event a success. We are already looking forward to the next one!

📢 ALL ABSENTEE BIDS MUST BE PLACED BY THIS EVENING 📢*Absentee bids will be confidentially executed on your behalf again...
05/29/2026

📢 ALL ABSENTEE BIDS MUST BE PLACED BY THIS EVENING 📢
*Absentee bids will be confidentially executed on your behalf against the LIVE, IN-PERSON audience on Saturday, May 30 for the Third Coast Auction*
Absentee bid now at www.finetoolj.com

🗓️ Auction takes place live, in-person on Saturday, May 30, at 11:00am.
9325 Dwight Boyer Rd, Watervliet MI.
🛻 Free dealer tailgating: 8:00am-11:00am -- free to set up and free to attend!
🔎 Auction preview - see what’s being sold! 8:00am to 10:30am.

Hope to see you there!

🪵 Mastering the Groove: Iron Plow Planes & the Phillips Patent! 🪵In the world of 19th-century joinery, the plow plane wa...
05/28/2026

🪵 Mastering the Groove: Iron Plow Planes & the Phillips Patent! 🪵

In the world of 19th-century joinery, the plow plane was the "router" of its day, essential for creating the grooves that held cabinet bottoms and drawer panels in place. This auction features two standout examples of iron-bodied innovation.

Featured Lots:
Lot 192: Iron Plow Plane: Type 1
Lot 345: Iron Plow Plane: "The Boss"

Historical Fun Facts:The Phillips Patent (1867): These lots often represent the groundbreaking work of Russell Phillips. His 1867 patent was a turning point in tool design, moving away from heavy wooden bodies to a versatile, adjustable iron frame. His "all-purpose" plow plane design paved the way for the famous Stanley 45 and 55. In the 1870s, Matthias Mayo “improved” Phillips’ plow, with several new patents and, in its final iteration, gave it a coat of gold paint and locking screws engraved with M-A-Y-O.

Why Iron? Traditional wooden plow planes were prone to warping and required wooden wedges to hold cutters. The iron-bodied Phillips-style planes used mechanical screws and clamps, allowing for much finer, more stable adjustments that wouldn't shift with the humidity.

The "Everything" Tool: The genius of the Phillips design was its modularity. By swapping out small iron cutters, a single tool could perform the work of an entire chest full of specialized wooden planes.

Auction Details
📍 IN-PERSON Auction: Ronora Lodge, Watervliet, MI
🗓️ Date & Time: May 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM
🛻 Free Dealer Tailgating!📝 Absentee Bids till May 29.
🌐 Full Catalog & Details: finetoolj.com, link in bio.

⚙️ Gears in the Workshop? ⚙️In the 1870s, the Metallic Plane Co. of Auburn, NY, decided that the future of woodworking w...
05/28/2026

⚙️ Gears in the Workshop? ⚙️

In the 1870s, the Metallic Plane Co. of Auburn, NY, decided that the future of woodworking was mechanical. They traded standard levers for a precision rack and pinion gear system!

🛠️ Lot 198: A stunning Fillester Plane. This isn't just a tool; it's a "book piece" design featuring a beautiful long-horn rosewood handle and its original Excelsior cutter. Nearly 155 years old!
🛠️ Lot 201: A rare pair of corrugated sole planes featuring the famous Palmer & Storke patent adjustments.

These are the "thinking man’s planes"—innovative, mechanical, and rare. See them in person this Saturday!

📅 Saturday, May 30, 2026
📍 Watervliet, MI
🔗 Catalog: FineToolJ.com

Absentee bidding ends FRIDAY evening for this Saturday’s Third Coast Auction! Absentee bids will be placed on your behal...
05/27/2026

Absentee bidding ends FRIDAY evening for this Saturday’s Third Coast Auction!

Absentee bids will be placed on your behalf against the audience during the live, in-person auction on May 30. Get your bids in so you don’t miss out on these incredible antique tools! 🛠️

Bid now: www.finetoolj.com

🏆 The Victorious Rebel! 🏆Ever wonder what happened when the world's most famous tool inventor got into a legal fistfight...
05/26/2026

🏆 The Victorious Rebel! 🏆

Ever wonder what happened when the world's most famous tool inventor got into a legal fistfight with Stanley? You get the Bailey Victor line.

Leonard Bailey was a prolific designer and plane maker, who patented several designs for planes in the mid-1800s, many of which were bought by Stanley Rule & Level. Their relationship fell apart, however, in 1875, over patent infringement lawsuits, and Bailey began making his own line of Victor planes. While exceptionally made and beautifully designed, they were not as popular at the time as the Stanley line, and Bailey discontinued them by 1888.

These aren't just tools; they are the result of Leonard Bailey’s attempt to reclaim his legacy. Known for their circular lines and incredible craftsmanship, his early planes and Victor series was only made for a short time before Bailey retired from the planemaking business. Don’t miss your chance to own one!

Featured Lots:
💎 Lot 196: A stunning Bailey Victor No. 1 Block Plane.
💎 Lot 51: A rare 1876-patent No. 41 Spokeshave.
💎 Lot 199: The ambitious No. 14 Combination Plane.
💎 Lot 187: Vertical post fore plane. Made before his association with Stanley, these planes feature a vertical post cutter adjustment.

📅 Join us Saturday, May 30th in Watervliet, MI!

🔗 Catalog & Absentee Bidding at FineToolJ.com

🐁 The Quest for the "Better Mousetrap" 🐁Did you know the mousetrap is the most patented invention in American history? T...
05/25/2026

🐁 The Quest for the "Better Mousetrap" 🐁

Did you know the mousetrap is the most patented invention in American history? This Saturday, May 30th, we are featuring a curious collection of these clever (and sometimes crazy) devices.

🧪 Lot 220: A rare trap that screws onto a Mason jar—Victorian DIY at its finest! And a wire cage one with a weight activated door.
📦 Lot 217: A complete "Mouse Related" lot featuring Evan Reed and Ketch-All traps, plus vintage tin toy mice.
⚙️ Lot 222: Heavy-duty spring-activated traps, including the cast-iron "Automatic" model.

From simple wood to ingenious metal cages, these lots are a fascinating look at the "small" problems that kept early inventors busy.

📅 In-person auction: Saturday, May 30, 2026
📍 Watervliet, MI
🔗 Catalog & Absentee Bidding: FineToolJ.com

🪓 Battle Axe Alert! 🪓If you’re a serious collector, you know the Bailey Tool Co. of Woonsocket, RI, isn't your everyday ...
05/24/2026

🪓 Battle Axe Alert! 🪓

If you’re a serious collector, you know the Bailey Tool Co. of Woonsocket, RI, isn't your everyday Stanley. This Saturday, May 30th, we are featuring a rare "hoard" of these incredible tools!
Highlights include:

✨ Lot 343: Massive 24" Defiance Jointer.
✨ Lot 193: Model B Block Plane with a crisp Battle Axe logo.
✨ Lots 46, 50, & 53: Bailey Tool co. patent shaves and scrapers.
These 1870s-era beauties are the definition of "patent history." Don't miss your chance to own a piece of the rivalry that shaped American woodworking.

LIVE, IN-PERSON AUCTION:
📍 Watervliet, MI | May 30, 2026
🔗 Catalog & Absentee Bidding: FineToolJ.com

✨ The Crown Jewels of the Workshop ✨Some tools were built for work; others were built as masterpieces.📐 Lot 231: The Ben...
05/23/2026

✨ The Crown Jewels of the Workshop ✨

Some tools were built for work; others were built as masterpieces.

📐 Lot 231: The Bennett & Bloedel Corner Brace—the 19th-century solution for tight spaces.

🔧 Lot 42: The Zirkelback Patent Brace-Wrench—the ultimate "do-it-all" tool of its day.

These are the lots that define a "Fine Tool" auction.

📅 In-person auction: Saturday, May 30, 2026
📍 Watervliet, MI | Free tailgating!
🔗 Absentee bid: FineToolJ.com

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9325 Dwight Boyer Road
Watervliet, MI
49098

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