Referral needed

[Pete Taran]

Folks,

I was saddened today to learn that an old friend who lived in Bethesda Maryland has passed. She was an avid woodworker and enjoyed working with young children teaching them about tools and working with their hands. Her parents are planning to move to be closer to other family and they are looking for a good home for her tools.

The goal is to find a public shop where the tools will go to good use, and if children are part of that mix, all the better. I have not seen her tools in 15 years, so I don't know what she has, but she collected a lot of hand planes and even had a boring machine. If anyone in the area knows of such a such or organization that would appreciate tools that children can use, I'd appreciate hearing of it.

Thanks in advance.

Pete

[Mel Fulks]

I'm sorry your friend is gone. It's wise to give careful consideration to an appropriate plan. Even museum collections get pilfered, and kids everywhere drop stuff. Best plan might be to wisely assess and sell. Maybe keep a few tools in a memorial display, sell the rest and distribute money to cause with sterling record.

[Pete Taran]

Since she wasn't married, her parents are left to deal with her estate. They really aren't interested in the $$ they would bring, just seeing that they go to someone or an organization that can use them for the common WW good

[Jim Koepke]

It might help to reach out to a few people like Roy Underhil, Chris Schwarz, Patrick Leach or others in the trade. They may know of one or more of the type of situation you are seeking.

jtk

[Keith Outten]

Contact the local high school shop teacher to see if they are interested. This way her tools will still be used to help children.
.

[Mel Fulks]

I understand and wish them the best, just never seen that plan work out. A local museum had a big collection of A. Indian
points. All the elementary school class rooms had a shoe box with points and descriptions. Boxes were labeled "on loan from ...",
"return to us if not part of current program". The old school (type) teachers were protective and responsible. It's all gone now. AND many of the rare pieces under protection of the museum buildings fine security system....have disappeared..
...even though really interested people have helped "organize" it.

[alan west]

I would send an email to these guys

http://www.patinatools.org/

They are not that far from Bethesda. If you click on membership info there are some email addresses. I would not recommend a donation directly to them, more of a question about a school they could be donated to. Their annual tool auction seems to have a large woodworker following.

[Pete Taran]

Thanks Guys. As someone who has been collecting tools since the early 90s, I know all the groups and orgs you've all referenced. My concern is that tool dealers want to deal, and all the contacts you've listed who I know fit into that group. I appreciate the ideas. I may just drive down and get them and find homes for them here in Cleveland. If anyone has an idea, drop me a line. They aren't going to wind up in a museum, unless it's a working museum

[Rob Luter]

Maybe reach out to her former pupils and see if they might like a tool to remember her by?

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks Guys. As someone who has been collecting tools since the early 90s, I know all the groups and orgs you've all referenced. My concern is that tool dealers want to deal, and all the contacts you've listed who I know fit into that group. I appreciate the ideas. I may just drive down and get them and find homes for them here in Cleveland. If anyone has an idea, drop me a line. They aren't going to wind up in a museum, unless it's a working museum

Even though they want to deal tools, they still might know of a teaching situation or two that could make use of the tools.

College of the Redwoods is all the way across the country, but there is likely to be other woodworking schools across the country. Maybe contact them to see if they know of any schools focused on a younger crowd.

jtk

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I can think of a couple of things:

1. https://www.meetup.com/DC-woodworkers/members/
2. (maybe) http://woodworkersclub.com/
3. I know a few people who live in the MD area, I did not look to see how close that is to the tools. If you want me to ping them, drop me a PM and we can exchange contact information so that I can include you on any emails that I drop to them. it would at least provide someone local who might have a few close contacts before you drive out.

[Nicholas Lawrence]

I would think Patina would be a good place locally. There are a lot of dealers in the club, but there are a lot of folks who are not. They may not know anybody who could use them the way you have in mind, but they might. Costs nothing to ask.

The only other suggestion I have is Mike Siemsen. I seem to recall he runs a school and at one point was putting together kits for young people who wanted to get into woodworking but did not have much money.

[Todd Stock]

I would second that - a tailgating table at PATINA will cost nothing, and if made clear the all proceeds will go to a worthy charity, I suspect that those tools would sell for as much a they would bring from dealers after commission. Judging from other non-profits here, money - rather than tools - would be preferred in any case. At least one of my students does Habitat for Humanity, and the others volunteer for various civi-minded projects, so an ask here for table minders would probably be met with significant interest. Could always check with youth-oriented activities like Alexandria Seaport's building program to see what they would prefer, but my guess is the win-win is tools to interested buyers and the proceeds to youth programs.

[Michael Justice]

I suggest looking into a workshop of our own (.com) - located in Baltimore.
Mike

[Dan Duperron]

I would second checking with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. They do good work with kids in the DC area.

http://alexandriaseaport.org