Old Hardware Store Finally Throwing in the Towel

[Jim Koepke]

We have lived in this area now for about 10 years. Most of the time we go into the town east of us for shopping. The nearest town to the west of us only has a very small grocery store and a few other retail businesses. Often when we have been to Cathlamet we have driven by a hardware store and it has always been closed and looks rather disheveled from what can be seen from the outside. Asking around about it rendered vague stories about how it has been closed for a long time and the family was going to do something with it someday. My recollection is that one time someone took our name and address saying something "was in the works."

Then last week an envelope with a return address of the hardware store in Cathlamet came in the mail. It announced a pre closing out sale open to those who received the notice. The store had originally opened in 1933. No one was quite sure when it was last open for business. The prices on the stock mostly looked to be from about the late 1980s to early 1990s.

At the approximate time of opening upon my arrival the line was around the corner and parking was hard to find. The line was actually moving, albeit slowly. It took me not much more than an hour or two to walk through the store by way of the back "employee only" rooms which were open to all. Some with signs saying enter at your own risk. Found a few items. One of the first things to find that was of help was a few empty 5 gallon buckets sitting on the floor. Grabbed one to use as my shopping basket. Grabbed a couple packs of wedges, a 13/32" drill bit that is missing from my fractional set. Found a 1/4" bell hangers bit. (a bell hangers bit, besides being extra long, has a hole through the flutes so a wire can be threaded through and pulled through the hole that was just drilled, handy for a bell installer.) A couple of hinges for a future project were also bought.

The rule was that if something had a tag the price was half what was marked. If no tag ask one of the employees to price it. When standing in the pay line one of the employees held my place while another went with me to ask about an unpriced item.

The crazy part was they had a bunch of snaths (scythe handles) my offer to the pricer was $5 he told me he wanted $15. My attempts to get it down didn't work.

After going home and knowing the crowd that would bother Candy was likely dwindled a bit we went back. It was my intention to try again on the snath. One of the other people who was in line with me earlier told me the snaths were now tagged at $8. Only one of them in the bundle was. After cutting the bundle string and extracting one of the nicer ones, my request to get it tagged at $8 like the other one was met with a claim that it should be $15. The guy gave me a strong vibe that if the one marked $8 wasn't taken by me, the tag was going to be removed. So one with the $8 tag was taken. We got to talking about the blades. It turns out they had all already sold. My blade is good, but the snath is a bit rickety. My blade is marked Shapleigh, when told about this and how that name was changed to Diamond Edge the guy told me the blades they had were Diamond Edge.

Since the store was less crowded it was a bit easier to go through things. Found a spoke pointer ($5) with the brace/crank. Found one handle among all the others set aside that looks like it will work for my cant hook or peavy. Also found a nice short D top handle for a shovel. Candy says it is just the right length for her for a walking stick. May have to go back again to get another.

Found 15/32" and a 31/64" bit for my fractional drill index. Now there are only two bits missing from that set.

It is one of those places that you could get down on the floor with a flashlight and come up with something interesting that has been lost there for 50 years. They even had a bunch of car parts in the upstairs area. Mostly oil filters, a couple of old carburetors, lots of different light bulbs for automotive use. Some guy looking for an oil filter for their '54 Packard might have a chance. They even had some vacuum tubes and old radios.

Maybe the early birds got some of the best worms, but there were still plenty left for the rest of us birds.

The haul:

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The little bottle brush was thrown in for free.

There were also a bunch of files there. Hmmm, maybe they need a better looking over...

jtk

[Kevin Hampshire]

Jim, About 15 years ago we lived in central Jersey. There were a few small towns that still had their original local hardware and grocery store. Sadly, I got to witness the closing or modernization of a few of those stores. They were definitely from a different era.

With the transition in retail sales, some of the stores that drove them out of business have now closed.

[Bob Glenn]

Sad to see the old stores close. If you needed one bolt, you could actually buy ONE bolt, not six or eight in a package. The old hardware store in our town, now closed, used to sweep down the wooden floors on a daily basis with that red oiled saw dust stuff (I forget what they called it). It had a distinct smell that gave the whole store a wonderful smell. And of course there were the sliding wall ladders on rollers that moved along the walls, providing access to the higher shelves on the outside walls. A time gone by.

[Gary Ragatz]

Locally, Ace Hardware does a pretty good imitation of the traditional Mom & Pop hardware store. Not quite the range of products as the store Jim describes, but a good selection of the things you'd need for plumbing, electrical, painting and general household repairs/upkeep. They still sell hardware by the piece, on the honor system - collect what you need in a plastic bag, mark the bag with quantities/prices (3@$.05, 6@$.10), and take it to the cashier. Always at least a couple of people on duty who (a) know where everything is in the store and (b) are reasonably knowledgeable about how to do a variety of projects/repairs. Best of all, I can get there and back in less than half the time it takes to go to my nearest HD.

[Jim Koepke]

Locally, Ace Hardware does a pretty good imitation of the traditional Mom & Pop hardware store. Not quite the range of products as the store Jim describes, but a good selection of the things you'd need for plumbing, electrical, painting and general household repairs/upkeep. They still sell hardware by the piece, on the honor system - collect what you need in a plastic bag, mark the bag with quantities/prices (3@$.05, 6@$.10), and take it to the cashier. Always at least a couple of people on duty who (a) know where everything is in the store and (b) are reasonably knowledgeable about how to do a variety of projects/repairs. Best of all, I can get there and back in less than half the time it takes to go to my nearest HD.

Ace is often my first choice over the local Borg Stores. (one of each and a few of the Borg wanna bees in the Longview/Kelso area)

The old business model of having a wide variety of everything on hand with a large 'behind the counter' system gave way to a 'more efficient' cost analyzed model. Ace appears to use a hybrid with a central warehouse for rapid dispatch of customer orders. As Gary says there always seems to be a few knowledgable workers on hand. Often if something is needed it can be phoned in and picked up a few days later.

Many of us will see even more changes throughout the social networks where we once lived in a warm friendly comfort.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

The Dickinson Texas store is that kind of store. I frequent it often.

[Bruce Haugen]

Our local Ace is pretty good about what they stock it they’re really good about service. However, the best old time hardware store was Seven Corners Hardware in St Paul, MN. They had everything and someone who knew about everything, which was good because there was so much stuff you’d never find it on your own. They even had rope coming up through holes in the floor. Then upstairs was their woodworking tool store. They operated Tools On Sale, perhaps the largest woodworking tool purveyor in the US before the advent of the internet. They closed up shop five years ago.

[Kevin Hampshire]

I remember them. I also remember a great hardwood supplier. I think they were called Youngblood. Not too sure, it’s been many years.

[Bruce Haugen]

I remember them. I also remember a great hardwood supplier. I think they were called Youngblood. Not too sure, it’s been many years.

Sad to say, Youngblood is going out of business, too, just within the last few weeks. That is a big loss for anyone serious about wood in the Twin Cities. Acme tools is a good source for tools, but it doesn’t have the personality of Seven Corners.

[Jim Koepke]

You just can't keep bargain hunters away. My brain was going crazy this morning thinking about what was left behind.

So another scenic drive to Cathlamet today. There were a lot of 7" full size saw taper files, so one box came home with me. Most of the bigger files were already gone. Found a few that looked to be something that could be purchased for a contribution to my lifetime supply theory. May end up selling some eventually.

It used to be my tendency to not reach into places with a lot of cob webs. Great that it doesn't bother me much now. This little pretty was found by reaching through the dust on a high shelf:

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For those who have never seen one of these, they used to be in just about every store. They hold a conical roll of string for tying packages. There is a conical roll of string already in my shop just wanting a place to hang proudly in this appliance.

Also found another useful item in a box on a shelf:

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At first my thought on this is since it is tapered it might be useful for draw boring. Maybe if the ebay crowd wants to pay a lot for one of these NOS...

By my count 70 files came home with me today:

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Most of them are Simonds Red Tang brand.

There were some square profile files yesterday. They were gone today. There were also some large bastard files that went to another home. There were still some small flat bastards and rat tail bastards that came home with me today. Now to find a place to kee them all.

One thing to remember when you go into an adventure like this, do not be afraid to open boxes and pull out drawers. Some of the best things are at the back of high shelves where you can not see them without a ladder or reaching up to feel around.

jtk

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Our local Ace is pretty good about what they stock it they’re really good about service. However, the best old time hardware store was Seven Corners Hardware in St Paul, MN. They had everything and someone who knew about everything, which was good because there was so much stuff you’d never find it on your own. They even had rope coming up through holes in the floor. Then upstairs was their woodworking tool store. They operated Tools On Sale, perhaps the largest woodworking tool purveyor in the US before the advent of the internet. They closed up shop five years ago.

OMG! I remember Seven Corners at Saint Paul as I purchased a lot of stuff there in the very beginnings of 1990s... including most of faucets of our home and some tools we have until today. Great memories.

[Curt Harms]

There is a store like talked about here still in business AFAIK - Finkles in Lambertville N.J. Their site doesn't seem to be responding right now but it's been owned by the Finkle family for many years. There are employees that have been there since I first went there in 1995 and I'll bet that only they know where some of the more obscure things are located.

[Jim Koepke]

Just an addendum: It turns out one square profile file made it into one of my boxes of files. There were also three small diamond profile files. It appears two of the corners are at 60º and the other two are at ~120º.

Maybe it would have been a good idea to purchase a few more handles.



All four that came home today now have files mounted in them. An old chisel handle has been modified with an added ferrule to take one of the flat bastard files. Last but not least an old cast iron handle is holding a very smooth round file.

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Found a place on a shelf where all the boxes fit.

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The blister pack 6" double extra slim files will go in a drawer.

jtk

[Mike Manning]

Great haul Jim! I would have loved to be one of the first few in.

[Jim Koepke]

Great haul Jim! I would have loved to be one of the first few in.

It is also good to have something to carry all the small things in, like a bucket.

jtk

[Kevin Hampshire]

Curt, I used to go there (Finkles) in the 90s and early ought years. I was wondering if that store still exists. I knew it was in Lambertville, but I couldn’t remember the name of the store.

There was also another hardware store further west in Pennsylvania. They still sold loose cut nails by the pound.

[Jim Koepke]

It didn't take much time to clean up the two old items found in the old hardware store. First was the string dispenser. It took a bit of rearrangement to clear a spot:

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The spoke pointer seemed to work fine as it was. That is not excuse to not clean it up and hone the blade. Learned a bit about the maker in the process:

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George N. Stearns developed health issues and his son, Edward C. Stearns took over the business in about 1877.

It actually works quite well:

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And the finished work:

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Now to work on making a spot for a drawer and a drawer to go in it.

It has been tempting to go back and look under more piles of stuff. My resistance seems to be winning at the moment.

jtk

[Mike Manning]

I'd go back! For what it's worth. ;0)

[Jerry Olexa]

Yes I too loved the old traditional hardware store.....You got exactly what you wanted, you could test it and you got usually good advice...I call that SERVICE and its generally sadly lacking in today's big box stores....Nearest i use now is the local ACE which comes close to that most of the time..My age is showing :) Jim. you did well.

[Neil Gaskin]

We had a very similar hardware store. Ernest and sons. It just closed last year and opened in 1905. They had a little bit of everything. From bandsaw blades to kitchen utensils. What I miss is all the old hardware they had. Stuff for windows and doors from the first half of the 1900s.

I was in there a few years back and spotted a perfect condition Stanley 45 combination playing in a wooden box. It look like it’s probably been there since it was originally ordered. I asked the gentleman that owned the store and ran it if it was for sale. He said 250 bucks and it’s yours, to which I replied absolutely. Upon further reflection he decided to not sell it that day.

[Jim Koepke]

In yesterday’s mail there was another letter from the folks at the old hardware store. My first thought was, “after all this time could there be anything left?” So it was put in the recycling without more thought.

Had to go into town this morning. There is some roadwork underway, the road was down to one lane for a stretch. On the way home had to wait for the flagger and lead vehicle. My mind drifted and thought about the hardware store. It was going to be on my mind for the rest of my life if one last look wasn’t taken.

There were only three or four other people looking around today. Most of the leftovers was plumbing and parts for other home repairs. There were a lot of large taps, large bolts, a few files and just random things from a long time ago hardware store. There were a lot of indicator type lights for automotive use, but they were for cars made before the 1970s. There was a box with replacement adjustable jaws for Crescent wrenches. There were some other hollow punches new in boxes, but they looked like they were for metal work or something else. All kinds of Little Fuses and fusible link material. Drawers of switch and plug plates. And a few items that seemed like they should come home with me:

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Starting from the upper left is four turn switch sockets for C7 lamps. Next to that is a bunch of Bear marked India stones. The white stones are about as coarse as any other. They are without any trade mark. Below them is a Norton Abrasives coarse India stone. Bellow them is a dozen file handles and a half dozen long 1/4-20 bolts.

To the right of all that is three different size hammer handles and six drill bits. There is also an old spoon bit above the plane blade. When checking out, the guy looking through my stuff asked where the heck were the plane blades. They were in the bottom of a drawer with a bunch of other stuff. He seemed to think they were special. He missed one, when we were dickering over the price, my final parry was, what can be left behind to knock off another $10. He took the other three plane blades.

The gate handle will come in handy as will the tie down hooks. the little box with the taps in it got me excited when they were found and a forehead slap when looking a bit closer at home. My excitement was that they are 1/4-28. Stanley uses that pitch. The forehead slap was when a little sticker on the label was noticed with LH. Maybe someone somewhere needs a 1/4-28 LH tap. Below the taps is a punch for setting grommets some wedges, an old cast iron window latch and a brass drawer pull missing a ring. Going up there is an old roll of extra thick friction tape. A couple of leather punches and a drill stand that caused a bit of excitement at checkout. They were surprised there was a brand new one in the box still in the store. Below the drill stand box standing on end is a six pack of ~1/2” eye hooks. The end says HINDLEY Pic-Pak 15¢. That had to come home with me. You can’t even get one of those eye hooks these days for 15¢.

Above the top of the Drillstand box is an old metal and wood ‘D’ handle for a shovel. Two long light gauge turnbuckles and three files finishes today's haul.

Today my flashlight and an inspection mirror came along. The mirror makes it easier to see onto the higher shelves to see if anything has been shoved to the back. That is how the Drillstand and a couple other things were found.

jtk

[Jerry Olexa]

Good you went back Jim....nothing like an old hardware store. AND you did well.

[Jim Koepke]

Something interesting was noticed today while trying to stow all the items brought home yesterday. The plane blade is 1-3/4" the size of a #3 & #5-1/4. It has its original factory grind and it is stamped VICTORY Made in U.S.A.

Not sure if that is worth more than a regular Stanley blade, but it just might end up on ebay.

jtk