Why do people like antiques? Is it because they remind us of our past and show how far we've come? Or could it be because they're pleasing to the eye? In the case of antique garden tools, it's more than likely people collect them to use.
That's because they know that the antique tools that are still working all these years after being made will keep on working.
You can't be sure of that with modern garden tools.
They're machine made, and even single corner that can be cut has been.
Manufacturers are out for the profits rather than pride of craftsmanship.
It's no wonder most modern garden tools end up cluttering our landfills after only a few years of use.
Built to Last Back in the day, tools were forged by blacksmiths and finished by craftsmen who knew how to make them durable and reliable.
In fact, these old tools were made to last a lifetime, or longer.
These craftsmen took pride in their work and were creating family heirlooms, so to speak.
Many people in those days depended on their tools for their livelihoods and wanted something that they could always depend on.
There is nothing plastic or cheap about antique garden tools.
They were made to stand up through all kinds of work and weather.
Take a look sometime at the way they were put together.
Heavy metals and strong hardwoods went into their making.
People did most of the labor by hand, and their tools had to hold up to the kind of daily workout they were given.
One thing that's interesting about antiques is that our ancestors were amazing in coming up with tools to do every job.
For example, have you ever seen a glass cucumber straightener? Lessons from Antique Garden Tools You can still find a few of the old craftsmen around who used to build the old high-quality tools, but there aren't many of them left, and their craft will die out with them.
Maybe you've acquired some antique garden tools over the years.
They could have been hand-me-downs from grandparents which they had served a lifetime.
They might have a lot to tell you about your recent ancestors and how they lived.
They are one of the legacies of the past.
Try picturing a 19th century farmer harvesting his hay by hand using an old curved sickle.
What a fascinating vignette of our past that makes.
Back then hay was a necessity because it was used to feed the livestock.
People also used to lay hay between garden rows to control weeds which would save them the work of pulling them by hand.
By taking a trip to a museum, like the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, you'll see an enormous number of old garden tools including sickles, folding saws, seed scatterers and berry pickers, and much more.
Antique garden tools are always in demand by museums which have customers that are fascinated by them.
If you happen to have some, you might consider asking a local museum to appraise them for you in return for displaying the tools in their facility.
These antique garden tools offer a unique look into our past.