2020 Annual Tool Sale

West Swan Hall, Henley Brook . August 16. 2020.

This year our annual sale was held in the West Swan Hall instead of at the Wood Show. We did not have all the displays but we did have the buyers. Although the hall was licensed for 42 people during the Covid period about 36 people was the maximum there at any one time during the morning. Rain was promised for the day, and it came, but the marquees erected near the entrance with Geoff and Maitland providing umbrellas and escorting visitors kept the tool buyers happy. Fourteen members manned tables with others supporting in crowd control and raffle tickets.

Small tools sold best with all tables offering a good range of tools. It was noticeable that many of the dads helped their kids choose basic tools for a woodworking career. Several of the larger RECORD planes were sold with tin snips and calipers also being picked up.

Gerry was happy with sales but noted that there was no interest in wooden planes.

We may need to consider the trend to a cashless society as some buyers had to leave the hall to find an ATM. It was lucky that two of the big customers came back.

On the morning of the sale Nigel put a tool sale sign up in a prominent position on the back of Kim’s ute, which was parked on the verge near the entrance to the car park. Mid-afternoon a couple of us were standing outside when a car pulled in and a bloke asked “How much do you want for that ute? “ He seemed quite disappointed when Nigel explained that the sign was advertising a “Tool Sale” not a “Ute for sale”.

The weather prevented our country members from travelling but others came to express support and to pick up a bargain. Kim, brandishing a serious arm injury was still thanking those who did the heavy lifting when the sun appeared as we packed up and headed home.