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The Last Hardware Store In America
Tom,
I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest nonBORG left = called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. I worked for Sam back in the late 70's good guy with an eye for = detail. Now Sam does not carry much in the way of hardwoods anymore and = as a matter of fact his lumber section is quite small. I don't know when = he quit carrying large powertools but now all he has is drills and = circular saws. I am sad to say that after their 50th anniversary I doubt = Sam will be around much longer. A real shame. Puff "Tom Watson" wrote in message = ... When Mr. Buck Moser decided to close up the hardware store everybody around here felt like they were about to lose a family member. Six generations of the Moser family had stood behind that counter and Mr. Buck had done it for about the longest of them all, spending seventy-some of his eighty-five years working at and then running the store. =20 The "new building" had been built in the 1920's and was new only in relation to the "old building" which was really little more than a barn that had been erected about the same time that George Washington had walked his troops on up the road to Valley Forge. =20 It was a funny sort of place if you weren't used to its ways. For instance, Moser's didn't sell "nipples"; they sold "short lengths of threaded pipe". There were no "sex bolts' to be had but you could buy "binder bolts", which are pretty much the same thing. "Male" and "Female" fittings were called "Inside" and "Outside" fittings. =20 Lest you think that the proprietors were without humor, there was a sign in there claiming that "Left-Handed Smokeshifters Are Available Upon Request" and another one that said, "Real Wood Stoves Available - Made From Real Wood - No Warranty". =20 There were no checks or credit cards accepted at the Moser establishment but it wasn't hard to get a thirty-day account there. There were no forms to fill out. Mr. Buck would look at you and ask your name. Then he'd say something like "Ain't your Uncle Steve Watchamacallit from over to Longwood?" Mr. Buck either knew everybody who was local or knew somebody else who knew them. That was it. The accounts were kept on three by five index cards that his wife Bessie would grab up at the end of the month and turn into bills that were expected to be paid the next time you came in. They didn't hold with the mail service, finding it to be both expensive and unreliable. =20 When I was starting out as a carpenter I would go to Moser's to buy my tools. When I bought my first number five plane Mr. Buck looked at me and asked me a question, "Are you serious about this carpentry, Tommy?" "Yes Sir, Mr. Buck, I believe I'm serious about it." Mr. Buck studied me for a long moment and said, "Wait here for a bit and I'll be back." Now, Moser's carried all the Stanley line and the planes were sitting right there in front, so I didn't know why old Mr. Buck was wanting to go in the back. While I waited I ran my hands over the shiny planes that sat on the shelf. =20 When Mr. Buck came back he had a brand new number five plane in his hand but the box he was carrying in his other hand looked older than dirt. "Let me show you something about planes, Tommy." =20 Mr. Buck grabbed up one of the newish planes and sat it next to the equally newish looking plane he had brought from the back. "See how the mouth is all cut up on this new Stanley?" "See how rough the castings is?" Mr. Buck then took the iron out of both planes, hanging them both from the same looped string. "Listen to the sound when I tap these irons, Tommy." "You hear that clear bell ring from this one?" "Now listen to this other one." =20 Mr. Buck spent a lot of time showing me the differences between the new Stanley and the one he'd got from the back. "How much does that good plane cost, Mr. Buck?" "What does it say on that new plane's box, Tommy?" "Twenty dollars." (There was no $19.95 in Moser's, they wouldn't hold with it.) =20 "Well, this plane is also twenty dollars but it's not to be sold to any but trades people." =20 Had me a sweetheart of a plane and didn't even really know what that meant. =20 When it came time for me to buy some decent handsaws Mr. Buck would go through the same thing. He'd look at me for a bit and then go in the back for a while. =20 There were a bunch of new Disston saws out front but Mr. Buck would go back and bring out a brand new looking saw with a box that was older looking than dirt and explain the difference to me. I have two sway back Disstons that I bought in the late 1960's that were actually made around 1900. Only to be sold to tradesmen. =20 I bought a set of black handled Stanley chisels from Mr. Buck and paid the same price as the yellow handled ones would have cost. Mr. Buck explained the differences to me. I still use them. They are the best chisels I have ever used. =20 I got plenty of tools from Mr. Buck over the years but the best thing that I got there was free - an education. =20 When Servistar and True Value started taking over the hardware business it hurt Moser's pretty bad. The only thing that kept new people coming in was that the other folks couldn't help them with anything. Mostly the sales people were not really hardware people and Mr. Buck could figure out what you wanted by you telling him what you wanted to do. The True Value and Servistar people just couldn't do that. =20 Mr. Buck's children had no interest in the business and neither did his grandchildren, although most of us believe that he held on for as long as he did just to see if one of the grandkids would want to come in on the business. =20 When the new Home Depot opened up Mr. Buck went walking through it. Wasn't too long after that he decided to close up. The "new building" needed a new roof. People were getting ****ed off that Mr. Buck didn't hold with credit cards. The township wanted Mr. Buck to install a real expensive sprinkler system. Mr. Buck figured that he'd be better off just going fishing. =20 I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. =20 I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker (ret) Real Email is: tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet Website: http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1 |
The Last Hardware Store In America
When Mr. Buck Moser decided to close up the hardware store everybody
around here felt like they were about to lose a family member. Six generations of the Moser family had stood behind that counter and Mr. Buck had done it for about the longest of them all, spending seventy-some of his eighty-five years working at and then running the store. The "new building" had been built in the 1920's and was new only in relation to the "old building" which was really little more than a barn that had been erected about the same time that George Washington had walked his troops on up the road to Valley Forge. It was a funny sort of place if you weren't used to its ways. For instance, Moser's didn't sell "nipples"; they sold "short lengths of threaded pipe". There were no "sex bolts' to be had but you could buy "binder bolts", which are pretty much the same thing. "Male" and "Female" fittings were called "Inside" and "Outside" fittings. Lest you think that the proprietors were without humor, there was a sign in there claiming that "Left-Handed Smokeshifters Are Available Upon Request" and another one that said, "Real Wood Stoves Available - Made From Real Wood - No Warranty". There were no checks or credit cards accepted at the Moser establishment but it wasn't hard to get a thirty-day account there. There were no forms to fill out. Mr. Buck would look at you and ask your name. Then he'd say something like "Ain't your Uncle Steve Watchamacallit from over to Longwood?" Mr. Buck either knew everybody who was local or knew somebody else who knew them. That was it. The accounts were kept on three by five index cards that his wife Bessie would grab up at the end of the month and turn into bills that were expected to be paid the next time you came in. They didn't hold with the mail service, finding it to be both expensive and unreliable. When I was starting out as a carpenter I would go to Moser's to buy my tools. When I bought my first number five plane Mr. Buck looked at me and asked me a question, "Are you serious about this carpentry, Tommy?" "Yes Sir, Mr. Buck, I believe I'm serious about it." Mr. Buck studied me for a long moment and said, "Wait here for a bit and I'll be back." Now, Moser's carried all the Stanley line and the planes were sitting right there in front, so I didn't know why old Mr. Buck was wanting to go in the back. While I waited I ran my hands over the shiny planes that sat on the shelf. When Mr. Buck came back he had a brand new number five plane in his hand but the box he was carrying in his other hand looked older than dirt. "Let me show you something about planes, Tommy." Mr. Buck grabbed up one of the newish planes and sat it next to the equally newish looking plane he had brought from the back. "See how the mouth is all cut up on this new Stanley?" "See how rough the castings is?" Mr. Buck then took the iron out of both planes, hanging them both from the same looped string. "Listen to the sound when I tap these irons, Tommy." "You hear that clear bell ring from this one?" "Now listen to this other one." Mr. Buck spent a lot of time showing me the differences between the new Stanley and the one he'd got from the back. "How much does that good plane cost, Mr. Buck?" "What does it say on that new plane's box, Tommy?" "Twenty dollars." (There was no $19.95 in Moser's, they wouldn't hold with it.) "Well, this plane is also twenty dollars but it's not to be sold to any but trades people." Had me a sweetheart of a plane and didn't even really know what that meant. When it came time for me to buy some decent handsaws Mr. Buck would go through the same thing. He'd look at me for a bit and then go in the back for a while. There were a bunch of new Disston saws out front but Mr. Buck would go back and bring out a brand new looking saw with a box that was older looking than dirt and explain the difference to me. I have two sway back Disstons that I bought in the late 1960's that were actually made around 1900. Only to be sold to tradesmen. I bought a set of black handled Stanley chisels from Mr. Buck and paid the same price as the yellow handled ones would have cost. Mr. Buck explained the differences to me. I still use them. They are the best chisels I have ever used. I got plenty of tools from Mr. Buck over the years but the best thing that I got there was free - an education. When Servistar and True Value started taking over the hardware business it hurt Moser's pretty bad. The only thing that kept new people coming in was that the other folks couldn't help them with anything. Mostly the sales people were not really hardware people and Mr. Buck could figure out what you wanted by you telling him what you wanted to do. The True Value and Servistar people just couldn't do that. Mr. Buck's children had no interest in the business and neither did his grandchildren, although most of us believe that he held on for as long as he did just to see if one of the grandkids would want to come in on the business. When the new Home Depot opened up Mr. Buck went walking through it. Wasn't too long after that he decided to close up. The "new building" needed a new roof. People were getting ****ed off that Mr. Buck didn't hold with credit cards. The township wanted Mr. Buck to install a real expensive sprinkler system. Mr. Buck figured that he'd be better off just going fishing. I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker (ret) Real Email is: tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet Website: http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1 |
The Last Hardware Store In America
My Dad, and later myself, bought many tools and a lot of hardwarre from the
old "Roscoe Hardware" store in the San Fernando Valley (corner of Sunland and San Fernando Blvd.). It was like you described, a long time ago. -JBB |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Tom Watsson writes:
A wonderful story, as usual. There were no checks or credit cards accepted at the Moser establishment but it wasn't hard to get a thirty-day account there. There were no forms to fill out. Mr. Buck would look at you and ask your name. Then he'd say something like "Ain't your Uncle Steve Watchamacallit from over to Longwood?" Mr. Buck either knew everybody Reminds me of Bedford, VA when I first moved there. Walked into COffey & Saunders farm store to get a whatever. Got it. Took out the plastic to pay, only to be told I had to put that on my "charge account, 'cause we don't take American Express". I said I didn't have a charge account. The clerk (AKA owner) siad, "You do now". That was 27 years ago. Today, C&S takes plastic and instant accounts are not available. Progress. Charlie Self "Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." Otto von Bismarck |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Yeah long gone but not forgotten. Interesting story Belknap donated a =
complete hand tool outfit to every person that graduated Jefferson State = Vocational's carpentry class and I believe but not sure for the masonry = class also. I would venture to guess it would be worth $600+ in 82 Puff "Larry Blanchard" wrote in message = ... In article ,=20 says... I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = =3D have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest nonBORG = left =3D called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. =20 I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere=20 downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building=20 called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple=20 stories, all crammed full. =20 Sigh.....=20 =20 --=20 Where ARE those Iraqi WMDs? |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Tom Watson wrote in
: Great story, Tom. Thank you for the tribute to your friends. In the Oakland, California, area, a fine family runs several hardware establishments such as Moser's. Has for several generations. They are truly a treasure, both the stores and the people. It's not always easy. Parts of our area are far from gentrified. But you are always greeted, served and educated when you arrive. And I am pleasantly surprised at the treasures Peter digs out of the racks, whenever I go in with a problem. I don't know about one of those 1900-vintage Disstons, though. Maybe I'll ask, next time I'm in. Patriarch |
The Last Hardware Store In America
It is extremely rare to find such an establishment nowadays. When you go
into a BORG and have a project to content with the only help you get is " look in asile ??" I had a problem with my camper and needed to fix the holding tank without replacing it. I went to Lowes and looked around for just the right parts with no avail. I even asked for advice but I never got anything that I could use. As I was driving home pondering "how to" I noticed and "old" hardware store. I decided to give it a try. When I walked in the store it looked more like my garage, packed with old crates and "antique" displays. I looked around a bit when the "old" guy came over to me to see if he could help me find something. When I explained what I was trying to do he took me to another aisle and quite literally put what I needed together with a handful of parts he dug out. I paid less for the whole thing then I did for the brass drain cock at BORG. I started that day pulling out what hair I had left over that camper tank and by the end of the day I had it completed. I really thought that I would have to purchase another tank from Coleman but thanks to this ole guy at some "run down" pack rat of a store I got what I needed and a better idea to fix it. It's truly wonderful when you find store like this. I miss the days that I could go into our local gun store and spend hours chatting with the old man that owned it. These guys knew everything, now when you go into these retail giants with the green horns behind the counter smacking thier bubble gum you just have to wonder what ever happend to the good ole days? Rich AKA Searcher 1\ "patriarch" wrote in message .17... Tom Watson wrote in : Great story, Tom. Thank you for the tribute to your friends. In the Oakland, California, area, a fine family runs several hardware establishments such as Moser's. Has for several generations. They are truly a treasure, both the stores and the people. It's not always easy. Parts of our area are far from gentrified. But you are always greeted, served and educated when you arrive. And I am pleasantly surprised at the treasures Peter digs out of the racks, whenever I go in with a problem. I don't know about one of those 1900-vintage Disstons, though. Maybe I'll ask, next time I'm in. Patriarch |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Fortunately there still is a wonderful hardware store in Stafford, Texas.
Contrary to what one would expect, this store is within 3 or 4 miles of Houston's city limits and surronded by 3 or 4 borgs. The borgs are all within 3 to 4 miles from this hardware store and business for this store seems to be flourishing. There is not a time that you walk in that you do not see 6 to 10 well seasoned employees that drop what they are doing to help you the monent that you walk in the store. Within 2 miles of that hardware store is an old lumber yard. Same great folks and same great service and they are growing like the hardware store. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
In article , Tom Watson
wrote: When Mr. Buck Moser decided to close up the hardware store Thanks again, Tom. -- It's probably time to change my sig line, eh? |
The Last Hardware Store In America
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 19:22:58 -0500, Tom Watson wrote:
[snip of great story] I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Not all the good local stores vanish. McLendon's Hardware in Renton, WA is a place that I frequented for years. They've not only managed to survive the assualt of the Borg, but have expanded to 3 or 4 stores (not sure how many as I left the area 11 years ago). I still drop in to the Renton store when in town on vacation. And the kids did spend time in that store. -Doug -- "A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw |
The Last Hardware Store In America
On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 04:45:34 GMT, Doug Winterburn
scribbled: On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 19:22:58 -0500, Tom Watson wrote: [snip of great story] I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Not all the good local stores vanish. McLendon's Hardware in Renton, WA is a place that I frequented for years. They've not only managed to survive the assualt of the Borg, but have expanded to 3 or 4 stores (not sure how many as I left the area 11 years ago). Ours has disappeared. I do miss Nelson's Hardware which is now a Tim Hortons catering to Kanuckistan's addiction to doughnuts. We still have Gordy Ryder & his "Builders' Supply Land" old fashioned lumber yard, but the tools tend to be the "Vermont American" line. But he did get me clear cedar for $CAD2.25/BF. Our imitation Borg isn't too bad either, the guys & gals who work there tend to know their stuff. Thanks for another good one, Tom. Luigi Replace "nonet" with "yukonomics" for real email address www.yukonomics.ca/wooddorking/antifaq.html www.yukonomics.ca/wooddorking/humour.html |
The Last Hardware Store In America
|
The Last Hardware Store In America
"Larry Blanchard" writes: I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple stories, all crammed full. Belknap was also a hardware wholesaler that called on the hardware store where I worked while in high school. There was a PBS story some time ago covering the life of the Belknap Hardware Co. Yes, it is long gone along with the Geo Worthington Co and the W Bingham Co, both hardware wholesalers located in Cleveland. Not sure if Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett in Chicago or Bostwick-Braun in Toledo still survive. -- Lew S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland) Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures |
The Last Hardware Store In America
"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message ... In article , says... I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest nonBORG left = called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. Where's H&S at? Across the river, here in Jeffersonville, we have Hoosier Hardware. Not much at all in the way of lumber but the History Channel did do one of their shows on tools in the store. I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple stories, all crammed full. Belknap is long gone. The company tried to go on a growth spurt and killed itself. I *think* that was the building they imploded as a big media event as part of the publicity for that Stallon movie, The Demolition Man. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 19:22:58 -0500, Tom Watson
wrote: ....snip... I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Tom, I could actually _smell_ the place. Nicely done. Michael |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Inquiring minds want to know where in the JerryBrownville area such a
place exists (let alone places)! Next time I go get my Golden Bear fix and my Zachary's fix, might as well try to do something about my hardware jones, too... patriarch wrote: Tom Watson wrote in : Great story, Tom. Thank you for the tribute to your friends. In the Oakland, California, area, a fine family runs several hardware establishments such as Moser's. Has for several generations. They are truly a treasure, both the stores and the people. It's not always easy. Parts of our area are far from gentrified. But you are always greeted, served and educated when you arrive. And I am pleasantly surprised at the treasures Peter digs out of the racks, whenever I go in with a problem. I don't know about one of those 1900-vintage Disstons, though. Maybe I'll ask, next time I'm in. Patriarch |
The Last Hardware Store In America
"Tom Watson" wrote in message
... I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. Good story. We had a store similar to that here in Toronto, Canada. It was called Aikenheads down on Temperence Street. Anybody up here remember it? It was a five storied building with the whole thing dedicated to tradesmen of various types. Each floor of the building was more or less dedicated to a particular trade. Woodworking, plumbing, metalworking, etc. I bought my first tablesaw there over thirty years ago and it was a fluke that it happened. I'd wandered in off the street to browse like I did in every hardware store. Then I came across this contractor's tablesaw on the third floor. $350 was what it cost and back then that was a fortune to me. The salesman saw me eyeing it and came over to chat with me. We talked about woodworking for almost an hour. First time in my life I've ever gossiped with a salesman instead of trying to put him off because he was trying to sell me something. I guess he knew I was hooked though, because he took his time with the sales pitch. I finally had to tell him that I'd love to buy the saw, but there was no way in hell I'd be able to come up with the money, the cash just wasn't there. The salesman asked me if I had any credit cards. And then it happened, one of those lucky occurrences that change your life. A few weeks previously, I'd received a gas card (don't remember what it was, might have been a Canadian Tire credit card) but, believe it or not Aikenhead's happened to accept that card. Next thing I knew I was loading this 200 lb box full of unassembled tablesaw parts in the trunk of my car. And that was the real start to my woodworking. I really came to appreciate that store and that building about ten years later when I wound up in the wheelchair, because this dirty, dusty, old, outdated building had an elevator that went to all five floors. Back then for a building of this type and that old, an elevator was very unusual. I guess they needed it for some of the heavier machinery. I went down there every few months for the next ten years until one day when I arrived at the building, it was out of business. A month later it was being torn down for something else. If I remember rightly, it was about the time that Home Depot stores started to sprout up everywhere. I think, but not sure, that Aikenheads purchased one of the Home Depot franchises, but I never saw any of the employees again that had worked there. But I do know damned well for sure, nobody in a Home Depot has every stopped and gossiped with me about whatever craft, hobby or trade that I was interested in doing. It's all about business now. Too bad. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
I don't know Jerry I was out of state for 15 years or so.
Puff "Jerry Gilreath" wrote in message = news:kYB8c.91054$Cb.1184269@attbi_s51... Isn't that the one they imploded for an MTV video or movie or = something? =20 --=20 "Cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh." Homer Simpson Jerry=A9 The Phoneman=AE "Puff Griffis" wrote in message ... Yeah long gone but not forgotten. Interesting story Belknap donated a complete hand tool outfit to every person that graduated Jefferson = State Vocational's carpentry class and I believe but not sure for the = masonry class also. I would venture to guess it would be worth $600+ in 82 Puff =20 "Larry Blanchard" wrote in message ... In article , says... I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = =3D have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest = nonBORG left =3D called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple stories, all crammed full. Sigh..... --=20 Where ARE those Iraqi WMDs? =20 |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Upscale writes:
has every stopped and gossiped with me about whatever craft, hobby or trade that I was interested in doing. It's all about business now. Too bad. It's all ROI, now. The fact that anyone might go into a business because he enjoyed it and thought he could make an honest living at it is beyond most business leaders today. Short-term everything, squeeze every last penny, and then fold the company and screw the workers and the customers both. Charlie Self "Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." Otto von Bismarck |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Doug Winterburn wrote:
Not all the good local stores vanish. McLendon's Hardware in Renton, WA is a place that I frequented for years. They've not only managed to survive the assualt of the Borg, but have expanded to 3 or 4 stores (not sure how many as I left the area 11 years ago). McLendon Hardware Inc 17705 130th Avenue Northeast Woodinville, WA 98072 206-281-7404 206-485-1363 Mclendon Hardware 1111 Fryar Ave Sumner, WA 98390 206-863-2264 Mclendon Hardware 710 S 2nd St Renton, WA 98055 206-235-3582 That's all I find. Dave in Fairfax -- reply-to doesn't work use: daveldr at att dot net American Association of Woodturners http://www.woodturner.org Capital Area Woodturners http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Doug Winterburn wrote:
Not all the good local stores vanish. McLendon's Hardware in Renton, WA is a place that I frequented for years. They've not only managed to survive the assualt of the Borg, but have expanded to 3 or 4 stores (not sure how many as I left the area 11 years ago). Sorry here're a couple more and a website. Mclendon's Hardware 10210 16th Ave SW Seattle, WA 98146 206-762-4090 Fax: 206-235-3599 Mclendon's Hardware 5420 112th St E Puyallup, WA 98373 253-536-6560 Fax: 253-536-0143 Dave in Fairfax -- reply-to doesn't work use: daveldr at att dot net American Association of Woodturners http://www.woodturner.org Capital Area Woodturners http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
The Last Hardware Store In America
These could be a related pair, probably is.
Scott Mclendon's Ace Hardware 1700 Mile Hill Drive Southeast Suite 100A Port Orchard, WA 98366 http://www.acehardware.com 360-876-8018 Scott Mclendon's Hardware Ne 51 Hwy 300/Po Box 550 Belfair, WA 98528 360-275-0113 Dave in Fairfax -- reply-to doesn't work use: daveldr at att dot net American Association of Woodturners http://www.woodturner.org Capital Area Woodturners http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
The Last Hardware Store In America
.....And the floor was well-worn hardwood that could use a little sweeping
and a coat of finish. Nuts. bolts, nails, etc. were sold by the pound... Thanks Tom. I've been there too, not Moser's, but I've been there. Grant Tom Watson wrote: When Mr. Buck Moser decided to close up the hardware store everybody around here felt like they were about to lose a family member. Six generations of the Moser family had stood behind that counter and Mr. Buck had done it for about the longest of them all, spending seventy-some of his eighty-five years working at and then running the store. The "new building" had been built in the 1920's and was new only in relation to the "old building" which was really little more than a barn that had been erected about the same time that George Washington had walked his troops on up the road to Valley Forge. It was a funny sort of place if you weren't used to its ways. For instance, Moser's didn't sell "nipples"; they sold "short lengths of threaded pipe". There were no "sex bolts' to be had but you could buy "binder bolts", which are pretty much the same thing. "Male" and "Female" fittings were called "Inside" and "Outside" fittings. Lest you think that the proprietors were without humor, there was a sign in there claiming that "Left-Handed Smokeshifters Are Available Upon Request" and another one that said, "Real Wood Stoves Available - Made From Real Wood - No Warranty". There were no checks or credit cards accepted at the Moser establishment but it wasn't hard to get a thirty-day account there. There were no forms to fill out. Mr. Buck would look at you and ask your name. Then he'd say something like "Ain't your Uncle Steve Watchamacallit from over to Longwood?" Mr. Buck either knew everybody who was local or knew somebody else who knew them. That was it. The accounts were kept on three by five index cards that his wife Bessie would grab up at the end of the month and turn into bills that were expected to be paid the next time you came in. They didn't hold with the mail service, finding it to be both expensive and unreliable. When I was starting out as a carpenter I would go to Moser's to buy my tools. When I bought my first number five plane Mr. Buck looked at me and asked me a question, "Are you serious about this carpentry, Tommy?" "Yes Sir, Mr. Buck, I believe I'm serious about it." Mr. Buck studied me for a long moment and said, "Wait here for a bit and I'll be back." Now, Moser's carried all the Stanley line and the planes were sitting right there in front, so I didn't know why old Mr. Buck was wanting to go in the back. While I waited I ran my hands over the shiny planes that sat on the shelf. When Mr. Buck came back he had a brand new number five plane in his hand but the box he was carrying in his other hand looked older than dirt. "Let me show you something about planes, Tommy." Mr. Buck grabbed up one of the newish planes and sat it next to the equally newish looking plane he had brought from the back. "See how the mouth is all cut up on this new Stanley?" "See how rough the castings is?" Mr. Buck then took the iron out of both planes, hanging them both from the same looped string. "Listen to the sound when I tap these irons, Tommy." "You hear that clear bell ring from this one?" "Now listen to this other one." Mr. Buck spent a lot of time showing me the differences between the new Stanley and the one he'd got from the back. "How much does that good plane cost, Mr. Buck?" "What does it say on that new plane's box, Tommy?" "Twenty dollars." (There was no $19.95 in Moser's, they wouldn't hold with it.) "Well, this plane is also twenty dollars but it's not to be sold to any but trades people." Had me a sweetheart of a plane and didn't even really know what that meant. When it came time for me to buy some decent handsaws Mr. Buck would go through the same thing. He'd look at me for a bit and then go in the back for a while. There were a bunch of new Disston saws out front but Mr. Buck would go back and bring out a brand new looking saw with a box that was older looking than dirt and explain the difference to me. I have two sway back Disstons that I bought in the late 1960's that were actually made around 1900. Only to be sold to tradesmen. I bought a set of black handled Stanley chisels from Mr. Buck and paid the same price as the yellow handled ones would have cost. Mr. Buck explained the differences to me. I still use them. They are the best chisels I have ever used. I got plenty of tools from Mr. Buck over the years but the best thing that I got there was free - an education. When Servistar and True Value started taking over the hardware business it hurt Moser's pretty bad. The only thing that kept new people coming in was that the other folks couldn't help them with anything. Mostly the sales people were not really hardware people and Mr. Buck could figure out what you wanted by you telling him what you wanted to do. The True Value and Servistar people just couldn't do that. Mr. Buck's children had no interest in the business and neither did his grandchildren, although most of us believe that he held on for as long as he did just to see if one of the grandkids would want to come in on the business. When the new Home Depot opened up Mr. Buck went walking through it. Wasn't too long after that he decided to close up. The "new building" needed a new roof. People were getting ****ed off that Mr. Buck didn't hold with credit cards. The township wanted Mr. Buck to install a real expensive sprinkler system. Mr. Buck figured that he'd be better off just going fishing. I'll miss Moser's Hardware Store. I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker (ret) Real Email is: tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet Website: http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1 |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Isn't that the one they imploded for an MTV video or movie or something?
-- "Cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh." Homer Simpson Jerry© The Phoneman® "Puff Griffis" wrote in message ... Yeah long gone but not forgotten. Interesting story Belknap donated a complete hand tool outfit to every person that graduated Jefferson State Vocational's carpentry class and I believe but not sure for the masonry class also. I would venture to guess it would be worth $600+ in 82 Puff "Larry Blanchard" wrote in message ... In article , says... I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest nonBORG left = called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple stories, all crammed full. Sigh..... -- Where ARE those Iraqi WMDs? |
The Last Hardware Store In America
It's on Preston Highway, just north of Indian Trail. Kinda close to
Godfathers. South of the Waterston Xway. -- "Cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh." Homer Simpson Jerry© The Phoneman® "John Keeney" wrote in message ... "Larry Blanchard" wrote in message ... In article , says... I believe I am going to miss Mr. Moser's hardware store also. We = have one in the Louisville area that I think is the largest nonBORG left = called H&S Harry was the dad Sam was the son. Where's H&S at? Across the river, here in Jeffersonville, we have Hoosier Hardware. Not much at all in the way of lumber but the History Channel did do one of their shows on tools in the store. I grew up in Louisville in the '40s and '50s. Somewhere downtown around 1st and the river was this enormous building called Belknap hardware - a whole city block and multiple stories, all crammed full. Belknap is long gone. The company tried to go on a growth spurt and killed itself. I *think* that was the building they imploded as a big media event as part of the publicity for that Stallon movie, The Demolition Man. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Burke Brothers hardware store in Raleigh, NC is being run by the next
generation - and still provides the same knowledgeable service. It's a general hardware store, not a woodworking supply store. -- --henry schaffer hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu |
The Last Hardware Store In America
For me it's Alper's in Port Washington, NY. I went in a few years ago, don't
remember what I needed at the time. I said hi to John, who ws working at the counter (he wasn't in the family, which is now run by the grandchildren)m and he said, "Hi Daryl," gave me a little grin and added, "you need batteries." "No John, I came in for (whatever)." "You need batteries." "No, seriously, I need ____." "Your wife just called. You need D batteries. Here they are." And he put them on the counter. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
"Upscale" wrote in message .rogers.com...
But I do know damned well for sure, nobody in a Home Depot has every stopped and gossiped with me about whatever craft, hobby or trade that I was interested in doing. It's all about business now. Too bad. I don't want to be an apologist for Home Depot or any of the BORGs, but my dad works at a Home Depot in the plumbing department. He'll chat with you and he may not tell you want you want to hear but you will hear what you NEED to. He'll also tell you where to go to find the parts that Home Depot doesn't stock. I was visiting him one time at the store and some scruffy looking guy came up looking for a tool. My dad said they they sell the tool he needed for about $50, but if he only needed to use it once he should go to the rental place down the road and rent the same tool for $12. When I need help at the BORG stores I look for the old guys. They likely have enough experience to help me out. Plus, they're so old that they can't move very fast so they can't get away when they see me coming. g When I started finishing my basement I stopped at the Pro-desk at my local Home Depot. I spent about an hour talking to the guys there and they were immensely helpful. They saved me many hours of time, a lot of money and I ended up with a better design. Don't get me wrong, HD has disappointed me a number of times when I can't find what I'm looking for or they just don't stock what I need. That's when I go to my local hardware store. -- Jim |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Thanks for the great story! ;-)
-- Rumpty Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
The Last Hardware Store In America
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The Last Hardware Store In America
"Tom Watson" wrote in message ... snip of another great story! I just wish that my children had been old enough to appreciate it before it went away. Thank you for the walk down memory lane. I was fortunate enough to have a "Moser's" growing up. Odd, now that I think of it, since it was a very small farm town in Wisconsin. Well worn hardwood floors - and, indeed, big rotating bins with a scale hanging nearby for nails -- sold by the pound, as Grant mentioned. Mr. Stein folded to Ace Hardware; this was long before Home Depot began its assault on the land. [ Irony of ironies is that I know find solace in Ace; a welcome respite from The Aisles of Home Depot. ] Now living close to Boulder, CO - there's McGukin's. Certainly not Moser's in appearance, perhaps Moser's in semblance. But Moser's in spirit. Prices are a tad higher. It's an inconvenient drive. But, sometimes, I spend my lunch hours there -- and skip lunch. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Don't think I am casting the first stone, as I am guilty as well, but
let's all try to make more of our larger purchases at our favorite hardware stores to ensure that they are in business the next time we need just a handful of odd washers - carefully counted out from a dusty wooden box behind the counter. Regards, Jeff "searcher1" wrote in message ... It is extremely rare to find such an establishment nowadays. When you go into a BORG and have a project to content with the only help you get is " look in asile ??" I had a problem with my camper and needed to fix the holding tank without replacing it. I went to Lowes and looked around for just the right parts with no avail. I even asked for advice but I never got anything that I could use. As I was driving home pondering "how to" I noticed and "old" hardware store. I decided to give it a try. When I walked in the store it looked more like my garage, packed with old crates and "antique" displays. I looked around a bit when the "old" guy came over to me to see if he could help me find something. When I explained what I was trying to do he took me to another aisle and quite literally put what I needed together with a handful of parts he dug out. I paid less for the whole thing then I did for the brass drain cock at BORG. I started that day pulling out what hair I had left over that camper tank and by the end of the day I had it completed. I really thought that I would have to purchase another tank from Coleman but thanks to this ole guy at some "run down" pack rat of a store I got what I needed and a better idea to fix it. It's truly wonderful when you find store like this. I miss the days that I could go into our local gun store and spend hours chatting with the old man that owned it. These guys knew everything, now when you go into these retail giants with the green horns behind the counter smacking thier bubble gum you just have to wonder what ever happend to the good ole days? Rich AKA Searcher 1\ |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Tom Watson wrote in
: When Mr. Buck Moser decided to close up the hardware store everybody around here felt like they were about to lose a family member. snip We still have Finkle Hardware in Lambertville, NJ ... not TOO far from you. Just going down the basement is an adventure ... bins of left-handed smoke shifters :) Sell everything from structural steel to stove pipes. Jerry |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Sorry he's gone, sounds like a great guy, however...
He could simply have joined True Value or Servistar. He wouldn't have had to change anything and could have gotten all the advantages. In the my town there was a decrepit old store that didn't sell much of anything; it was firmly anchored in the 19th century. A new store opened up down the street and did pretty well. Needless to say, it was the last straw for the old store. But it proves there was plenty of business to be had. If the old store had modernized it would still be there and the old store would never have been built. And (this is the big one) the old store didn't have to give up it's great service (if it had great service; I wouldn't know because I never shopped there, though I do at the new store); all it had to do was offer what people wanted at competitive prices; like the new one does. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Buttonhole McGee wrote in
news:Ngx8c.4450$w54.49735@attbi_s01: Inquiring minds want to know where in the JerryBrownville area such a place exists (let alone places)! Next time I go get my Golden Bear fix and my Zachary's fix, might as well try to do something about my hardware jones, too... patriarch wrote: Tom Watson wrote in : Great story, Tom. Thank you for the tribute to your friends. In the Oakland, California, area, a fine family runs several hardware establishments such as Moser's. Has for several generations. They are truly a treasure, both the stores and the people. It's not always easy. Parts of our area are far from gentrified. But you are always greeted, served and educated when you arrive. And I am pleasantly surprised at the treasures Peter digs out of the racks, whenever I go in with a problem. I don't know about one of those 1900-vintage Disstons, though. Maybe I'll ask, next time I'm in. Patriarch I deal with Peter Eames, at Eames Hardware, in Pleasant Hill, Ca. His sister now runs/owns the store in Oakland, near Children's Hospital. Sorry, I don't have the name at hand. Two more brothers run a big Ace Hardware in the Albany/El Cerrito area, down by the freeway, just north of the Free Republic of Berkeley border. Oakland has counter service, rather like an auto parts store, because unfortunately otherwise, security and shrinkage gets to be a big problem. But the counter service allowed them to stay open, serve their customers, be profitable, and keep a good store in the neighborhood, in spite of a large Orange BORG just up the way in Emeryville, near the IKEA. The Pleasant Hill store went in 5 years ago, right after I bought this house we're in now. I think the only week I haven't been in there was a week I was traveling. Some Saturdays, three and four times, depending on how the projects are progressing. It's been holy writ in our family for over fifty years, that any plumbing project will take three trips to the hardware store, minimum. The last two low flow toilets I installed were one trip each, not counting the trip to return the extra angle stops with the 'other thread' pattern. Eric really knows his stuff. But then he would, with 25+ years in the business. Patriarch, who's been thinking that Jerry Brown has been far from the worst of the local politicians. Oakland's a tough crowd to please. |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Big snipage
I gw up in norther |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Big snip age
I'll try again..... I grew up in northern england. When I was going to school I worked at the hardware store - Percy W. Stephenson & son. The old man who ran the store was the "Son" . His three sons worked there. The store was for the most part counter service only, very little on the floor . Nails etc. sold by the pound, nuts and bolts - however many you needed 2 or 22, no plastic bags of twenty to buy. The store I worked in was the "new" store - they had moved from the "old"store twenty years earlier. They had been in the old store since Percy W started the business just after WW I. When they moved they took everything, including stock that was for things like making wagon wheels, cooperage tools etc. If they didn't have it didn't exist. As to selling old tools - when a long time customer (a retired Rolls Royce mechanic) died, they sold his tools (an extensive collection) for his widow - to make sure she got top dollar. These tools were far superior to anything made today. They were sold to the regular clientele - tradesman who would appreciate them and deserved them. Last time I was in town I went past and they were no longer there. Don't know what happened to them, hope they're still in business at a "new" new store. JC |
The Last Hardware Store In America
Tom Watson writes:
The "new building" had been built in the 1920's and was new only in relation to the "old building" which was really little more than a barn that had been erected about the same time that George Washington had walked his troops on up the road to Valley Forge. I grew up in the 1980s. We had a hardware store very similiar to this locally. It was built in the early 1900s and had worn out wooden floors. Merchandise was crammed into every corner and spilled out into the aisles. The fire marshall finally told the owner he had to renovate or close the store. The owner spent at least $500,000 on a new building right behind the old one. The new store opened in 1988 and the old store was razed to finish the parking lot. It is much easier to find stuff in the new store, but the character just isn't the same. Ironically, the city now is redeveloping the area and will be building the owner another new store 1/3 mile up the road. I don't understand why cities spend millions of taxpayer dollars to raze perfectly good businesses and relocate them. Brian Elfert |
Our family store
I grew up, literally, in my grandfather's country store. I still have the
brass National cash register and the wooden cheese boxes where he kept the little books for all the credit customers. Under the counter was the box of all the little books that he didn't collect because someone had hard times, the same folks that had a current book usually. It was a small country community, no town at all. He had clothes, groceries, gas and oil, hardware, nails, and cow feed. He could add up a column of prices faster than anyone could punch them into a calculator or cash register. He finally sold it the last time when he was 85. I say the last time because he sold it and bought it back a couple of times. He just couldn't stay away from the public. I'll never forget things like the hoop of cheese kept warm on the butcher block, nothing better with a handfull of crackers and a tomato or onion. You could always get 10 cents worth of crackers, a slice of baloney, and cold drink for lunch. Sitting around listening to old men tell stories is an education in itself. The story below was in my grandfather's words when was interviewed for the paper after he retired. "I believe the way opened in 1923, we opened a little store and stores at Bassett, Texas in 1924 and have been on said highway 47 years. It was a narrow road and part of it had not been asphalted in 1924. I furnished gravel trucks to said road between Bassett and Sulphur River. When I first opened up they were Model T Fords mostly and carried 1 1/4 yard [of gravel]. There was a plank bridge over Sulphur River at that time. The bridge caught fire one weekend one time and the traffic had to turn at Maud and go by Douglassville and back to Naples. It was a good highway and a way of earning a living for lots of little merchants which is a thing of the past now. I had $500 to go into business with and am enclosing a picture of my first store. Cars were just coming in style and my wife and I had all the business we could take care of. We had the only service store between Maud and Naples. Mr. W.O. Bryan put me in a little 5 gallon pump and a 3 barrel Lubestir and gave me credit for 250 gallons of gas and 30 gallons of oil and told me when he comes back with more gas for me to have the money. He was a fine man and gave me some sound advice. Also Mr. Bob Cargile had a wholesale grocery in Mt. Pleasant and also at Naples, he gave me credit for $50 in groceries. He was a fine man and I bought from him as long as he was in business. Forty seven years brings about lots of changes. I have sold lots of new tires for $5 each and many gallons of gas for 13 cents. It is lonesome for me now. I had lots of people from Dallas and Little Rock that came by once a month to once a year and always stopped with us. We always had big crowds over the holidays. But all good things come to an end some time. I just thank the good Lord that it lasted until my children were educated and my pension was started." This one was written by my dad. The Peddler's Wagon. During the depression starting with the stock market crash in 1929, the task of feeding one's family became difficult. Although we made it better than many, Dad and Mom used every means at their command to keep the store from going under. Most of the customers had little or no money, competition was tough, profit margin almost non-existent, and losses on credit accounts were staggering. Then, in the early and mid 1930's, the peddler's wagon came into being again. It certainly wasn't a new idea, having existed here and in Europe for several hundred years. It was called a wagon (a hold over from earlier times when horse drawn wagons were used) but was, in fact, a small store built on an early 30's flat bed Ford truck. Dad built it himself.. It was stocked with the most frequently used essential items that people needed--flour, coffee, sugar, salt, lard, thread, needles, can goods and a sack or two of feed. The chicken coop tied to the back and the egg box inside were for barter payments--the same as at the store. A regular route was established along all the country roads from Simms to near Dekalb and New Boston, usually following the mail routes. Two or three days a week, we took the wagon and left early, stopping at every house. We took orders for the next trip for anything we didn't have. My brother Boyce did a lot of the driving, with Mom and I along. Dad sometimes went with the rest of us at the store. I was the chief chicken catcher and egg-counter. Lloyd Canant Thanks for the memories Tom. -- Ross www.myoldtools.com |
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