Vintage Black and Decker Jigsaw
I picked up a vintage Black and Decker jigsaw at an estate sale today. It is a model 7537, all metal, and made in the USA. It is single speed, but I only paid $8. There was also a circular saw and several drills, all metal, and made in the USA. They were priced from $5 to $8 each. I passed on the others because of their weight. I thought they were too heavy to comfortably use.
with a little care these can near last over a lifetime.
my rockwell drill that i got in ’71 is still going strong.
my cordless is basically dead after 10 years of little use.
Okay, but in all fairness I have a hunch that after you adjust for inflation, the price of the cordless actually works out to much less than the price of your 1971 Rockwell drill. Plus, it’s cordless.
I think people tend to romanticize “the good old days”, and forget how much things really cost back then. What I remember is that having a colour TV and more than one phone in the house was for rich people.
Vintage tools are often a good investment, power tools have not really changed that much over the years, most have just had minor improvements, some of really dubious value. Do you really need a laser on a circular saw? Certain tools were actually better than what is available today. Can you name a better sidewinder circular saw than the original Black & Decker Super Sawcat? Try finding one in good working shape for less than twice what it sold for new. How about a tool like Porter-Cables Porta-Plane model 126 or Skils model 100 “surfboard” planer, both usually sell for twice what they sold for new. They just don’t make them like they used to.
well, the cordless that gave up was my second one to give up. no, the older corded one only cost about $30 back then. even adjusted to inflation thats not bad. its still working so the cost/use is purty darn good. and rarely do i need a cordless anyhow. so unless i can find a great deal, i’m done with cordless.