Several recent forum topics dealing with old tool restoration got me thinking. Who are the people who decide how a certain type of antique should or should not be restored?
Think about it. With old power tools, it is generally accepted that a good restoration is one which returns the tool to as “like new” condition as possible. The same holds true for old cars. Nobody ever mentions “patina” as a good thing in relation to a ‘55 Chevy or an old table saw.
Antique furniture, on the other hand, loses the majority of its value if it refinished. Why is refinishing and repairing an 18th century highboy to look like it did when it came out of the original maker’s shop a bad thing?
Old hand tools, planes in particular, seem to be a bit more of a mixed bag. Some want them to look like new, while others prefer to do only what is necessary to restore mechanical function.
I don’t have any answers. I’m just wondering if anyone has any thoughts that might make these apparent inconsistencies make more sense to me?
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