What happens to your stuff when you die?

[joseph engraver]

When I decided to retire I came to the conclusion that the best thing for me to do was leave everything that pertained to engraving to a museum, so that future generations would have the opportunity to see a complete set of hand tools used by a firearms engraver.
Having read the histories of other engravers, and what happened to their things, I realized that when I am dead that my tools would be scattered by the four winds and no one would benefit.
If my wife sold them to a collector they would eventually be lost, sold piecemeal or placed in a person’s collection for private gain. To me this was an unacceptable end for the things that I had enjoyed and had provided me a decent and honorable living.
It was a painful and emotional day when I took money and left to the museum all tools, drawings, molds and castings, print plates, photo negatives, my library and writings that I had accumulated during my working years.
Now that there is this means of communicating via the internet and being able to see others engraving works the world over. I was wondering how it would be possible to showcase our engraving in such a way that we could leave a legacy that would endure, and be available for others who follow to see, The Cody Firearms Museum is one option that is worth considering. I am not sure if other engravers would be willing to contribute to a permanent display of their works, or even where it could be housed. Therefore I ask this question, what is going to happen to your stuff when you die? Have a great day.

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

Joseph, that is a really good question. I'm not end career but I have thought about it already. In particular about my skills I gathered true the years.
I have 5 children, but none is interested in my knowledge, except my son who married my daughter. In a way he want to save my gathered skills as the younger people are not so interested any more in craftsmanship. So I'm learning him now some of what I know about engraving, because he likes it to do.
But I think that this is life, you gather a lot of experience that can't be given to someone else. Everyone has to start all over, make their own tools etc.

Next Tuesday I will play on my contrabass during the funeral of the father of my buddy guitarist.
He became 80 and painted whole his life. There are several hundreds paintings, and of course my buddy will dandle them a long time. But after many years no one will remember John Brossen even from his paintings. That because he never "made it" as a painter.

I'm very interested in engraving and do the best I can. I'm sure you have done engravings I can dream of, but to be honest, I don't know your work. Of course that is my fault.

What I try to tell you is that most of us want to omission something we gathered, and that is also what you try to do.
Sure I have great respect for that and I also will struggle with it.
But I have no answer, only understanding.

PS. trying to tell you this in an other language than mine is not that easy.

arnaud

 

[Peter E]

Hopefully, I am not too close to that time, but I plan to leave various things in my will to people I know that would enjoy them. At this time, I don't have anyone in mind for my tools.

I'd like to visit the Cody Firearms museum some time.

Peter

 

[Andrew Biggs]

What's this!!!...................the happy thought for the day

But you're right Joseph. Tools, collections, medals, art.....can become a bind for the family once we have passed on. Many families have disintergrated trying to deal with them.

So...............Grow old disgracefully, spend the lot and leave your debts for the kids to deal with!!!!!

That's my happy thought for the day

Cheers
Andrew

 

[eisman]

If you're lucky your mates divy them up and use them.

Seriously it's hard to have treasured items that no one else in your personal circle is interested in. I have around 500 books on firearms, some very hard to come by, and yet I'm seriously thinking of selling them as I have no wish to move them again, and a lot of the reason I bought them is gone too. There's no way I'd give them to a library; OC as they've become.

For those who have not been to the Cody Museum, go. You'll never forget it.

 

[monk]

my widow has already made me throw half my junk away. the other half is either no good or barely useable. there are several oil painters in my family. they have great curiosity about my art, but only curiosity. they aren't too fond of working on stuff one can carry in a pocket

 

[guzzi]

joseph

A very good friend of mine wanted to donate his historic police motorcycle to a museum. They sent him information on the process and he discovered that once the display is no longer revelant, they are free to auction it off in order to purchase or house other items of a more modern nature. Be aware, just because a museum has your stuff, it is not guaranteed to still survive as such.

g

 

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

till death do us part?

i have been a blacksmith,bladesmith,welder,woodworker,blah blah.i have tried to find students/apprentices ,but the kids today are not built like they used to be.hence,no takers.i spent decades searching for and aquiring the tools of the trades,now,i cant even sell them locally.i feel that tools are best passed down to a dedicated student(good luck with that one!).i think this way of thinking died with the apprenticeship way of learning.i think that the mindset of the masters in this country is not the same as it used to be.and this in turn effected the would be apprentices motivation to enter into a particular field.unfortunately,the american way revolves around money,time is money,to the detriment of the trades.how many people can/will spend money they dont have,to study for years,before they can earn a living.sounds like the american educational system,college is out of reach for the average student,no matter their desire or dedication.money!money!money!imagine what could happen if the money was taken out of the equation.i think maybe the tools,will end up on the auction block,like the Ulrich tools in another post.30,000$,please!these are pieces of wood with "nails"stuck into them.dont get me wrong,i would love to have them,i have my grandfathers wooden machinists chest,with the tools intact.if only the holding of a tool that was held by the master would some how imbue you with the skill of he/she who went before you.if only!i will end here for now,i didnt intend to get on a roll here,this question has struck a deep nerve in me.maybe i hit my funny bone.GodBless,mike

 

[monk]

in keeping with the above, kids today acheive instant results. no need to serve an apprenticeship, or anything else. shove a joystick in their hand when they're 3 years old, and they're off to the races ! in less than 5 minutes, with no knowledge of aerodynamics, navigational protocols, weapons systems, etc, etc you can take full command of an f-16 and save the world.

 

[Big-Un]

I really don't know how my children will accept my tools when I'm gone, although I would like to think my son, the cop, is impressed enough with his "old man" to keep them, books and all, and pass them to my grandson or granddaughter if they show any interest in art or engraving. Otherwise, I have told my wife I want them boxed as a unit and donate them to FEGA to present to an aspiring engraver. I want nothing pieced out or sold. If they are going to do that, then put them in the box with me and we'll spend eternity together.

Bill

 

[Dulltool]

I inherited all my tools (minus the gravermach) from my grandfather after he passed on in the mid 1960's..... I was in high school at the time. My boy who is now eight will be getting them from me (a long, long time from now... I hope).

 

[vilts]

Joseph, an interesting thread, thanks for starting it. Now I will rant a bit.

My father just had a similar experience with the youth. He works in an agricultural school, leading the workshop where the students fix cars etc. So last week a bunch of kids from basic school came to see the school and see whether they would want to study there. Principal asked my father to show the kids some handwork possibilities too - knives we made, engraving, blacksmithing etc. But. Zero interest. Absolutely nothing. Some said they were interested in computers, one wanted to sleep etc. So, the typical 'youth of today'.

But on the other side, is this the fault of the youth or their parents (now in 35-40 yr olds). When kids are raised by TV and shooter games, what can you expect? They don't know to want anything else. I started turning wood, messing with carpentry and cutting fingers when I was 5-6, I guess. All because my father did it. There was always something interesting he did - carving wood, fixing TVs, radios (I even learned somewhat to read electronic schematics and use oscilloscope). When my parents started farm I got to plow the field and drive with tractor a lot. So I got to see different things and it piqued my interest for later. But when parents work 9 hours in office and watch 5 hours TV in the evening, what's a kid to do?

About leaving your hard-acquired knowledge to someone, or finding someone in the first place. Sure, times have changed and the apprenticeship isn't quite possible. But then again. If I wanted to learn from a master for a longer period of time (say one year), it would require crazy amount of money from me or from the master. If average price for instruction per week is ~1500USD ($900 to $4000), how long can I afford to learn? Heck, this is my 1 month salary... Not considering the travel, living and other expenses. Where would I, or 15 year old kid, or anyone take this money? Of course there are schools in US and Belgium, but I'm talking about learning directly from masters. If master would pay for students expenses, that would be enormous pressure for the master - to do enough work to feed his family, the student and find time to teach the kid too. Unfortunately, cash seems to be the king. And then the kid would find after a year or two that he actually doesn't like engraving...

But I wouldn't worry about what happens material things when I die. It's all just 'stuff' anyways. I came to this life to learn and when I can look back to my life and see that I learnt a lot, then all is well. The stuff rots sooner or later and when I'm too attached to the stuff, then maybe this is *the* lesson I need to learn - to let go of the stuff .

End of rant.

 

[jcdoherty]

I let the rest of the family know that any of them are welcome to any of my tools if they want to try some of the things I enjoyed. If not then sell it all and use the money to make their lives easier.

JIm

 

[Tom Curran]

Museums will take stuff in, but often will use it to raise funds for keeping them alive.

I think it better to find someone who will take the stuff and use it, put them in your will, or start now giving things away that you no longer need.

Everyone must find their own way somehow.

All my stuff will end up in the dumpster. My things are here for me to use and enjoy, but there is no saying that someone else will enjoy it like I do.

Ah, happy thoughts of our mortality. We never gave this a thought when twenty years old, nor at forty, but start creeping in at fifty......

I am going to go machine some parts and ponder the mystery of life.

Tom

 

[AndyS]

Joseph, you really have opened a can of worms. You know, do you think that we will worry about what happens to our worldly goods once we're gone? but it is so true,the young ones want instant knowledge. They want to pick up a tool and use it, but it does not work like that as you know. I have decided that if I have a warning before passing on, I will decide who to leave my tools with. It is not only the love and care that attaches one to the tools and equipment, it is also doing someone a great financial favour to leave a set of tools for that one to start with.
Nice thought though Joseph. I feel that my tools would not be happy if they did not know the person that inherits them.Kind regards.
Andy

 

[AllanFink1960]

So often, looking on ebay for something, I will find a whole workshop full of old tools for sale by some young person. Inevitably the comment "These were my <dad's, grandfather's, uncle's (take your pick) > I dont know what any of this old stuff is for" will be in the description.

Even worse, they will divide it into several lots with part of the watchmaker's lathe, torch, flex-shaft, engraving machine, casting machine parts in one lot, and the other half in the other lots, not even knowing how to assemble them. If a person is lucky they can win ALL of the auctions an get both halves.

 

[Chapi]

There is a lot of information to be had from the old tools of those that have gone before us. You can see what works and what is good, what got used alot, even how to sharpen a pencil the "right way". I was very fortunate recently to be offered some old engraving odds and ends and while the list of tools didn't seem all that impressive, the knowledge I gained from the tools themselves was immeasurable. Even more than that, I had a golden opportunity to pick the brain of an engraver that had retired and was ready to sell the last of his tools(most of his main equipment was sold years ago). If you are contemplating retirement from engraving, I would think that you are obliged to at least try to pass on some of this knowledge and tools to the future generations that are interested, at a price, of course. I don't think anybody would ask for something so valuable without an exchange of some kind.

 

[eastslope]

All of you are awfull hard on the youth, but remember which generations raised them. First came the radios, then the TV was invented, a man was sent to the moon, video games, etc. All of these things to make life better and easier, but the end result was more time spent away from the home, and these wonderful inventions were left behind keeping an eye on the children. Plus, if computers and tv's existed when most of you were younger, wouldn't you have used them to the fullest extent. Your spending time on them right now while reading this. I am only 32 as of a week or so ago, and grew up with computer games and cable tv. Fortunantely, my parents tought me how to work on everything, research and build whatever you want, and do whatever you want. They gave me an intrest in many disaplines and crafts, well except spelling. Heck, I just helped my dad glue up a longbow this afternoon. After that type of upbringing, who would ever want to waste time on mindless tv programs and games, but many children don't know any better, and it's the fault of the parents. If you want a young person to take an intrest in what your doing, it should start with you taking an intrest in what they are doing, and exposing them to many different things. Well, that's just my two bits, and at the price of the US dollar, that isn't much. Seth

 

[Brian Marshall]

Time to bring this thread back...?

Been planning to reduce my "stuff" for years now.

The goal is to have one third of everything GONE - during the next 12 months.

I will start posting "stuff" on a regular weekly basis in the Buy/Sell section beginning in December.

And yes, I will incorporate the lessons I learned from my last lot...


Brian

 

[SamW]

My son told me years ago...'Dad, I don't care if you spend my inheritance but if you get rid of the old cars you are in deep trouble'...so I took that to mean I can spend all my money on the old cars with blessing. I reached a point when I looked around and thought 'what will my son have to do to get rid of all this junk' and that is when I stopped purchasing interesting stuff knowing I had more than enough already. Great for the saving account!

So, I recommend to my son he keep what he wants and sell what he doesn't want and those engraving related items he doesn't want maybe donate to FEGA. Most of the junk (my choice) I will be eliminating in the near future.

Remember, he who dies with the most toys is just as dead!