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Many tool collectors I know are a reclusive sort. They might remodel their home (and barn) to show off their tool collection, but it’s kind of rare for them to open their doors to anyone and everyone.
Not John Sindelar.
He’s been amassing a huge collection of woodworking tools with the goal of sharing them with the public. He set up several rooms of his woodworking business to display thousands of tools and regularly takes people on tours, including those who just show up at the door.
He’s built a traveling tool museum that he takes to woodworking events and state fairs. He brought the trailer to our Woodworking in America conference last year and will bring it back again in 2011.
And his long-term goal is to set up a dedicated tool museum to house his collection and further the study of the objects that transformed this continent from a wild place into a country that is safe for barbecue joints, fireworks stands and booth babes – the things that make our country great.
The first Saturday weekend in June – that’s June 4, 2011 – Sindelar is again throwing his doors open wide and inviting the public into the mothership. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the event closes at 4 p.m. I’ll be there. You should be there, too.
Why? Because you are going to see some eye-bulging stuff. Sindelar has just acquired an 18-wheeler full of tools stored in 82 crates – many of which haven’t been opened in 40 years. And some of it is going to go up for sale. Plus you can tour the collection, which is an opportunity to see woodworking tools that you’ve only seen in books.
Even if you aren’t a tool collector, the event is totally worthwhile. Sindelar usually invites several prominent tool sellers to hawk their wares — much like the tailgating events that occur at dawn at many tool meets. At the last event I attended I saw lots of really good user tools change hands for below-eBay prices.
Sindelar’s museum is located at 69953 Section St. in Edwardsburg, Mich. 49112. Here’s a link to a Google map.
Here’s another reason to go: I’m organizing an expedition to the Bell’s Brewery for that evening for beer and dinner. Yeah, it’s about an hour north of Sindelar’s, but I’m a big fan of Bell’s. So if you want something to do that night, and if you want to see me do a killer karaoke version of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” – whether or not they have a karaoke machine – make plans to be there.
— Christopher Schwarz
• Read a story that I wrote about John Sindelar, free on our web site.
• For a preview of the museum, visit www.sindelartoolmuseum.com. Any questions? Contact John Sindelar at 269-357-9085 or 269-663-8841.
