The Model T and Boot Soles

[A Whiteman]

I am helping clear out my father's garage when I came upon a T magnet hanging on the wall. It 'rang true' when struck on the vice but has lost most of its magnetism.

At dinner that night my dad explained where it came from. My grandfather bought up a cobbler's shop with all of its equipment and moved it to the local town to set up an aunt's fiance in business as 'Hop A Long Boot Repairs'. This would be the early 1950's. (52 or 53, right when cobbling was disappearing as a trade).
My dad was sent in as a lad to help get the business established (as his wages didn't cost much I think) and to learn the trade.
The Model T magnet was included in the equipment bought as an important tool. When the tacks were spilled or dropped on the floor then a wave with the magnet meant none were lost and all were recovered without wasted money in unused tacks

The business failed (much to dad's relief - he hated the work) and the romance flagged and various tools and rivets and tacks and bits and bobs found thier way into dad's keeping, including that cost saving Model T magnet.


The said magnet along with one of the sewing awls:

[DanTreace]

Adrian

That's a good story,

Magnets are helpful in the garage too. Have a magnetic bowl to hold nuts and bolts from rolling off the bench. And one of those magnetic sweepers on a stick to find stuff dropped on the floor!

Here is an old timer's use of Ford magneto magnet to clear bolt holes.

Ford magnet for clearing bolt holes.JPG (137.08 KiB) Viewed 1547 times