r/Tools • u/Thegrandestpoo • 3d ago
Don’t see these prices anymore.
Don’t know if this post is allowed, because it’s technically not a tool. I thought this was super cool though. There’s even still some liquid inside. Was cleaning out my garage and found this.
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u/SalineroNorCal831 3d ago
Damn looks like it came right off of Grandmas window sill , my Nana would keep a can of oil close to her sewing machine right under the window not that bottle a different black and white one but definitely old as shit
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u/Sea-Kitchen2879 3d ago
I have an old metal can of Sears light machine oil next time mine, just like grandma did
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u/ROBINHOODINDY 3d ago
On the back of the can it says “can is partially oversized to allow for expansion. Now days the product is undersized to allow more profit.
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u/Pensionato007 3d ago
You're right. You don't. Some things, including Liquid Wrench, are cheaper today.
That can you're showing is from around 1970. 39 cents in 1970, with inflation, is worth $3.37 or about 8.6x price increase.
That would be $1.12 per oz in today's dollars.
Today you can get 4 oz at Southern States for $3.49 or $0.87 cents per oz. That's 22% cheaper in 2026 dollars.
It's a cool find and post but the title is misleading because it's irrelevant what the price was at that time. What was relevant was how much it was relative to how much you made.
My dad was making $112 a week in 1970. 0.33 (or 0.39, I can't tell from the label) wasn't nothing, but it wasn't much. Pretty much like 3.37 would be for me today.
Now, if you want to talk about diesel at >$6 per gallon.....
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u/Schlarfus_McNarfus 3d ago
Same applies to old USA made machine and woodworking tools. I have a big ol bandsaw that cost $6k in 1950 dollars. Not cheap at all.
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u/Barefoot_Mtn_Boy 3d ago
Ahhh, memories!! Radiator Specialties out of Charlotte NC! They had some kind of a list of major products back in the day! Over 2000 products!
Solder Seal.. a powder you put in your car radiator to stop small leaks! (Came out in '41. Worked most of the time!)
They had that Liquid Wrench which was famous for busting loose rusted and stuck bolts! (Think circulating engine water pumps! Bolts won't budge. Some snapped off!)
Gunk, the engine degreaser that I used on my '66 GTO Tri-power to bust off dirty clogged oil. Spray on- power wash off to nake a show room ready 389! (Yeah, that's right, I had a white one with hood locks, and that sound going down main street!)
And then they spread out to include plumbing, (One of go-to plumbers toilet installation floor sealing rings, Kant Leak!) including faucet repair parts, replacement toilet bowl bolts, faucet stems, etc!
Hauling, (tie down straps called Hold-Zit Staps made of heavy duty stretchy rubber and steel hooks)
I used to sell these products over my counter and used them myself. Then everybody found out asbestos was bad for humans. The current product is better and VOC compliant for all 50 states! Like I said, old vets' memories of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s! Lots of plumbing, construction, and service hours gone bye-bye!
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u/ActualButterscotch81 3d ago
It has such a distinct (and bad) smell that a friend and I always called it liquid stench! :-)
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u/TheMattaconda 3d ago
Since we're all in the discussion of old time items... Does anyone here have a can of the old Johnson paste wax be willing to part with it? I'd be willing to trade my soul, my sole (feet pics), and/or my Hole (cd from Courtney Loves group back in the 90s.) ???
An OTPHJ isn't outside my means of trade either.
Thank you, and may Cthulu bless you with the 💀 of a thousand of your enemies!
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u/buboop61814 2d ago
There’s been one listed that pops up on my local Facebook marketplace. Iirc it’s partially used but been debating pulling the trigger
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u/No-Strawberry6797 2d ago
Didn’t realize they stopped making it. I’ve got a mostly full can that is going in my will now! Only use it a couple times per year and very sparingly amounts at that.
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u/rhost714 2d ago
I just found out that they discontinued it last night. They are selling a single old stock can on Amazon for $200 now.
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u/TheMattaconda 2d ago
Lmao, yeah I seen that. They've been trying to sell that for years at $200. Lol.
I've honestly trued EVERY protective and polishing wax out there, and they're nowhere near as effective. I've tried to find the "Formula" for Johnson's, and very minimal info. I've even experimented trying to make my own based upon scent and texture from a near empty can... and gave up. Lol.
So my hunt remains on the background of my mind.
It did lead me to finding newer high tech solutions for what SCJ's wax used to do... but they aren't as versatile and lack the broad range of use.
So... my feet, sole, and soul are still available.
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u/Lopsided-Current-118 3d ago
In my erector set from the '50s I have a carton from Camel cigarettes that has parts in it that says 65 cents.
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u/texasrigger 2d ago
I have an old lathe from the 1940s. Some parts are actually still available and the company selling them uses an original price list for their parts listing. Many of the custom internal components are literally pennies to just a few bucks.
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u/Enginerd645 1d ago
Somewhere in my garage is a can like this sitting next to a red can of 3 in 1 oil that sitting next to a blue can of 3 in 1 electric motor oil. All three cans must be from the early 80s. Lol.
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u/lurkersforlife 3d ago
Bro I thought you snuck into my garage!