90+ Stamps From Lot: What To Do? Also, Cleaning?

[stevieboy7]

Hey,

I recently bought a BUNCH of old machinery and supplies from a local (mom+pop leather company that closed doors 25+ years ago)
He threw in these rusty stamps that I've managed to rejuvinate, and I was wondering if I could get direction on the best way to sell them/if there is anything rare/valuable in here?
Is it better for me to sell singularily or as a lot? What is the approx values I'm looking at.

I attached a bunch of photos. The stamped on leather are just the ones I've cleaned.


Also,
A few of the stamps were gold-anodized.
I tried cleaning them the same way (rust remover) as I did with all of the chrome tools, but it seems to have taken off the gold coating.
Is there any way that I can clean them without removing the coating? Does it hurt to not have the gold coating?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

[WyomingSlick]

Sorry Stevie, but no, there isn't anything very valuable in this bunch The Craftools are mostly of post 1963 manufacture (the ones with letter prefixes) and one is lucky to get 5 bucks for any of them

The Basic tools may do a bit better, but not much The "gold" coating you are referring to is just a zinc coating and is not a very durable finish to start with

I was surprised to see the broken large Basic stamps, but then on reflection, not so surprised, since people do mistreat/misuse tools all the time

[cradom]

Must be a heck of a rust remover if it takes off anodizing. Try something weaker?

I've used vinegar to remove rust on bikes and it works fine. Let it soak a day or two.

That's assuming that's not gold paint.

Edited September 8, 2014 by cradom

[camano ridge]

Try using a denture cleaner like poly dent or efferdent. It usually does a very good job of cleaneaning without hurting the finish. Try it on just one tool or part of a tool first.

[stevieboy7]

Sorry Stevie, but no, there isn't anything very valuable in this bunch The Craftools are mostly of post 1963 manufacture (the ones with letter prefixes) and one is lucky to get 5 bucks for any of them

The Basic tools may do a bit better, but not much The "gold" coating you are referring to is just a zinc coating and is not a very durable finish to start with

I was surprised to see the broken large Basic stamps, but then on reflection, not so surprised, since people do mistreat/misuse tools all the time

Thanks for the reply.

Considering I got them for nothing and have around 90 of them, even if they're worth a few bucks each, that's pretty great!

I think I'll finish cleaning them up and try to sell as a full lot; hopefully someone can actually get some use out of them.

The whole lot was in pretty terrible condition, rust about, just kept in piles. in a garage corner.