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-835 young@c... 1970‑01‑01 BIO

John P. Young
Falls Church VA
I grew up in LA exposed to plenty of old tools -- I just didn't appreciate
that fact at the time.  My dad's family had moved from NY city in 1934 and
had taken with them several generations of "gent's" type tools.  The
prize, perhaps, was a beautiful, huge, traditional workbench with two
large vises with 2" wooden threads.  It had sat in my granddad's garage
from 1934 to 1973 when we moved it to our house.  Having no basement, it 
sat on concrete in the back yard and over time deterioriated and dried
out.  I went off to college in 1978 and I don't know what became of it.

I received two engineering degrees and worked in silicon valley for a
while, eventually finding myself on a temporary assignment to DC.  I got
bored with what I was doing, and decided to go to law school to explore
intellectual property and, not incidentally, meet some interesting women.
I did, in fact, meet my wife Lis while in law school.  

All during this period, I had enjoyed building things as a hobby.  I had
the only IBM-PC-compatable Alfa Romeo (hopefully) ever built, and I
enjoyed making metal furniture.

After law school, I found myself drawn to antiques.  First to antique cars
(we have a 24 Packard with wooden wheels), and then to tools and
woodworking.  In my office currently, I have 7 planes, 2 breast drills
(including a North Brothers/Yankee No. 1555) three levels, an oil can, a
brace, antique shears, and the cutest little Disston dovetail saw you ever
saw!

I tend to focus on users and on restoration.  A big thrill at the last
Patina auction was to find several No. 4's with busted cheeks.  I spent
the next few days happily learning how to braze replacement cheeks into
place and create usable tools!  I also enjoy creating furniture and
household items (quietly, if possible) with oldtools.  The latest is a
small table for my wife's birthday.  I live with her, our 1 year old son,
Maxwell, and two large dogs, in Falls Church VA.






Recent Bios FAQ