Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association

BLACKSMITHING TOOLS:

• Little Giant Co. 50 lb. Trip Hammer, SN: 4542 w/ electric motor:
• “The New Little Giant” 25 lb. Trip Hammer, Mayer Bros., Mankato, Minn.
• Floor drill press 68 in. tall, belt driven, Mfg. by W.F. & J Barnes Co. Rockford, Ill. USA. Pat. Sept. 23, ‘83:
• Lg.wall mount drill press, # 16, Canedy Otto Mfg. Co. Chicago Heights belt driven:
• 16ft-18 ft line shaft with 3 wooden & 2 metal pulleys w/ wooden brackets:
• Buffalo Forge Co. No. 660 forge, 26 ½ in. x 38in. with cast iron hood, Champion blower & electric motor:
• 23 in. x 35 in. forge , hand crank, w/ Champion Blower:
• Buffalo Forge Co. #300 forge w/ 21 in round diam. Bed. w/ hand crank:
• Natural Gas forge, 26 in x 44 in. bed:
• Hay Budden blacksmithing anvil marked #185, top is damaged and needs repaired:
• Approx. 80 assorted blacksmith tongs and pliers:
• Several hammers:
• Assortment of Murphys, Stake and stump anvils:
• 49in tall cone anvil:
• 15in swage block:
• 8 ½ in swage block:
• Wall mount drill press, missing hand crank:
• Green River No 3 foot vise, made by Wiley & Russell, Mfg. Co. Greenfield, Mass.
• Hand crank blower for a forge, “Royal” Canedy Otto Mfg. Co. Chicago Heights, Ill.:
• Fire pot for a forge:
• Also selling will be approx. 1500 lb of blacksmithing coal. Will be sold in 5 gal buckets.

SHOP TOOLS:

• Grizzly Industrial model G1006/G1007 Mill/Drill, 2 hp. Elec. motor, 12 speed, mounted on a steel, roll-a-bout table:
• Several large drill bits:
• Hougen portable magnetic drill, HMD 914 series w/ 6 bits:
• Craftsman metal lathe on stand, 36 in. bed:
• Craftsman planer-joiner on stand:
• Central Pneumatic steel sand blasting cabinet w/ helmet protector:
• Central Machinery 13 in drill press, floor model:
• Acetylene/oxygen tanks ( medium size) with cutting & brazing torches on high wheel cart:
• Central Machinery metal cutting bandsaw:
• Chicago electric 14in. Metal cut-off saw on stand:
• Mr. Heater 125,000 btu space heater:
• electric winch:
• Sanborn portable air compressor:
• Chicago Electric 12 in. Compound Slide Miter Saw:
• Central Machinery 14 in. x 40 in. wood lathe w/ 6 in. sanding disc:
• Several wood lath knives:
• Kobalt Router table w/ router:
• Dremel 16 in 2 sp. table -top Scroll saw:
• Tool Shop 7 ¼ in miter saw:2- 6 in bench grinders:
• Skil bench-top drill press:
• 2 pc. roll-a-bout tool box:
• 6 drawer metal tool chest:
• Chicago Electric 4 in. hand Plate Joiner:
• ½ in electric impact wrench:
• Makita elec. hand grinder:
• 2 hand pipe benders:
• Homemade utility pull type flatbed yard cart, tilt bed, w/ stakeholders, 45 in. W x 73 ½ in L. :
• 2 wheel metal pull-type yard cart:
• 24 drawer steel cabinet, 26 in w x 29in deep x 56 in tall’ drawers are 7 ½ in wide x 28 in long:
• 2 lg. Metal impl. seats on rollers:
• Engine hoist:
• Assorted wrenches,& socket sets:
• Electric drills:
• Saber saws:
• Levels:
• 10 gal. shop vac:
• Oregon 14 in. electric chain saw:
• Welding clamps:
• C-Clamps:
• Numerous drill bits:
• Several small hardware boxes:
• Hardware supplies such as bolts, nails, O- rings kits, allen screws

ANTIQUE TOOLS:

• 4 ½ in. pole vise, 42 in long. :
• “Western Chief” stationary metal bender or wagon wheel tire shrinker? Mfg. by Canedy Otto , Chicago Heights Ill.
• Antique metal rim bender for wagon wheels:
• Barth hand metal cutter w/ 8 ½ in blade:
• Bench type metal shear:
• Sheet metal roller:
• Rock Island Mfg. Co. No. 241, 4 in. vise/anvil:
• Reed No 2SR pipe threader w/ ½- 2 in. dies:
• Wells Bros. “Little Giant” bolt threader w/ dies:
• Sm. coal soldering iron heater Marked NM & T Co.( orig. From the Tripp Hardware Store in Greenview,Il.):
• Salesman sample of barn door slides, National Mfg. Co.
• 2 – Clipper Belt Lacers:
• Approx. 18 boxes of assorted sizes of belt hooks:
• Sioux Valve Seat grinder in wooden box:
• Ashcroft combined valve grinder, breast drill & ratchet, in original wood box:
• 7 Ford Model T wrenches:
• Several metal patterns
• 2 antique Radiator Gauges, 1 marked Ford
• 3 ANTIQUE HEATING STOVES: Round Oak,
• Alaska National Cannon Heater # 20:
• Space Heater-US Army:
• Plus several smalls

Terms:

Wilbur C. Gaedtka 1928 – 2021

Springfield, IL—Wilbur C. Gaedtka, age 92, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2021. Surviving are his two daughters, Margaret and Suzanne, of Springfield and a cousin, Harold Strampp, of Lincoln.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Marjorie in 1971 after 12 years of marriage. She blessed him with their two daughters. His second wife Gerry passed away in 2012 after 40 years of marriage.

Wilbur was born in Lincoln, Ill., on December 28, 1928 to Carl and Marie Gaedtka and was raised on a farm near New Holland. As an only child, he spent many hours tending to the farm with his father and grandfather. He fondly remembered raising prize winning steers for 4-H, showing them at the Logan County Fair, and traveling with his dad to sell steers at the stockyard in Chicago.

He graduated from New Holland High School in 1947. Shortly thereafter, his father passed away, and a few years later Wilbur stopped farming to serve two years in the U.S. Army in post-World War II Germany. He was trained in radio communications, which led to his 33 year career as a communications technician for AT&T before he retired in 1988.

Wilbur had a wide range of interests and enjoyed collecting and learning about things from the past. In particular, he was drawn to cars, tools, blacksmithing, bottles, stamps, and WWII. He enjoyed reading magazines and books on these topics and spending time with fellow enthusiasts. He was a member of many clubs in Central Illinois including the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club, of which he was a charter member, Prairie Capital Corvair Association, Mid-West Tool Collectors, Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association, Pekin Pontils, and Springfield Philatelic Society. Rising early in the morning was never a problem if he was headed to an auction, flea market, or hammer-in. A nap would replenish the lost hours of sleep later in the day. He was a champion napper!

Wilbur was baptized as a child and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith. As an adult, he served in various offices of the church council for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Athens.

In the 1970’s, he worked with others in the community to start the Athens Library. He had a lifelong love of chocolate, homemade sweets and Coca-Cola, make that Classic Coke. He enjoyed them daily. His favorite games were Rummy and Scrabble. Whether it was his mother, grandmother, wives, daughters, or even his caregivers, Wilbur was always loved dearly and spoiled by the women in his life. He had an infectious smile, a kind spirit, and a loving heart. Most of all, he valued his family as the ultimate treasure of his life. He will be deeply missed and always remembered with love.

Visitation for Wilbur will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Both will be at Mott & Henning Funeral Home in Athens with Rev. Ken Gennicks officiating. COVID-19 protocols will be followed, including face coverings. Burial will be at Joel Hall Cemetery in Athens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Sherman Rescue Squad, Friends of Athens Municipal Library, or donor’s choice.

Mott & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the family. On-line condolences can be shared at www.mottandhenning.com.