antique leatherworking kit, shoemaker's cobbler leather tools in old tin tool box

19th century vintage leather working tool kit in a antique tole box, a whole collection just as we found it. There's a number of nice old awls and punches here, a few needles, some very grungy thread of some sort and wax blocks. There's two 'newer' packages of old sewing needles in this lot, as well.

The needles may be beyond saving (they're pretty rusty) but the wood handled tools look as though they should clean up fine for use if you want to put in a little work and elbow grease. It makes a nice collection - a living museum piece! - just as it is.

The box measures 9 1/2" x 6 1/2", and has no key. It's very old, much older than most tole boxes we've found. It's heavy for it's size, and the original finish is just lovely on this piece.

We don't know very much about the origins of this set, just that it came out of an estate in the Freeport Illinois area. We wouldn't be surprised to find that these tools are civil war vintage, but we don't actually know if this kit belonged to a saddle and harness maker or a cobbler, or just a handy farmer or a soldier!