I have been ordering and buying in person from Highland Hardware — now Highland Woodworking for almost as long as Sarge. Well — not quite that long but I too remember the old store across the street.
With me, Highland was always personal. I knew the graphic designer that became a staff member, I knew the fellow that wrote the catalog, the cashier — she was always working on her marketing degree. And Henry – once tried to convince me how great a Ryobi “all in one” TS was. He laughs now. They weren’t casual acquaintances at a trade show. I knew the color of the paint on their homes and they knew mine. They are mostly still there as is Morning Side and Virginia Highlands where they nest. (think Driving Miss Daisy) But there has been a change.
Today the catalog came. 70+ pages down from 100 and 2/3rd the size – literally, 2 columns down from 3. The true cost of sending out these catalogs does come to bear when the orders from them turn down but you can justify some of your business through a website. Many only buy from all these catalogs we get on a semi-annual basis, if at all, and some companies just can’t keep up the effort for a $13.00 order.
Not blaming anyone, other than it’s a sign of the times.
We are lucky to have even 2/3rds an issue to look over with our coffee. Looking at a monitor just doesn’t cut it, and 2/3rds of a cord of wood is better than no wood at all. It’s like the old country store having a quartz tube fireplace instead of a wood stove where the farmers could tell lies.
Just ain’t the same.
Throw the cow out the window some hay…
Boiler
edit: spelling
Edited 9/2/2009 10:22 pm by boilerbay
Replies
Boiler,
Remember Leichtung Workshops, Trendlines and AMT Tool catalogs? Life goes on I guess.
http://www.mvflaim.com
Edited 9/2/2009 7:51 pm ET by mvflaim
True, true
BB
I miss Leichtung Worshops and AMT. They both had some pretty nice and unique tools in them. Trendlines I really don't miss. It was kinda like Woodworkers Supply catalog.
http://www.mvflaim.com
Edited 9/2/2009 9:35 pm ET by mvflaim
Mike,
Trendlines I really don't miss.
Woodworkers Warehouse, it was the closest place to me at one time - 90 miles one way. Back when I was closer to civilization (g) Trendlines was booming. But that was back in the 80s. More recently there was a Western Tool Supply about 40 miles away and it went belly-up 2 weeks ago.
The local hardware store does still have its woodstove, and associated old uh, well you know. Guys hangin around Saturday mornings in the winter - fresh pot of Jo on the stove.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,Western Tool in Newport, Or about 20 some away -- samey same- bout 2 weeks ago. No place local to get my Whitesides or Fein turbo bags. good people too. Thought it was just a single store closing. Guess not.BB
Throw the cow.. LOL
Sorry... I just had to post it..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amWP8FpLrtw
Edit: I got one from Highland and I thought it was OK. So I had to find my reading glasses!
Edited 9/2/2009 9:54 pm by WillGeorge
Will,I will have to send the Terrible Knights of Nee after you, as cow flinging is so very last century!BB
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelightful!
You must enjoy Black Adder as well?Philip Marcou
Philip
Yes I do love Black Adder! And... I just love the 'Carry On' movies! Not a big fan of Dr. Who though.
I just love 'Brit' funny stuff! Not sure I get all the hidden comments but I enjoy ALOT!
Avengers.. One Foot In The Grave..
And whatever BBC-USA had on. For me nothing replaces Monty Python's Flying Circus.
And so many others I cannot think of the titles at the moment. One very special BBC TV thing we got in the USA that I loved but I forgot the name. Just a man and wife and the local neighbors. She just loved to talk and he just drank Ale and made remarks to her... And their neighbors did also to her and him if he went outside..... Very, very funny!
My problem is that Highland is about a 12 minute drive from me. When I walk up to the door I have to take a deep breath and keep repeating "focus...focus...focus" or else that $9 bottle of glue somehow transforms into a $85 purchase.
Once I even forgot I was there for the glue and had to go back. Got the glue on the 2d trip, plus - I had always wanted a small shoulder plane anyway.
deja vuBB
I had some of the same thoughts when I received my catalog a day or so ago. I used to go to Highland almost every Saturday. Even if I didn't need anything I would go, especially in the fall as there was an air of mystique just entering the door. You might bump into Jimmy Carter or an assortment of other characters. You would run into someone you knew at the very least. That was then.. this is now as the wind has shifted.
The two large shop cats are gone. One scratched someone and there was a threat of a law-suit. One of them would always be dozing on whatever I went for and I always had to move him. I loved to do that as the it gave the place character. It was a "shrine" where everybody knew your name and you felt a kin-ship to everybody in the store from staff to customers.
Now... kocally there is P'tree WW (13 miles from me) and two Woodcrafts with one 16 miles away selling much of the same thing. All are outside the peri-meter so you do not have to negotiate 30 miles of traffic on inter-states. There are also 6 zillion inter-net sources where you never have to leave your home and a delivery person brings the package to your door. Nothing mystical about any of them and I know more about the product than the salesman who rings it up.
I considered going to the seminar at Highland with Frank Klaus in October even though I have been in seminar with him twice but... I can just as easily take my wife to Savannah or Asheville to the Grove Park Inn where there is some resemblance of the old south I grew up. Atlanta was once a shining example of the old south but... it is not a southern town anymore and what I once loved about it I despise for the most part.
So.. speaking as a local and someone who cut their teeth at Highland as it was once the "Mecca" for Woodworking in the south with no competition... as the winds I mentioned shifted.... the aura of Highland to me has to some degree faded and in the words of Margaret Mitchell speaking about life as it was in the south... Gone With the Wind.
Where have all the flowers gone... long time passing.
Have a good day Doc...
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Sarge,Fall was great going through Morningside to North Highland Ave. I think it was the only place in Atlanta that had so many maples and oaks lining the streets. A little like New England in the fall. Crisp dew on the lawns followed by the rising promise of a cobalt sky. And yes, I do remember a cat. First thing that hit you when you came in the door. The "watch" cat. I did see Jimmy in there once. You could get real household hardware, dish soap, oven cleaner etc. off to one side.
But for what Atlanta has become, these are the reasons I left and moved to the Oregon Coast.
Highland was one of the good things there.You have a good day to. After all the Maples will turn yellow soon in Morningside.Doc
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