Cool catalog

I'm a guy. I like toys--I mean, tools.

And I've found the grownups' version of the Sears wish book.

I came across a company while looking for a special tool to for my father. They had what I wanted and seemed to have a professional operation. I placed the order and became even more satisfied with my choice. The customer service was good, and several weeks after my order, I got what has quickly become known in the family as "The Famous" catalog from Forestry Suppliers.

For weeks in my spare time I've studied the catalog. About 600 pages long, the catalog is packed with interesting items, and it takes several read-throughs to notice everything in it. And yes, it is a catalog, but there's plenty in it that could be potentially useful or, at least, educational. (They seem to be pretty proud of the catalog themselves.)

For example, the catalog includes (I won't bother linking to it all.)

• reasonably-priced, quality outdoor gear (tents, packs, sleeping bags, GPS, etc)
• nice hand tools (crosscut saws, pruners, specialty tools, and a wealth of shovels for any special use)
• weather-related tools (weather stations, gauges, handheld anemometers/other sensors)
• logging tools (log hooks/tongs, portable mills, winches, chainsaws and chainsaw safety gear)
• pest control items (traps, decoys, sensors, needles to prevent roosting pigeons, repellents, etc)
• scopes (binoculars, distance calculators, night vision, remote wildlife cameras)
• measuring tools (specialized rulers, extra-long tape measures, lasers, measuring wheels)

There are some interesting items that you might have used or seen in use, but never given thought to where they come from, such as

• campground/picnic area fire rings/grills


• paint and marking tools for placing trail blazes on trees


• spikes for climbing trees or power poles


• hard hats (traditional hat brim, all-the-way around brim, and cowboy-hat-style)


• wildfire firefighting gear (Indura/Nomex clothes, packs, hand tools, helmets, goggles, boots, water pumps, fire shelters, etc)


• geology tools (hammers, picks, chisels, guides)


• surveyors tools


• utility line detectors

And sincere science tools

• lab gear (dissection tools, beakers, sensors, microscopes)


• forestry tools (instruments to measure all sorts of tree-related things, planting tools, soil moisture testers, soil pH testers, etc.)


• water-quality tools (including any number of sensors and guages)

I don't think it's a stretch to say that there's something for everyone in the family in this catalog. Mom can get gardening tools/gear. Dad can get yard tools and outdoor gear, and the kids can get some educational science equipments and probably even books and videos.

Posted by JRC at June 8, 2005 06:20 PM | TrackBack