WHAT IS IT? Mystery Tools  

Mr. Pete, it's not the quantity of viewers that watch your posts, it's the quality of the viewers that count. I think what your doing is great.

Good grief! Please keep on with What Is It! I just LOVE these videos!!! Also, ... there is a hard core group of your fans that really enjoy the stories of your anecdotes.. Please always, as long as you have health and strength, share these wonderful stories... Pay no attention to the YT analytics, but do pay attention to us.. we are your RU-vid family..

Mr. Pete.. You’re still the king of Utube in my eyes. 80, heck you’re still young at heart. Thank you for all the good years, looking forward to more.

Well, Mr Pete....I have been watching your channel for about 6 years and I have to say that I really look forward to your "What is it" episodes. Most of the items are quite fascinating. Please keep them coming! No other You Tuber does anything like it. What you do is unique!

Lyle, You are NOT Failing - Thank You, For Keeping Tool History Alive. You Need Not Worry about Being Popular, Your Followers are Unique and Don't Throw in the Towel on this Series - Please Continue, Stay Safe...Thanks Again...

I enjoy the "what is it" stuff, especially as it gives a valuable insight into how things can be repaired, instead of today's "computer says no", throw it in the trash and buy new. Can you imagine the H&S hoops you'd have to jump through nowadays to use that solder gimbal cup ? 😂😂

I always love the “What Is It?” Videos. I’m sorry you’re once again announcing that you’re quitting them. They’re my favorites,

Will miss this series

*I'm sad to learn your 'Mystery Tools' videos are going away. They're my favorites.*

I'm getting old too, Mr. Pete.. I don't have time to watch all the videos of all the people I follow, but I always make time for "What is it?". Do what you need to do for yourself, free of a guilty conscience; you've done plenty to pass on your knowledge.

Love your anecdotes Mr Pete ,burning caterpillars off a walnut tree LOL

Mr Pete just wanted to let you know that we really enjoyed the what is it series and will truly miss it thank you for taking the many hours of your days for our extended education you are truly a great man thanks again

i just wanted you to know that i really enjoyed watching this series sir!

I love the nostalgia that comes with your WHAT IS IT videos! please keep 'em coming! :)

Lyle, please don't trash talk uour own efforts. You are a treasure trove of knowledge and a wonderful raconteur that is a pleasure to listen to. These "What is it?" videos are a great springboard for your efforts. Us loyal fans appreciate your work on our behalf.

Your comment about kids no longer doing things that do not involve a computer and the Internet rings true with me. Here in UK I was electrical soldering - with the kind of externally heated iron you showed on the blowtorch - before I was 10, and aged 11 was helping dad build a TV from a design in _Practical Television_ magazine. Mind you, not all kids had the upbringing I did: when I went around friends' houses I could not understand why they didn't have bunsen burners, conical flasks, petri dishes, brilliant green agar, microscopes, and loads of chemical around the house like we did

But Mystery Tools was my favourite Mr Pete feature. Please reconsider.

I have access to a 1937 Woodworkers Tool Works catalog - the funny looking measuring device is for setting moulding cutters - instructions included.

We always get some amusement ( & and an education) from your videos. Thanks & Greetings from Scotland

You are the leader of your destiny sir. I’ll admit that I have not seen all of your “What is it” videos. The ones I have watched helped educate me on several items that I’ve seen and never knew what they were for or had a partial idea and you helped fill in the missing part. You have such a wealth of information that many of us appreciate dearly that you do any videos at all. Thank you for all that you’ve done, do, and still share sir.

Woodworkers Tool Works was started in 1907 by a fellow named Knourek. His great grandson Bobby Knourek is still at the helm of WTW and they sell ALL kinds of blades, cutters, tires, etc for woodworking machinery. He's a frequent poster on OWWM and offers free advice to anyone needing it.

We Do watch and want!

I have watched every one of these Watch Is It videos. I always learn something new. Please continue making them.

Please keep this series going MrPete....I will understand if you don't...but I will pray that you do!!

I’m not a machinist, woodworker, or anything of the sort, but I find these “What Is It?” videos fascinating. There’s so much in this world I don’t know, and your channel allows me to glimpse a portion of it that would otherwise remain foreign to me. I appreciate the time and effort you put into these!

Mr Pete some of us always appreciate you knollege and wisdom that you share.

Mr Pete, Love your "what is it videos" I'm always finding tools that I wonder about and have known many because of your videos. I have a valve lapped like the one in this video and it was jammed up by old grease. Now cleaned and working again. Never had the opportunity to learn much machine working so your videos are a great education. Thanks so much!

Mr. Pete…I’ve watched your videos for several years now but never commented…please keep showing those old tools as they are interesting…I’m 87 years old myself, done lots of machine work, restored old tools and machines and still keep on learning!…I’ve learned so much from your channel….keep up the great work!… I have a complete shop full of equipment myself and I’ll be sharing photos and history with you very soon.

I'm 83 years old and learn something new from each of your videos.

I will never stop watching your videos. Thanks, Mr. Pete! Be blessed.

I am 71 years old and I love your what is it videos. I have often wished you could dig through my shop and label my tools. I have a lot that I am not really sure of.

Mr. Pete, please continue with this and others of your series. Being not too far behind you in age, I like old tools and ingenious contraptions that people used to make and do "stuff". Anecdotes are the sprinkles on the cookies. Thank you for all the wonderful content over the years.

Mr Pete! Don't stop the mystery tools! While I admit I am one who watches mostly the answer videos, and enjoyed your long ago experiment of just showing and telling in a single video, I'll take them however I can get them. So many tools I've learned of from them; things I'd seen at barn sales and didn't quite know what they were, some that my dad or grandad had, some I have in my own junk bins -- and some I still use regularly -- that I wouldn't know what they were without your help. It is absolutely not your failure if most young folks aren't interested in the wisdom and humor you pass on, it's theirs. Thinking about it, it makes sense that as we all get further and further from the past, fewer of us would be interested in how things were done once upon a time -- but the small group still listening to an 82-year-old's tales and anecdotes is critical if the knowledge is not to be lost. With so many of the great shop teachers and instructors, scout leaders and other elders I grew with having long since passed, I've greatly enjoyed you filling their shoes on RU-vid for many years.

I love the extra stories you bring to the conversation. Facts are good but you bring so much more to the table with the experiences of your life. Thank you Mr. Pete!

I love this series. It keeps history alive. Every generation we lose so much. You probably have more important things to do, but thank you for documenting all these items and their context to life in those times. My grandmother knew people in the civil war, and yet we really don’t know what was going on in the 1860’s. History gets lost quickly. Especially tool history.

I appreciate your efforts, Mr Pete. You were born to educate and communicate. Life's too short, you do you. ✌ 🇦🇺

Me giving up before reaching the end of any of ypur videos? NEVER!!!!!

I always enjoy the 'What Is It?' videos even when I don't have a clue what something does.

I will watch whatever you feel like making. I do love "What is it," the stories, and the rants. Thanks for all you have oroduced. Your a good man, Mr. Pete.

This was my highlight....history and knowledge will be lost....Mr Pete your a icon. Don't stop what you do

I don't know why people aren't watching these they are extremely interesting - to baby boomers anyway - may we can identify with this items most of them our vintage - I can see how it takes an enormous amount of effort to make these and we thank you for that.

Thanks, sure gonna miss this series. Fishing weights & leftovers from plumbers & telephone linemen & batteries were my sources.

Love ya Mr. Pete. Thanks for all of the interesting tools, the useful knowledge, and amazing stories.

I love your anecdotes and mystery tools. I often don't know what any of them are, I learn every time. I'm 62 and my brother and I poured lead into molds to make fishing jigs when we were kids. Dad did it with us on a camp stove outside the house. I tried to make a wood mold which started the project but didn't work well. We eventually got a metal mold that accepted hooks and could make 3 at a time. We also burned web worm nests from the trees, but only the low ones!

Mr. Pete, you are definitely not failing I could watch a video of yours each and every day keep up the good work, don't stop?😊

I will be watching your videos as long as you put them up. I don't care what the subject or length. I find you to be genuine and thats refreshing these days

I have aways enjoyed this series. Thank you for doing “What is it!”

I’ve been a subscriber to your channel for seven or eight years now, no plans to leave. Keep them coming, Lyle!

I was 8 and 9, playing on the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads in Cleveland. Riding switch engines, jumping on an off slow trains, hanging out in the switching shanties at the Cuyahoga river bridge right next to the tracks as Steam locomotives passed by, close enough to touch them. No problem. Everyone looked out for everyone else. The railroaders knew me and I knew them. Can't do that any more. Thanks for the memory. Jon

Please Please Please keep the mystery tools going. I'm in Western Australia and some I know an others are a mystery. It's such a joy to learn what they are an do.👍👍👍

Thank Mr. Pete for the video. Sorry to here you dropping the what is it. They are a lot of fun. Thanks again

Although I’m a few years older than Mr Pete I only recognized one tool. When I was about 16 I watched a man use a gasoline blow torch to make galvanized gutters for our new home. The blow torch made a roaring sound and produced a very hot flame. When the heavy copper tip reached the right temperature he would flux the preformed joints, lay the hot tip on the surface and feed in the solder until it sizzled and bubbled and filled the joint. It was fascinating watching him solder the long lengths, end caps, and down spouts together with only basic tools. No electricity, just a trained man sitting on a low stool expertly soldering metal gutter parts together on a hot summer day.

Sad to see the end of my favorite series. Take care Mr. Pete. I will continue to watch your videos even if they are reruns. You're a true gem.

Mr. Pete, I would be very sorry to see this series go away. I find it very entertaining. I also love your anecdotes series.

You are definitely not failing, sir. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.

I'm your vintage and poured lead weights as well. Before I graduated from high school, my buddy and I built a 12' sailboat from plans we found in Popular Mechanics. We were so poor that we sewed the sail, and forged the fittings. Fortunately we had a full woodshop in my basement in which to work. Great times, and I still collect lead. . . Please keep up the series.

Mr. Pete love watching your videos. You remind me so much of my late father, he was a tool and die maker outside of Chicago his entire life. Have a great day and look forward to your next video

i want to see the raft video. Huck Finn

Lyle - Keep these up. Even if I know some of the items I'm always learning something new from both you and the comments from viewers. You're never too old to keep instructing and we're never too old to learn. Have to keep these brain cells active.

What a finish to this episode! What little Henry is really interested in. I’m still laughing.

Oh, dear don't get discouraged. I love learning from you. I've almost caught up age wise, and still learning this machining thing, that's what keeps us going. I'm from Massachusetts and back in the day we used friction tape to wrap our hockey stick blades and make a knob at the other end to give us grip.

I always get a lot of enjoyment out of your videos. Thanks Mr. Pete!!!

Your comment about what you did at 9 years old reminded me of one of my many trips down into Baja California. Most of the roads are dirt roads. They are not bad roads generally except after a hurricane. I was driving on one of the dirt and I encountered a large road grader going the opposite direction. No room to pass so we got out to greet the driver. He jumps do own from the cab and we realized he's only a kid. He was only 14 years old but he had been working for the county road department for over a year. It was his job to grade all the dirt roads in his county.

I love “what is it” Absolutely love it. It will be missed.

Mr. Pete, I really enjoy the "What is it" and i absolutely love the "Anecdotes". Keep them coming.

Mr Pete I have been a fan for about 2 years keep them coming I love the machine shop videos and all the how to videos I am trying a steam engine now absolutely an inspiration thank you

Mr. Pete, you do what you want, but I happen to like these videos and always watch whatever content you put out. I've learned a lot from you over the years and I learned something from this video as well. I think you have shared quite a bit of wisdom with us in the past and still have much more to give and as long as you are able and willing to put this content together and publish it, I will still be watching. I think a lot of us here feel the same way about it too. Thank you for your time you invest, and I encourage you to keep this series and anything else you want to do because you are a very good teacher and person as well.

Mr Pete PLEASE keep the what is it? videos . They help keep the Gray Matter in tune. Fellow 80yr old Auction nut..........

Always enjoy the What is it series. Rant away. Have a great day MrPete.

I love this series, and at 65, I'm amazed at what I've never seen. And yes, I've been around 😀 Thanks, Mr Pete!

I watched most of these vids and enjoyed them all. Maybe because of my age of 82 and things interest me. I still run across cities that require soldered connections before a twist nut. I think it's good but also, today, we have small cordless soldering "irons". When I was a boy, I wired a radio kit with a blow torch and soldering iron. Worked out well. Cheers, Lee

Thanks for the number 5 explanation. New tool to me.

Thank you Mr Pete. I enjoy all of the videos that you make and I appreciate the work that you put into making them.

Hey! I like this "OLD STUFF" all day and every day! I like the new stuff too.... the base of life with tools was built from the bottom up! but then, I'm about 17 years younger than you so I remember a lot of this stuff used still. The cast iron solder pots.... I'd hang on to them. I've never seen one myself.

My dad went to college on the GI Bill, right after WWII. Every semester when they signed up for engineering classes, the VA would be there with tables of mil surplus engineering tools and supplies, and you could get what ever was on your list. So, as I was growing up there were five sets of drafting tools, and several lead pointers. Speaking on being in the starving student mode: When Dad was in college, he worked for Boeing, designing the fixtures to assemble the B52. He would bring home pencil stubs, and soak them in water, to break the wood, and get the leads out.

Please keep up the what is it videos, they are a huge highlight of my Youtubing.

I recognize that lead pointer from high school! "This not a pencil! This is a lead holder! And that is not a pencil sharpener; it is a lead pointer!"

Mr Pete, Please don't give up on these videos. Those of us who enjoy them may not be a huge community. But we love these videos. I like these. What is it? Videos Because once in a while, i'll guess something that. a lot of the other people. can't figure out. I even enjoy the ones that stump me. The stories about when you and your brother were boys. Well, I don't know what to say about them, except, please keep making those videos.

I always enjoy your “What is it” series! I’ve learned a lot from it, wish I had some of the goodies you have! Take care and stay safe! God bless!✝️🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I'm sure I'm not the only one subscribed to you who can say they've watched every single one of your videos, but I have. The first one being a very early video where you offered tips on quickly adjusting a four-jaw chuck, and then I went back and caught myself up on your earlier uploads (even the Ray Price uploads). I've not missed one since, although I haven't always commented, each one received the "thumbs up" from me, and it was genuine. It's not solely about the content of your videos for me, but your personality and appreciation of things I myself appreciate. You found common ground with me (and so many others) from the start, and I can't thank you enough for the years of enjoyment and instruction you have provided me over the last several years. I've always thought; "I sure wish that man was my neighbor". Thanks, Mr. Pete.

Lyle, I am watching....thanks you for all you have done, Paul...

I like most all of your videos no matter what the subject is. Always learn something. It is rare that I close one of your videos before getting to the end.

I am interested and watch these regularly, hope you continue

I too will miss the "what is it" series

Keep all videos coming. I have learned so much from you. You are a great teacher.

boy Mr Pete your fired up this morning I enjoy your humor early in the morning

I remember melting lead and making my own weights, pouring into home made wooden moulds, I was also about 8 years old. I'd also play with mercury, fun times 😅

Mr. Pete. I cast lead using my Dad's gas burner with a ladel in his basement workshop when was 7 years old in 1966. There was little concern of me doing this unsupervised! I was amazed that not only other boys in second grade did not do this, but did not even know what lead was.

Mr Pete found the Redbull again! LOL .. seriously, I always learn something new from your videos! My Dad had one of those lead sharpeners...he'd also had that powered K&E eraser tool, a drafting machine and a drafting table that had massive springs that raised/lowered the table by foot and other side was the desk, which he 'liberated' from his work when they moved to CAD/CAM.

Mr. Pete, I really enjoy your videos. I find them very informative and I have learned so much from them. I especially like terminology you use. I knew that power lines had a curve to them and it's important but never knew it was called a cantenary curve. We have so many words in the English language and everything has a name it's interesting to learn the proper names. Thanks again. thinking of things we did when we were younger. My father's pickup broke down about 45 miles from home. He called our neighbor with a tow truck to come pick it up. My younger brother and I rode all the way home sitting on the dolly wheels of the Holmes wrecker (1972 C60 Chevy) holding onto the boom while Mom and Dad sat inside the wrecker cab. I was 14 and my brother was 11.

Mr Pete I had to laugh about burning the caterpillars. My grandfather would do the same thing every summer. We grandkids were in awe. It was one of those simple things in simpler times that we looked forward. I’m 67 years old and grateful that I lived when I did. Nothing now days interests me 😢

Sorry to see the what is it series go .I really do learn from watching them. Your channel is one of the few I enjoy watching. Keep doing what you do as long as you can. Thanks, and can't wait until the next one.

Please don't stop the What Is It series. I look forward to every one of them!

Always enjoy watching. Keep em coming

Keep em coming mrpete. Many of us do watch all your videos. Sometimes more than once. I also enjoy your rants as I too am an old man and not very patient. I bought your SB lathe course a long time ago and still occasionally watch it. ATB regards from the UK

Hi Mr. Pete....one of the best things about your series are the stories. I love listening to them. I will miss them😢

Well Mr Pete I think your videos are great!!! Keep it up thanks for spending the time to produce these awesome videos for all of us to watch ,learn and enjoy

Talk about pouring lead. We were young adults and a friend wanted to cast or recast some wheel weights for a garden tractor. I don’t remember what we used to heat it but we had maybe 50 pounds of lead in an old cast iron pot. It took two of us to carry it. We were carrying it with a pipe thru the wire handle when the handle broke or the end straightened out and lead went all over the ground. We were very very lucky that no one had any serious burns!

Lyle, I´m not the kind of people who goes arround commenting on the internet, but let me say this, you are NOT failing. People goes by and arround, and they are more prone to watch some types of videos, rather than others. Maybe today they prefer to whatch you make nuts, tommorow would fancy watch some of these What is it?, don´t stress over it, have fun and do what you please. Some how watching your videos reminds me of the talks with my grandparent about how life was back in his youth, and to that, I have to say Thank you very much Sir!

As a birthday gift, I bought myself a pantograph this year. Manual tool for shrinking and enlarging drawings.... Back to the drawing board!