What do you want to see in a book only about Multitools? I'm starting one.

[tonytools]

Hello

I'm starting on the task of creating a Multitool only book, to me it will be like a giant catalog of the present and past.  I want to also include custom multitools also.

There will be a printed version and electron one too, printing is not cheap, but the more books printed the cheaper it gets.

Me personally, I like pictures and history, not much on price guides.

What would you want in a Multitool book?

Thanks, Tony.

[Reinier]

That's a cool idea!

I'd say: pictures, pictures and more pictures!
But also: information on the evolution of tools and implements, for example the evolution of the SwissTool plier heads.

Which brands are you going to include?

[Mercury]

Great idea!  +1 on the abundance of pics.  Pricing can be neat to view as a novelty aspect, but it's not critical.  What IS critical is proper chronology and making sure you capture as many versions and deviations of each tool as possible.  Just my opinion though.     I'm glad to lend a hand if you need help!

[Threeme2189]

This is a good idea, a catalog of past and present multitools.
In my opinion it also needs some background history on the major MT companies, and how they were formed.
The "evolution" of multitool design and features, important milestones, heroic stories involving multitools.
And lots of hi-res pics

[Jors]

Excellent idea!
I would like to see articles about all multitools, makes and sizes.
I would like to see reviews that tells you everything about a certain tool. After reading the article you can see the good, the bad and the ugly.
Mods or mods to improve mistakes will also be a good idea.
Success stories will also be interesting.
Also include about pouches, sharpening, spares and adapters, bits, etc.
Maintenance.

[joebw]

Hi Tony,

Gve some thought to loose leaf format so you can sell an update every year.  Good luck with the project.

Best - Joe

[tonytools]

I would like to go back a 100 years and work forward to current day and maybe some future concepts too.  For me personalty, a price guide is not really easy, if I were to do it, you have a few places like eBay, but we are talking price change a lot and does not seem appropriate at this time.

Yes Picture and More pictures, I will say this, the right picture has made me buy a Multi-tool and it can say volumes about how good it or bad.

Would like to do the different models that a company has gone thru or retired, I want to cover as many companies as I can, even if they no longer exist. 

Also would like to include some but saving stories too   You can't carry 30 lbs of tools every where you go.

Excellent idea!
I would like to see articles about all multitools, makes and sizes.
I would like to see reviews that tells you everything about a certain tool. After reading the article you can see the good, the bad and the ugly.
Mods or mods to improve mistakes will also be a good idea.
Success stories will also be interesting.
Also include about pouches, sharpening, spares and adapters, bits, etc.
Maintenance.

That's a good idea, the extra stuff that makes it really nice.  On the reviews, that might be a hard on for me, as each person as a different view on what is really neat or usable, it's like comparing artwork, abstract, natural or Post modern.  I might be able to say Company X & Y are the very top in quality?

The printing costs are not set in stone, you have factors like; size of pages, softcover, hard cover, color photos and binding type.

How important to you is a softcover or hardcover?

Thanks, Tony.

[ryan1835]

nothing from this website unless you have permission to use it

[ironraven]

You might have to go back further- mulitpurpose tools have appealed to gadgety guys back to at least the Romans. Also, would you include Swiss Army-type knives, or just leatherman-class multis?

[Jors]

I have always taking out the gun digest book on knives and all the other I could from the libraries.
Lately the formats changes to 40% pics with little words and most is new trends with ugly lines, and the other 60% is directories of knifemakers.
Previously some of the books had dedicated whole chapters on popular and less popular knives.
I remember an article about a knife with a wooden handle, sold as a hunting knife by a mail order company for cheap (I can not recollect the particulars). The company even supplied a little booklet together with the knife. The knife was very popular because of the extensive advertising and because it was famous amongst boys who could not afford more expensive knives. However the knife had a very good edge holding ability and became later a collectors item. Hunter was also buying it because it was popular as a skinner as well.
I would like to see some articles like this as well. There may be some multitools available that is cheap, a clear copy of an old tool or ugly looking, but may be a very good buy because it may be strong, etc.

[tonytools]

nothing from this website unless you have permission to use it

Don't forget the pictures, I need to have permission from the copyright holders.


I have seen the Roman Multitool and would include Swiss Army type knives, it would be neat to go back 2000 years on a couple pages.

It would be nice to have some right ups on certain multitools, I lean more towards good pictures and some detail in the description.  List the website of manufacture or give the  link where to buy the multitool, for example, there are some interesting Russian Multitools, but it's hard to find them.

Big project, it will take some time and money to do it, less then a year, could not stand for it to take that long.  Writing a book would be easy, but with this book it's about the gathering of all the information and getting permission to use the material and it will take time.