Billings and Spencer pliers

[Northwoods]

Picked up a pair of B&S pliers today, the one with the wire cutting hole, patent dates 1878, 1884, and 1901. 
Looked up the patent for 1901--which led me back to the 1884 patent.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/displayPatent.php?number=669,721&type=
http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/displayPatent.php?number=295,885&type=

Is this actually the first one with the slip joint for adjustment?

[papadan]

Looks like the 1884 one without the wire cutter was the first slip joint

[mvwcnews]

Getting caught up on past "papawswrench"-- been busy with MVWC Fall Meet "auction absentee" follow-up.  Anyhow, between doing the DATAMP entries for the patents  & MVWC Newsletters, have sort of traced the evolution of B&S pliers & how they employed the patents.  The slip joint probably came in during the 1880s -- it took fairly accurate machining of the parts & decent steel for a slip joint to work for very long -- iron just wore out too soon. (That's why the 1876  Pease patent used separate "T" shaped studs to alter the pivot points for the pliers). 
B&S were in the fore-front of drop forge processes (they learned by making parts for firearms & sewing machines, as well as making the actual drop forging equipment ).

[Northwoods]

Thanks for the input.
The Civil War--and wars, in general--generate a lot of technology.  For the better or the worse.
How many technological advances can we name that came from WWI, alone?

And do trench coats and wristwatches count?

[mvwcnews]

Thanks for the input.
The Civil War--and wars, in general--generate a lot of technology.  For the better or the worse.
How many technological advances can we name that came from WWI, alone?

And do trench coats and wristwatches count?

Holt crawler tractors  were the basis for the first tanks  (plows => swords instead of swords => plows )  Major advances in aviation technology.  U.S. involvement in the "War to End all Wars" was only about 1 1/2 years.  The "LIBERTY ENGINE" was a collaborative effort between representatives of several automotive engineering outfits.  Cross-country driveable roads (read how the automobile & truck companies pushed for good roads when railroad freight hauling capacity could not keep up with the demands of moving men & military equipment in 1918).  Major push for mechanization of agriculture.  (Tractors to replace all those strong young bodies getting sent off to battle.)  Trucks to haul freight & agricultural products (based on experience of moving men & material from French railheads to the front lines). 

[Northwoods]

Thanks for the input.
The Civil War--and wars, in general--generate a lot of technology.  For the better or the worse.
How many technological advances can we name that came from WWI, alone?

And do trench coats and wristwatches count?

Holt crawler tractors  were the basis for the first tanks  (plows => swords instead of swords => plows )  Major advances in aviation technology.  U.S. involvement in the "War to End all Wars" was only about 1 1/2 years.  The "LIBERTY ENGINE" was a collaborative effort between representatives of several automotive engineering outfits.  Cross-country driveable roads (read how the automobile & truck companies pushed for good roads when railroad freight hauling capacity could not keep up with the demands of moving men & military equipment in 1918).  Major push for mechanization of agriculture.  (Tractors to replace all those strong young bodies getting sent off to battle.)  Trucks to haul freight & agricultural products (based on experience of moving men & material from French railheads to the front lines).

And, as usual, medical treatment advanced.  Every war, it seems, has that effect.

[john k]

President Eisenhower was an Army officer in 1918.   Got disgusted with the muddy, bottomless French roads,  which were the same kind of roads we had in the US at the time.   When he was back in Europe in WWII, found the French had not improved things greatly, but when in Germany was astounded at the Autobahns divided 4 lane highways, all paved.   When he got the presidency in the 50s,  he pushed hard for the Interstate highway system, also known a the Defense highway system.    The military trucks that had 4x4 in 1918,  The Jeffrey quad, and the Militor,   left such an impression on the men, that the  Jeep and 6x6 trucks were readily accepted in WWII.