Early Channellocks

[Plyerman]

These are all newer than the tools that usually follow me home, but they were too cool to resist. All three are stamped CHANNELLOCK, but none of them look like "today's" Channellocks. I'm guessing they are 1930's - 1940's vintage.

First one is marked No.427

[Plyerman]

Then we have a No.407 which is about the same length.

[Plyerman]

And finally a No.410. All three are also marked with the Champion DeArment logo as well.

[lptools]

Nice trio of pliers, you have a good eye!! Regards, Lou

[p_toad]

what he said....nice find.   

[wvtools]

If they are marked Champion DeArment, then they were made between about 1927 and 1960.  Prior to 1927, the company was Champion Tool Co., and after 1960, it is Channellock.  My grandfather and father lived near Meadville.  I have been there hundreds of times, but have never gone on a factory tour.  They used to have a trade in day where you could bring in old ChannelLocks like yours, give them 7 or 8.00, and get a new pair.  I would rather have all the old ones people were trading in.

[Yadda]

Nice finds Bob!  Do they have special purposes?

[Plyerman]

Nice finds Bob!  Do they have special purposes?

I have no idea....but I 'think' they are just early versions? I gotta get some learnin' on Channellock history. What WV is saying is news to me. Thanks WV

[papadan]

I've got a pair of the 407s, I always called them and used them as battery pliers.

[d42jeep]

I have a small Channellock collection. I concentrate on the earlier tools. The last four pictures are my earliest pair of 420 pliers with a pattern on the handles. All of my other 420s, even those with the 1933 patents, have smooth handles.
-Don

[d42jeep]

Here are some 1933 patent 420s. The last picture show the pattern on the handles of the various tools.
-Don

[Plyerman]

Wow, that is an impressive collection of old Channellock tools Don! Thank you for posting pics of it, now I know what to watch for.  :D

Of the three pliers of mine, only the No. 407 has that fancy pattern on the handles. My 410 and 427 both have smooth handles.

[Plyerman]

Also, of my three, only the No. 410 has tongue and grooves both above AND below the plier pivot. Seems like that would make for an inherently stronger joint?

[Bill Houghton]

Ignorant question: I've got a pair of Channellock 426 pliers (6-1/2" overall length) with smooth handles.  Are these a later issue, then?

I found them at a yard sale at the right price, so of course they followed me home just because - they quickly became a tool to reach for.  Nice size, wide range of usefulness.

[d42jeep]

Bill,
The 426 Channellocks don’t appear in the early flyer but they do appear in catalog #68. They are a useful size.
Cuz Don