Author Topic: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape  (Read 5908 times)

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Offline mikeswrenches

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Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« on: October 27, 2012, 05:31:35 PM »
These are interesting pliers not withstanding the odd shape.  They were made for adjusting the Steedraulic brakes on cars built in the 20's and'30's.  If you Google Steeldraulic brakes you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about them.  They were made by several manufacturer's back in the day.  The Cornwell's I found at a local flea market for $5.00...so they followed me home.  Then about a week or two later I found the VaccumGrip pair at another flea market...these also followed me home.  They are the only two I've ever seen in quite a few years of haunting flea markets, auctions, and garage sales.

I lifted this from the AA site.  "In the late 1920s and early 1930s several makes of automobiles (e.g. Hupmobile, Auburn) were equipped with Steeldraulic brakes, a brand of mechanical brakes with an odd adjusting mechanism. Special pliers were required for making adjustments to these brakes, and not surprisingly the pliers came to be known as Steeldraulic pliers."

Mike
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Offline Papaw

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2012, 06:28:01 PM »
I have one pair, very interesting shape and story.
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Offline john k

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2012, 08:30:45 PM »
Used to be a pair of those around here, and now I know their use, thanks. 
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Offline rusty

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2012, 08:57:45 PM »

I have a Bonney pair somewhere, never seen a Cornwell one before.

NB: The patent date  on the Vacuum Grip is for the Vacuum Grip handle pattern , not the plier function (Design D57252)

Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline hmboo

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2017, 12:03:15 PM »
Found a Made in Germany from BECRO

Offline mikeswrenches

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2017, 05:15:56 PM »
Since posting this back in 2012, I have found 3 more pairs. One each by Herbrand, Utica and Bonney.

Mike

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Offline stanley62

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2017, 12:32:43 AM »
I think I have bought every pair I have had a chance at.  I know I have a couple Williams, a Utica, and a Vacuum grip.  Maybe more, but there are so small they go into hiding in the garage...

Jim
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Offline Bill Houghton

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2017, 12:27:27 PM »
I think I have bought every pair I have had a chance at.  I know I have a couple Williams, a Utica, and a Vacuum grip.  Maybe more, but there are so small they go into hiding in the garage...

Jim
I assume so you can adjust the brakes on your Hupmobile.

Hupmobile pictures here for no good reason, except they're pretty cars.  These were built within a year of each other, according to Wikipedia; pretty radical styling change from 1933 to 1934.




Offline mikeswrenches

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Re: Steeldraulic Pliers...a very strange shape
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2017, 01:51:08 PM »
I like the '33 better, kind of reminds me of a Rolls Royce. Wish I had one to go with the pliers.

Mike

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