Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: HeelSpur on April 19, 2014, 04:21:59 PM

Title: Not sure about these.
Post by: HeelSpur on April 19, 2014, 04:21:59 PM

Kind of look like a cross between chain & fence pliers.
Has a screwdriver end, wire cutters, and teeth like a
pipe wrench has. What the heck is this for?

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/005-17.jpg)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/007-16.jpg)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/008-15.jpg)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/006-10.jpg)

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: john k on April 19, 2014, 09:11:17 PM

The parrot (beak) on the end of the jaw looks like it would be for crimping something onto wire.  Certainly never run across one like it.

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: rusty on April 19, 2014, 09:31:34 PM

Leaning toward chain pliers from the jaw. We usually only see pliers from 3 or 4 different tire chain systems, but there were probably 2 dozen companies making tire chains back in the day...

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: mvwcnews on April 20, 2014, 11:36:29 PM

Based on a drawing in a Feb. 19, 1914 MOTOR WORLD review of pliers, these could be the NECESSITY chain pliers distributed by Charles E Miller Co. of New York City, or the EUREKA chain pliers produced by the Buffum Tool Co. of Louisiana, Missouri.  Both have similar jaws & the EUREKA drawing shows a wire cutter notch like the one on this pair of pliers.
The drawings also appear on pg. 10 of the Dec. 2011 Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter "Pliers Xtra."
Buffum did not put the "Swastika" trade mark on all their tools -- some are very lightly stamped Buffum Tool Co. Louisiana, MO.
I've personally never seen either the Miller NECESSITY or the Buffum EUREKA pliers.

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: HeelSpur on April 21, 2014, 06:14:03 AM

Thanks everyone, I believe I'll spend a lil time removing some of the crud today to see if there are any faint markings.

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: wvtools on April 21, 2014, 11:15:46 AM

The jaws on these look similar to the St. Pierre pliers, but they have strong markings.  I have had probably 75+ pairs of tire chain pliers, and I would estimate the percentages at 50% Weed, 40% McKaig-Hatch, and 10% St. Pierre.

Title: Re: Not sure about these.
Post by: HeelSpur on April 21, 2014, 06:28:44 PM

Haven't found any visible markings but some of the crud on it is as hard as the steel.
I scratched a crudded area with a screwdriver and the scratch is shiny like steel.
Don't believe I want it all shined up so I'm gonna let it be for now.