Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Branson on December 13, 2012, 09:19:25 AM

Title: What's the story? Mystery pliers tool revisited
Post by: Branson on December 13, 2012, 09:19:25 AM
I really liked the "mystery pliers" saw set that superzstuff posted last September.  What an elaborately decorated tool!  I found one on eBay that was going unloved and unbid, and got it.  Delighted.  It's identical to the one superzstuff found.   Now there's another on eBay, but marked Sweden Nike Eskisltuna.  And another marked Boker.  The one I bought was shipped from Bulgaria.

The thing is, the handles look like all of them were forged in the same dies.   The only differences seem to be in the decorative pattern in the inset panels.  There's a floral pattern, a basket weave pattern, a series of dots, and a sort of fish scale pattern, but all the inset panels are identical.  All have the raised cartouche, and that's where the brand name is often found.  On mine, like superzstuff's, this raised cartouche is blank.

It looks as though a single foundry made them and sold to different tool companies.  Who that was is a greater mystery than what the tool does.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: What's the story? Mystery pliers tool revisited
Post by: Branson on December 13, 2012, 09:22:40 AM
Sorry about the double posts here.  One said it wouldn't send, so I posted again.  But it did send after all.

On the plus side, there's a picture of one more example.
Title: Re: What's the story? Mystery pliers tool revisited
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 13, 2012, 05:45:03 PM
I'm going to watch for these (never seen one yet, but you never know), because you just don't have enough of them and need more.
Title: Re: What's the story? Mystery pliers tool revisited
Post by: Branson on December 13, 2012, 08:04:25 PM
I'm going to watch for these (never seen one yet, but you never know), because you just don't have enough of them and need more.

The Nike from Eskilstuna is on eBay right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300830851727?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

A rather more plain Sandvik is there too, at

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190767078912?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Not fancy, but the same style:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Vintage-Saw-Sets-STANLEY-German-Made-Hand-Saw-/130816930015?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e754bf0df

An unmarked but probably Boker:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-CROSSCUT-SAW-BLADE-TEETH-GAUGE-SET-TOOL-Very-Nice-/300645083792?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ffd7ea90

Another, marked "made in Canada":

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vntg-Ornate-Crosscut-Bucksaw-Buck-Saw-Sawyer-Set-Saw-Setting-Tool-Made-in-Canada-/110988074513?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d7679e11

This one's from Germany, but the decorative panels have the same outlines:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-K-SAW-SET-VINTAGE-HAND-TOOL-KAMMERLING-GERMANY-/380520437094?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5898c91566

A Boker in this bunch:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLIER-GRIP-SAW-SET-LOT-VINTAGE-HAND-TOOL-BOKER-STEARNS-DISSTON-TAINTOR-/330832360866?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d072535a2

There are also 7 Stillman's 1848 patent saw sets up for bid.

So you needn't go hungry for old saw sets, Bill.
Title: Re: What's the story? Mystery pliers tool revisited
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 14, 2012, 02:51:03 PM
I'm going to watch for these (never seen one yet, but you never know), because you just don't have enough of them and need more.
So you needn't go hungry for old saw sets, Bill.

Oh, I'm not going hungry for old saw sets; in fact, at some point I'll probably thin the herd.  No, I was thinking I should watch for them for you.