Tool Talk
What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: toolmiser on May 27, 2013, 12:16:58 PM
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I found this tool in with some others I purchased at a garage sale. There are no names, numbers, or manufacturer marks that I can tell. The jaws are only about 3/16" thick. It is about 8 1/2" long.
I suspect it is some kind of electrical crimper, but probably wrong.
Like usual, all comments are appreciated and encouraged!
(http://i41.tinypic.com/jaz48j.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/4u99pk.jpg)
Please excuse the "borrowing" of my dog's rug for this shot.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/ajnrwp.jpg)
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Looks like it was designed by an earwig. No idea what it's used for, but it's a really good example of its type.
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I believe they are lead cable pliers. I think there are two types, and that is the cutting type. The ones that just crimp have rounded jaws. I think Aunt Phil and Amertrac both may be able to provide some insight on how those are used.
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I have never seen ones like that but they certainly could be used to strip the insulation off 3/0 aluminum cable. bob w.
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OK, I found my references. It was not someone on here, but someone on Ebay.
These are lead cable cutting pliers. They are listed in a 1966 Boker Industrial tools catalog that I have as No. 5615-8 1/2".
The ones I had looked very similar to these, but the jaws were rounded. I was told that they were lead cable restricting pliers, which are used to ring restrict lead telephone cable on each side of a poured or injected epoxy air dam that blocks the flow of air through the cable.
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So....the chances I will actully ever use my pair are.......zero ;P
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With some pondering, and a wee bit of knowledge gained looking over the shoulders of men who could solder a splice case onto lead shield, it could be either a cutter or a shrinker depending on the ability of the splicer using it. Unfortunately by the 60s lead was being phased out of overhead, and those pliers look a bit small for subway.
Best I can think, (sit back down Rusty) they might have been used to seperate a rotted case from the cable more or less in the manner of a tubing cutter. Knowing Ma Bell there might well have been a bucket of money invested in crating them to prevent a splicer from damaging the paper insulation with his saw and splitting knife. That combination probably created a lot of LONG splice cases.
I can also see it being employed on a new splice, where 2 cables join rather than a midspan to squeeze down the end of the bell into contact with the cable. After all, solder will only span a gap of about 15 thousandths of an inch.
All in all I don't see much of a production run on that tool. Nobody was going to haul it up to a platform when a hose clamp worked better.
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Perhaps lead streetlight cable?
Nasty stuff...