I got these pliers at a garage sale over the weekend. The only marking are : G.L.F. . I kinda want to say they are either fence pliers or nail pullers. Anyone ??

I don't know but they are awesome.

looks like fencing pliers with a built in hammer. I think i may have nailed it.


EvilDr235

M&M Staple Puller & Fencing Pliers.






Patent 650,186 issued to George D. Maxson and Lynn C. Maxson on May 22, 1900

Datamp entry:  http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=650186&typeCode=0      

For the serious fencer. Very nice tool

It's worth noting the bold initials are an owner's stamp; the maker's markings were probably much more subtle & long ago obliterated by use.

The area where the owners mark is, it looks like somebody was hammering on the joint to tighten it. That might be where the mfg. mark was, but now gone.

EvilDr235

Quote from: EVILDR235 on July 15, 2014, 08:38:31 PM
looks like fencing pliers with a built in hammer. I think i may have nailed it.


EvilDr235

Yes, I think you drove your point home.

All the fencing pliers I've ever seen have a built in hammer; this one emphasizes the hammeriness of that part a bit more than most.

And, for those following along at home but unfamiliar with fencing pliers, they're used for wire fence and barbed wire (properly pronounced, "bob wahr"), not for repairing foils, sabers, and épées.  The idea was to have one tool to drop in your overalls pocket to cut wire and drive and remove staples.  They're pretty cool devices.

The G.L.F. marking refers to the "Grange League Federation", a New York State farmer's cooperative that was formed in the 1920's.






Apparently they were a large enough concern that they could order a special run of tools, as the GLF model (bottom) differs slightly from the standard M&M version. (top)

I never thought I'd ever say I'd like to fool around with some bob wahr just to fondle a tool but...   (O:

Having the maker in New York state would have made it easier to have a special order batch produced -- but that was a significant change requiring a whole new set of forging dies and extra machining to produce the different joint.  Was Maxson & Maxson big enough to have their own forging operation,  or did they in turn have to contract the work out to someone like Barcalo, J.H. Williams, etc. who did all kind of contract forging?
I was reminded just last week that barbed wire is not to be taken for granted.  Back in the mid-60s we set a bunch of fence on the home farm.  I was looking over some of that work trying to figure out how to take up all that now useless fence, and those barbs are still sharp enough to draw blood.

GLF was a BIG deal here in NY

It morphed into AGWAY, which is still around

Think Tractor Supply for real farmers


a special run of pliers would have been no big order  for them

Quote from: skipskip on July 17, 2014, 09:06:29 AM
Think Tractor Supply for real farmers

Tractor supply isn't for real farmers?!?

But they sell chicks, and salt blocks,  and farmery stuff.

Where do real farmers shop?

Chilly

There is one of these fencing tools in the King Herrington Collection I am cataloging for the Fall Auction. It was only marked with May 22, 190?. I couldn't read the last digit. By using a perpetual calendar I found that from 1900 to 1909 only in 1901 and 1906 did May 22 fall on patent issue Tuesdays. Tried May 22, 1901 patent dates on DATAMP and found the patent at:
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=650186&id=28139

It was patent No. 650,186 issued to George D. Maxson and Lynn C. Maxson of Edmeston, NY

Quote from: Chillylulu on July 18, 2014, 12:02:00 AM

Quote from: skipskip on July 17, 2014, 09:06:29 AM
Think Tractor Supply for real farmers

QuoteTractor supply isn't for real farmers?!? 

Around here T.S.C. is mostlly on the outskirts of larger cities  .  Towns our size (8,000 ) will have a farm supply shop of some sort -- (the regional chain around here is ORSCHELN, based in Missouri ) & a hardware store affiliated with ACE.  Co-ops also operate retail shops in some towns, with tire service, hardware, feed, etc. & the implement dealerships always have a run of retail tools.
I cashier in a "big box" store, and the store doesn't have much in the way of "farm" stuff.

But they sell chicks, and salt blocks,  and farmery stuff.

Where do real farmers shop?

Chilly