Anybody know what these little pliers are for? They are relatively light-duty, made from cast steel or iron. The only thing I could find on the googlenet was reference to a W.D. Brackett boot and shoe company in Massachusetts in the late 1800's.

It looks like another set of pot lifter pliers to me.

I would think that it is for pulling the leather when making shoes.

not sure, but I think they were called shoe last pliers.  "lasting pincers"

W.D.Brackett was a shoe mfg'r in Brockton, Mass.  around 1906

I agree with Turnnut I think they are a cobbler's tool.

There was a William D. Brackett from Minneapolis, MN who invented an electric igniter for gas stoves in 1908.

If they are lasting pliers - you make the shoe last (mold), and sew the uppers.  You then have to pull the upper down over the last for a tight fit.  These look like they would serve that purpose.

Thank you gentlemen. I will refer to them as lasting pliers until someone comes along and tells me otherwise.