Whatsit Used For ?

[DobroDan]

Hi All:

First post.  I have a typical Schollhorn/ Bernard's parallel jaw pliers Pat. 1890, 1901 and 1903. I have seen many photos of these with all sorts of  "jaws " for different functions. This one is different in having rotating jaws that do 6 different functions. Also it is stamped LAKE-ERB MFG.CO. NEW YORK, N.Y.  U.S.A. under this are the 4 letters U.E.T.C. I have seen 1 other stamped LAKE-ERB but it was a single function pliers for crimping ends on wires.

Any info on it ?   Dan   

[Mitch]

It looks like a rotary hole punch for leather working.

[jimwrench]

 Bernard made a No. 240 eyelet setter which had revolving heads and looks very similar to your tool.

[DobroDan]

Jimwrench:

3 of the 6 functions look like 3 different sized eyelet setters. the other functions are a 1/2 inch wide sharp cutter that hits a flat surface and a 1/2 inch wide by 3/16 inch long flat ended male part that fits snugly into a 3/16 inch female grove. The last one is a 1/2 inch wide male that fits into a larger female and when closed leaves a round opening about 3/16 in diameter.

Any idea what the last 2 are intended to do?  Thanks,  Dan 

[jimwrench]

 No clue but assume it would have a function related to what they were setting eyelets in.

[rusty]

Lake Erb Mfg is listed in the Auto trade magazine under 'Tools, Terminal forming'
So my guess would be a tool for forming brass wire end terminals of various types...

Here we go...

[DobroDan]

rusty:

Thanks - I think you found the first model!! Mine appears to be a slightly improved one with an added ferule squeezer for smaller wires.

Do you have a approximate date for the ad that you sent?

Thanks again,  Dan

[rusty]

oops, sorry, the ad is from 1922 issue of The Automobile Trade Directory.
(Volume 20, Issue 1 , Page 875)

I see ad references only from 1921 to 1923...

Another mag notes: LAKE-ERB MFG. CO.. INC.—332 W. 58th St., New York. N. Y. Manufacturer of wire terminals. pliers. etc. President, James Lake. Jr.: vice-president and manager, George G. Erb; secretary and trrasurer, Alfred 0. Lake

(They moved from  405 Fourth street to 332 West 58th street in 1922)

They seem to have sold using the name B&E also
Also found them listed as making ammeters

[pritch]

I'm no help on the tool, but let's hear about the Dobro, Dan...

[DobroDan]

That's a long story, pritch, but I will tell you the next time we have a beer - OK?

I think rusty nailed that eyelet and ferrule pliers and it's time period. Goodonya rusty!!! To keep the thread alive here are a couple more Whatsit Used for's.

The first is marked :   NO  55     THE CARBORUNDUM COMPANY    NIAGARA FALLS  NY  USA  on the wooden part of the handle. the detachable end piece is marked ST97   498SH and the end is      1 3/4 inches in diameter, very smooth and slightly convex.  The other 5  end pieces would fit a handle with a smaller diameter. The three above are marked SMHS404-6, -5, and -4 (L to R). The two ends below are not marked.

The second is not marked and looks like a very large offset screw driver to me - compare him to his smaller cousin.  The ends are flat a little over an inch wide a little more than  1/8 inch thick.  Are there other uses ??? 

[ron darner]

Lower one makes me think of a drag link adjustment tool, though all I've seen were made as sockets with a giant screwdriver tip (straight blade).

[Chillylulu]

The pins kind of remind me of punches, except they are so long....

Chilly

[oldtools]

Kind of looks like air impact tools with a hand driver tool...

[john k]

The pins remind me of a valve guide installer set.