German Multitool hammer/pliers/hatchet &

[amecks]

What can anyone tell me about this tool. The marking says "GERMANY A.W. ROMMEL" and it had maybe nickel plating?  How old are they?

Hammer
Pincers
Pliers
Hatchet
Tack puller
Screwdriver





Very precisely made.  Almost zero play in the pivot.  The screw appears peened over on the reverse side.
Thanks
Al

[wvtools]

I have had several of those over the years.  They were all made in Germany if I remember right.  They all had similar form to yours.  There were several different companies, but I do not recall that one.

[1930]

What can anyone tell me about this tool. The marking says "GERMANY A.W. ROMMEL" and it had maybe nickel plating?  How old are they?

Hammer
Pincers
Pliers
Hatchet
Tack puller
Screwdriver





Very precisely made.  Almost zero play in the pivot.  The screw appears peened over on the reverse side.
Thanks
Al

Is that part of the giveway? If so Ill take it :)

[amecks]

NO it's not part of the giveaway!  Hmm.  But it could be if something really cool came up.  Speaking of that, the "Pay It Forward" thing seems to have stalled.

I've been selling stuff on eBay and was going through the pliers box but decided to hold onto these - for a while at least.
Al

[Plyerman]

That looks like a nice one Al. There were numerous variations of this tool produced in Germany, both before and after WWII (although I will say that I've never seen one with the A.W.Rommel stamping on it before.)

The earliest U.S. patent I've found for a similar tool is this one from 1899

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=626285&typeCode=0


Also this one from 1921

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=57157&typeCode=2


Both patents above try to incorporate "improvements" over the basic pliers/hammer/hatchet/screwdriver/prybar design.



And here is a page from an old 1916 copy of Popular Science: