Interesting early vice grip type device

[kxxr]

This is on my local craigslist. The fellow is asking $25 or best offer. Haven't seen one like this. I wish the picture were better but it is as good as I could make it. It doesn't zoom well either. You get the idea though, maybe some of you have this version?

[Neals]

Growing up we had one as far back as I can remember. For sure pre 1960.  Good tool worked very well.

[skipskip]

nice tool.

I don't value them quite as highly as your seller, perhaps he will dicker some?

Skip

[lbgradwell]

Botnick Motor Corporation.

You can find them much cheaper than $25...

[Fins/413]

My dad had one it was rarely used in favor of vise grips.

[lbgradwell]

Here are links to two old threads at GJ with more info/details:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35506

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74953

[kxxr]

Thank you, much better pictures and info. The new in the box one was especially nice. I can't say that I have ever heard the term "Tenite", which is used in one of the ads to describe the colored handle insert. While I'm at it, I might as well post the picture of the other tools the guy is trying to sell. At $25 each, (or best offer), I don't know if he'll be able to sell them around here. $25 each seems steep to me.
Here they are though, see anything extra special?

[Papaw]

Nothing special there it seems, and the prices are high.

[rusty]

Tenite is an early plastic made from butyl that was popular in the 40's-50's. (The tradename was reg'd 1936)
It is one of the first plastics that could be injection molded. It was used for such odd things as steering wheels, telephones, gun stocks etc.
(And apparently, wrench handles...)

[kxxr]

Cousin of Bakelite? or same stuff, different trade name?

[lauver]

Tenite was also used for the early (about 1962-1990) Snap-on hard handles.  Snap-on has not used Tenite since, they are using other materials now.

[rusty]

>Cousin of Bakelite? or same stuff, different trade name?

Yes and no, they are both thermo set plastics (they 'cure once' when heated, rather than melting).
But, Bakelite is made from urea, Tenite is made from Cellulose (the stuff wood mostly consists of) (Early Tenite was in fact made from wood)

There were other celulose plastics early on, celulose can be dissolved, and resolidifued with certain solvants, but the resulting "plastics" turned out to be rather ill behaved (like being flammable, sometimes explosive, sometimes simply disintegrating over time). The Butrated Cellulose plastics are more well behaved.....

Some of the early screwdrivers with 'plastic' handles were made from some of the less well behaved cellulose plastics, and didn't work out so well.....

(Have I gotten us sufficiently off topic yet?)

[kxxr]

(Have I gotten us sufficiently off topic yet?)

Well, I don't think so but if so ... my bad. I asked the questions. The handles of the pictured tool have Tenite inserts, so ... it's perfectly appropriate to describe it as you have, and thanks. That's the great thing about a place like this; if you aren't really careful, you'll learn something every day!!  ;-)

[Papaw]

Is that what caused the black handle Snap-On screwdriver handles to crack and even stink a bit?

[rusty]

Could be, if that is what they were made from. decomposition would release small amounts of butryc acid, the stuff that gives rancid butter it's nasty smell...

The ones I had in mind were the yellow handles that were supposed to be indestructable, but which often turn white and fuzzy, like they are growing fungus (and smell nasty also)