L. Beach combined implement

[Plyerman]

I should have taken a "before" photo, but I didn't. This old thing was pretty bent up when I got it. Some careful vise work with a little heat applied in just the right places and she is (pretty much) straight again. Also took about an hour with the wire brush to get all the crud off her.


















But what is it? Thank goodness for Datamp. All I had to go on was the PAT D 1876 date cast into one frame member. By using the Datamp search function I found patent number 180,521, issued to a Mr. Lester Beach of Derby, Connecticut.

Datamp link: http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=180521&typeCode=0






The "combined implement" is supposed to be a combination hammer B, screwdriver A, ice pick C and knife blade sharpener D on one end, and a nail puller E and pot hook F on the other end. There is a 9" ruler H marked along one edge. And the tapered area between the rails on one end is meant to function as a wrench G. (although I cannot imagine it would have been very practical to be used as such)

[Papaw]

That is one of the more interesting multitools I have seen!

[rustcollector]

I have to agree with Papaw on this one, that thing is unique in every sense of the word. Very nice find.

[turnnut]

very interesting tool,  for 138 years old, give or take, and not broken is a good find.

it had to have been kept in the kitchen/pantry and not a tool box to survive.

patentee was from CT, tool must have been made in N.Y. as per DATAMP entry,
did you find it in Michigan ?

keep looking folks, there is still good stuff out there.

[jimwrench]

very neat tool . Thought it was interesting that assignee was a woman. Wonder who Victoria Simpson was ?

[amecks]

I wonder if John Goethals, witness,  could have been the father of George W Goethals who helped build the Panama Canal.  George was born in 1858 to John and Marie Goethals, Flemish immigrants, in Brooklyn, NY.  The time and place would seem correct.
Al

[Plyerman]

....patentee was from CT, tool must have been made in N.Y. as per DATAMP entry,
did you find it in Michigan ?

I got it from Pennsylvania, but it was part of a collection of "misc old tools" so I don't know where it was from before that. Makes me wish (again) that these old tools could talk.

very neat tool . Thought it was interesting that assignee was a woman. Wonder who Victoria Simpson was ?

Good question Jim, I wondered that myself. Took me a bit to realize that those must be her "V S" initials cast on the tool next to the patent date.

[Lewill2]

Plyerman, nice find I like it.

[Yadda]

Another great find Bob!