Back from vacation with some antique tools

[Plyerman]

We just got back from a week's vacation in Michigan's upper peninsula. If you've never been there, its about as close to heaven on earth as you can get. Beautiful scenery, unspoiled countryside, and (away from the tourist traps) hardly any people. Perfect, IMO. They also have plenty of neat antique dealers, mostly selling old junk, but with a few treasures here and there for those willing to root around in the corners.

So here's a bit of what I hauled home:




The S-shaped wrench on the right is my first one ever, although it doesn't have any markings on it, so I don't know who made it. Dang.


Second from the right is this old alligator wrench, with two different size openings, three threading dies, and a screwdriver sticking off the left end. It's about 8 and a half inches long:





Third from the right is this crazy hammer, which has an alligator wrench on the top, some sort of claw or stove lid lifter opposite the hammer head, and a screwdriver at the end of the handle. The only markings on it is the word STEEL, cast into one side:





Next is this set of pliers with a wrench at the end of each handle. It is stamped Efficiency Tool Co. One wrench is 1/2", the other is 5/8". The handles come apart so both wrenches can be used at the same time.







Next up is this big tool with a ratchet mechanism. I thought it was an actual socket-ratchet when I bought it, but then some old guy (anybody older than me is an old guy) told me it was a drilling ratchet, for drilling holes.









Last up is this plier-wrench, which came with a tattered cloth pouch. The real treasure was inside the pouch however, where the original instruction pamphlet was still folded up.







I like accumulating old tools, but I'm even more interested in the stories behind them. If anyone has any info about these I'd sure love to hear it.

Bob

[john k]

I used to find the crocodile wrench with thread chasers in farm machinery tool boxes, seldom is there a name on them.   Sort of a general purpose wrench for square nuts.  The little hammer affair is a lightweight box opener.  Before cardboard, stores recieved their goods in wood crates, the screwdriver like tip would get under the lid, the hook could pull it on open.  The big ratchet right off looks like a boilermakers tool.   Boiler tubes were turned, or rolled in tight to seal, using a heavy ratchet like this.  The wrench & plier combo would be very handy, I'll pick one up if I ever see it for sale.  An unmarked S wrench, is pretty common here, I have a box full, sold at every hardware store once upon a time.   The Eifel-plierwrench was and still is a pricey tool, I have seen them with multiple interchangeable jaws.  You did well.

[Plyerman]

Thanks John. Okay, by reading the pamphlet I figured out how to pop out the jaw on the Eifel. Didn't know there were other jaws for it though. The thing really has a surprising amount of gripping force, I'm impressed.

[Branson]

Okay, by reading the pamphlet I figured out how to pop out the jaw on the Eifel. Didn't know there were other jaws for it though. The thing really has a surprising amount of gripping force, I'm impressed.

Surprisingly useful in many ways, especially since the jaws remain parallel when they move.  I picked one up last Spring because I thought they looked cool.  But really, they are quite strong and useful. 

[HeelSpur]

You picked up some very interesting tools, love the pliers with wrenchs attached.

[Mel Larsen]

Those are some great tools.  I have noticed that a number of the old tools have re-threading capabilities,  they must of not had very good quality bolts back then.  Great finds.
Mel 

[jimwrench]

 Some good finds. Looks like that plier wrench combo ended up with patent 1442083. Inventor was A J Meyer. That was back in 1923.

[Bus]

The combination tool marked "Steel" maybe a horseshoe caulk wrench and hoof pick.

[Papaw]

The combination tool marked "Steel" maybe a horseshoe caulk wrench and hoof pick.

That is what it is.Lots of them were made by many makers.

[jimwrench]

 That packer rachet by A R King company is worth some research also. Believe they also made an early auto. Seems to be quite a bit of info on his company via Googol.
Can I go with you on your next vacation ? Those are some nice finds.

[bonneyman]

The Eiffel plier is cool, and I like the Farmers plier (i.e. the Efficiency tool.)

It would be great if you could scan that Eiffel information sheet and post it up. I'd love to read all that fine print.

[Branson]

The Eiffel plier is cool, and I like the Farmers plier (i.e. the Efficiency tool.)

It would be great if you could scan that Eiffel information sheet and post it up. I'd love to read all that fine print.

If it's not too much to ask, that info sheet would be a great thing to have, large enough to read.

[Plyerman]

Thanks for the feedback fellers. Per request, Eifel information scanned and posted in the catalog forum here:   http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=5415.

The combination tool marked "Steel" maybe a horseshoe caulk wrench and hoof pick.

That is what it is.Lots of them were made by many makers.

Okay, I need some help with that one please. What exactly is horseshoe caulk, and why does one need a wrench for it?

[rusty]

>What exactly is horseshoe caulk, and why does one need a wrench for it?

Golf shoe spikes for horses.

(Haven't you ever wondered what horses do in their spare time?)

They screw in to the bottom of the horse shoe, so you can replace them when they wear out, the wrench is shaped to fit the calk so you can screw it in...

[Plyerman]

Some good finds. Looks like that plier wrench combo ended up with patent 1442083. Inventor was A J Meyer. That was back in 1923.

Hah, got it! Thanks Jim.