What Tool Is This?

[d2dave]

Mt inlaws are shifting and I have scored a few tools. As the father inlaw has alzheimers he does not know what it is.

Does any one here know what this tool is?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1457.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1458.jpg

[bob10]

A crimping tool, hit the top bit with a hammer? Bob

[dullbird]

I thought maybe it was to pull out nails/screws with a head and use the top part as a lever?

bit like a claw hammer

[p38arover]

There is a marking E Ross & Sons on the tool.

There is an E Ross & Sons Roofing Contractor in the UK. Something to do with roofing?

[dullbird]

maybe its to pull our roofing nails from tiles and the top bit is to bash them in like a hammer

[Jordan]

It looks like a shoemaker's tool.
The pliers pull the leather over a wooden last, the built-in hammer is for tacks.

Jordan

[Hogarthde]

Appears to be too finely 'tooled' to be used in carpentry or construction

[p38arover]

It looks like the item jutting out is meant to be hit down to cut off something poked through the hole - or as Bob suggests, to crimp something.

Maybe a swaging tool?

[korg20000bc]

They look like antique fencing pliers to me.

[Mick_Marsh]

I agree.
Fencing pliers.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1467.jpg

[p38arover]

They look like antique fencing pliers to me.

I'm not convinced.

[schuy1]

Some idea of size would help, eg laid alongside a rule, as would a description of any markings apart from the makers name as we can see. I think they look a little frail to be fencing pliers. Saddlers, shoe makers, leather makers , spring to mind.

[kogvos]

Something says leather pliers to me. Not quite right but some bits match old-fashioned leather pliers, so maybe Jordan's shoe-making suggestion is on the right track?

[BathurstTom]

There is a Ross company that makes fishing pliers. The crimping part certainly looks like a fishing tool, not sure about the hammer though. Something to do with Fly fishing?


Tom.

[dullbird]

Maybe its a multi tool being as though its now a tool of several different trades lol

[d2dave]

Some idea of size would help, eg laid alongside a rule, as would a description of any markings apart from the makers name as we can see. I think they look a little frail to be fencing pliers. Saddlers, shoe makers, leather makers , spring to mind.

Top photo shows on the hammer part a picture of a sailing ship with the numbers 1788. To me this has no relevance as to what the tool is.

Apart from Ron's observation, there are no other markings.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1459.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1460.jpg

[p38arover]

Ahh, so the jutting out bit is part of the jaw, not a sliding crimp or cutter.

[Gumnut]

Hi all,

I reckon maybe it could be a roofers tool for trimming, notching and gripping slates.

I think I may have seen something like this on one of those UK mansion restoration shows on the television years ago.

Gumnut

[p38arover]

Initially I thought the same but couldn't find anything like it when I looked for slate roofing tools.

[d2dave]

Initially I thought the same but couldn't find anything like it when I looked for slate roofing tools.

I recently had a place with a slate roof. When I was researching slate tools I also never saw anything like this.

I had this place before my father in law lost his marbles and he gave me advice on slate roofing and if this tool had any thing to do with it I am sure he would have shown it to me.

He did say that he used to have slate tools. He is a plumber so this tool could have some thing to do with plumbing.

[isuzurover]

Whomever said shoemaker's pliers was correct.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1439.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/Nail-2007/0087-89.jpg


0089. A lot of six shoe maker's or upholstery's pliers:
(1.) WILIMAN (with an eagle logo) - - 9.5" double hammer lasting pliers with tack puller end. Excellent.
(2.) E. A. BERG - FSKILSTUE - SWEDEN - - 10" double hammer lasting pliers. Excellent
(3.) 9.25" double hammer lasting pliers. Can't read markings. Good Plus.
(4.) Unmarked - - 7.5" single hammer lasting pliers. Excellent.
(5.) H. F. OS?? - NEWARK, N.J. - O P T trademark - - 7" double hammer lasting pliers. Good Plus.
(6.) WINSOR & NEWTON INC. - MADE IN ENGLAND - -8" wide jawed upholstery's pliers or webbing stretchers.

Very similar plier on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-shoe-leather-stretching-pliers-by-H-BRINDLEY-WW1-Military-1916-/380761683538
Listed as a leather stretching pliar.

[jerryd]

"These are leather pliers and the hammer is for tacks :)"

I emailed an expert and this is what he told me, possibly for upholstery or shoes.

Tool Exchange - The Tool Exchange (http://toolexchange.com.au/)

[korg20000bc]

Mt inlaws are shifting and I have scored a few tools. As the father inlaw has alzheimers he does not know what it is.

Does any one here know what this tool is?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1457.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1458.jpg

If he has Alzheimer's get him to hold it in one hand and ask him what it does or what it's called. Then ask him with it in his other hand.
Alzheimer's reduces the connection between brain halves. So, for instance, if you put a hairbrush in an Alzheimer's sufferer's hand they may be able to tell you it's called a brush but cannot remember what it does. In the other hand they may be able to tell you that it's for brushing you hair bet can't recall what it's called.

Also, I used to do shoe- making as a job and these pliers wouldn't have been practical for leather stretching over a last.

[p38arover]

Whomever said shoemaker's pliers was correct.


I disagree. I've already looked at all that and while many pliers have the projection, none have jaws like the original post.

I must admit, I hadn't thought of the projection being a hammer, I looked upon it as the surface to be struck by a hammer.

[d2dave]

I must admit, I hadn't thought of the projection being a hammer, I looked upon it as the surface to be struck by a hammer.

When I first saw it I thought of the projection being used as a hammer.

[isuzurover]

I disagree. I've already looked at all that and while many pliers have the projection, none have jaws like the original post.

...

I think that is a weak argument - Can you find any other pliers with the projection apart from leatherwork or shoemaker's pliers?

The bottom right pliers in the main image I posted (and the ebay pliers) have a similar jaw design (if not the same). It is clear that there is a wide range of different jaw designs for different tasks.

[V8Ian]

Whomever said shoemaker's pliers was correct.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1439.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/Nail-2007/0087-89.jpg



Very similar plier on ebay:
Vintage shoe / leather stretching pliers by H BRINDLEY WW1 Military 1916 | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-shoe-leather-stretching-pliers-by-H-BRINDLEY-WW1-Military-1916-/380761683538)
Listed as a leather stretching pliar.


If he has Alzheimer's get him to hold it in one hand and ask him what it does or what it's called. Then ask him with it in his other hand.
Alzheimer's reduces the connection between brain halves. So, for instance, if you put a hairbrush in an Alzheimer's sufferer's hand they may be able to tell you it's called a brush but cannot remember what it does. In the other hand they may be able to tell you that it's for brushing you hair bet can't recall what it's called.

Also, I used to do shoe- making as a job and these pliers wouldn't have been practical for leather stretching over a last.


I disagree. I've already looked at all that and while many pliers have the projection, none have jaws like the original post.

I must admit, I hadn't thought of the projection being a hammer, I looked upon it as the surface to be struck by a hammer.

Look at the fourth from the top on the right, Ron.

[schuy1]

I reckon that shoe making is very close to the mark given the shapes in isuzurover post

[Blknight.aus]

I was going to suggest they look like old swaging pliers for working steel wire rope. the hammer part would be for driving the FID and the pliers for pulling the fid and wire rope after.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All Tool Buffs,

I found a couple of YouTube videos that show different Lasting Pliers/Pincers in operation. It starts by showing skiving (thinning leather) and then at the 1:00 minute mark it shows the operation of very similar pliers/pincers to the original post. Looks like a very well designed tool for a specific job.

Toepuff & Lasting - YouTube

Kind Regards
Lionel

[d2dave]

Hello All Tool Buffs,

I found a couple of YouTube videos that show different Lasting Pliers/Pincers in operation. It starts by showing skiving (thinning leather) and then at the 1:00 minute mark it shows the operation of very similar pliers/pincers to the original post. Looks like a very well designed tool for a specific job.

Toepuff & Lasting - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgigktV7RdQ)

Kind Regards
Lionel

I reckon you have nailed it(pun intended)