Thread: Mystery tool.

Personally, I think the key is the apparent fact that the when the upper jaws are open, the lower set is closed. And vica-versa. By the photos, that certainly appears to be what is happening.

cheers
Bevan

Are they perhaps for splicing, something where you need to hold one element together while separating another?

Matt

Now that we've drawn our attention to the two on ebay is anyone thinking of bidding on the one that finishes today?
More importantly as a Brace and Brace Tool collector, if I were to buy it would I find myself on the long slippery slope of becoming a (insert what the purpose of the tool is ) collector?
Scary, especially if Mrs BG finds out.
Geoff.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

......Scary, especially if Mrs BG finds out.....

Indeed, Geoff - although we have decided the tool is not designed for emasculatory purposes, I'm sure that given a sufficiently enraged spouse and a little imagination, they could be pressed into service (so to speak) with a goodly chance of success....

Ha ha yes Ian, in 42 years of marriage she's not shown any signs of violence but........

Hi,
have you tried putting a piece of paper(or saw steel) in it, and then pressing it on and closed a few times? to me it almost looks like a self progressing saw set type wingwong...

Originally Posted by IanW

where's Fletty, he's a bit of a pliers specialist

All you have to do is mutter The magic word ...... SHIRAZ?....... or is it SHAZAM ..... and, in a puff of dust, he is here!
Could it be the Grandaddy of one of these wire strippers...?

image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg

fletty

Originally Posted by fletty

.......Could it be the Grandaddy of one of these wire strippers...?

Well, Fletty, a concensus was very roughly arrived at some posts ago that it isn't for stripping wire, it just doesn't have the cutting gear, nor the sort of movement one would expect. Besides, I rather suspect from the look of it that it predates wire-stripping, which wouldn't have been much of an issue before the 1920s, would it?? I've stared at the darn thing til the beads of persperation have long dried, but not even a twinge of inspiration has hit me....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by fletty

Could it be the Grandaddy of one of these wire strippers...?

image.jpg

I have the perzact same strippers, and they're crackerjack.

It was suggested it was for brazing bandsaw blades.
But to me compared to a mans hand it looks on the small side.

I bit the bullet, stuck my neck out and bought it, because like Ian I'm intrigued by it. If it hasn't been ID'd by the time it arrives we'll be able to have a good look at it.
What...? Oh hi love, ha ha, no nothing, just talking to the boys......

Hello Geoff,

the funny looking pliers at the start of this thread look a lot like pair I have,
though they are a from a different manufacturer.

They perform the same way as the handles are squeezed together, that is
the two tips close together then the two pairs are drawn away from each other.

About 6 years went by before I finally had them identified as
an automotive tool used to pry apart and remove rings from pistons.

Hope you have fun with your new tool.

Please view attached photo for the pair I have.

Regards

Graham.

Another handy tool Graham, I could have done with a pair of those a few times in the past. It does seem to have a similar action to the one in question but I think the rounded front counts them out for that purpose.
When we (HTPSWA) attend a show we like to have a mystery tool for visitors to our stand to attempt to identify, I'm thinking this tool will be a contender for that job.
Cheers,
Geoff.

They are indeed vintage piston ring expanders. Search "vintage piston ring expanders" and ask for images. The same item has apparently turned up on "Collectors Weekly" some time ag0. But what would I know? I'm only a Titan guy!