Unusual "pliers" - what are they?

[Therapy]

When cleaning out my late Dad’s workshop I found this plier-type tool.

Does anyone know their purpose? They are designed to grip something, but what?

Many thanks

Therapy

[fubar]

is there a gap between jaws when they close?

[Therapy]

Thanks for your interest.

When the jaws are completely closed only the jaw tips touch.

The two jaw faces are parallel when they are partly ajar - the gap between the two jaw faces is approx 2mm when they are parallel.

The pliers weigh approx 520 grams, so seem to be intended to grip something that is not light and/or fragile.

However the jaws faces only have a very lightly etched criss-cross pattern, which would suggest they are not intended for gripping metals etc like normal pliers of this weight and construction.

Thanks

Therapy

[Cliff Rogers]

They could be crimping pliers for making a folded crimp joint in sheet metal.

[robbygard]

When cleaning out my late Dad’s workshop I found this plier-type tool.

Does anyone know their purpose? They are designed to grip something, but what?

Many thanks

Therapy

they look somewaht similar to a couple of pairs of blacksmiths' tongs that i have ... mine have flatter jaws (and i also have a third which is bent to obviously hold pipe) but the two flat ones also don't have any cross hatching or etching on the jaws and also have a slight (few mm) gap when closed

mine are bout 15 to 18 inches long overall

regards david

[johnc]

I also think they might be blacksmith tongs, although Cliff may well be on the money.

[lightwood]

When cleaning out my late Dad’s workshop I found this plier-type tool.

Does anyone know their purpose? They are designed to grip something, but what?

Many thanks

Therapy
Jewellery making tool...
For pulling wire through a draw plate, to reduce the cross section, or to change it from one shape to another.
Here are mine, and how they are used... from this page...
Peter McBride Studio (http://www.petermcbride.com/jewellery_tools/)
Regards,
Peter
http://www.petermcbride.com/jewellery_tools/draw%20tongs1.jpg
http://www.petermcbride.com/jewellery_tools/draw%20tongs01.jpg
http://www.woodworkforums.com/www.petermcbride.com/jewellery_tools/draw%20tongs1.jpghttp://www.woodworkforums.com/www.petermcbride.com/jewellery_tools/draw%20tongs1.jpg

[robbygard]

Jewellery making tool...
For pulling wire through a draw plate, to reduce the cross section, or to change it from one shape to another.
Here are mine, and how they are used... from this page...


your site is very interesting ... thanks


regards david

[Therapy]

Thanks to all for your replies and many thanks to you Peter for identifying the tool.

I guess someone must have given it to Dad. He certainly didn't do any jewellery related work or pull wire through a draw plate.

Peter I found your web site totally fascinating. The tools that you have made and restored indicate that you are a craftsman of the highest order.

Many thanks


Therapy