Thread: Unusual pliers

They look like inside calipers but without anything to lock the measurement in place!

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They look like inside calipers but without anything to lock the measurement in place!

They look to me like the sort of tongs a blacksmith would use for some particular operation, they have that crude & basic look. There are about a zillion different shapes & sizes of them, but smiths' tongs are generally made of pretty basic material as well & these appear to be made of some resistant alloy. Perhaps for dipping hot items into acid baths?

Just wild guessing, I'm afraid....
Cheers,

They look like crucible pliers/holders to me.
To pour liquid metal.

Originally Posted by Thumbthumper

They look like crucible pliers/holders to me.
To pour liquid metal.

Me, too. Variously known as crucible tongs, fire pliers, jewellers tongs, etc.

Used to hold a ceramic crucible in the round bit while the metal contents were melted and poured, or to hold hot metal bits in the plier jaws.

Thanks for your responses.

So they are crucible tongs. I have no idea where Dad got them from. Next problem is what to do with them

Hi Therapy,

I reckon your tongs were used in a laboratory, to hold test tubs when they needed to be held over a bunsen burner.....

Graham.