Show Your Vintage Utica Tools!

[LesserSon]

As for the Utica Pliers, they say "No - 2" on them, and they do indeed look like the Duck-Bill pliers you provided a link to - but with the exception that the smooth jaw surfaces do not meet except at the very tips. I'm wondering if it might be for sheet metal work?

Shelbylex is right: glaziers pliers. This is from the 1939 catalog, but (despite being called “new” in the description) yours may be older than that. Is there a forged-in 3-diamonds mark on the inside of the handles?
My reasoning: Your pair has the model number, but not the length (No.2-8), which was pretty universally applied to all models afterward. The forged-in diamonds mark inside the handles (if the little glint I’m seeing really is that), is also an inidication of earlier examples, later dropped from the forging process, or polished away. I would expect a textured handle grip pattern with V-shaped terminations on pliers of the age I’m thinking, BUT maybe the glaziers pliers retained smooth handles throughout their existance.
Similar-looking pliers with teeth are usually for processing animal hides. I’m sure you can use your pliers for bending sheet metal, but parallel-jaw locking pliers will do a better job.

 

[DIHR]

Yes, I'm sure you are exactly right! here's a close up of the inside handle (my cell phone doesn't focus well that close) and another farther away. No texture on the handles. I inherited these from my father in law, who would be about 100 today so any of the dates you mention are plausible - and maybe he wasn't the first owner. Grand dad was a carpenter (I have his Yankee Screwdriver) but these seem like a very specialized tool for an all-around tradesman. Thank you so much for the information AND the ad photo!

 

[RooflessVW]

 

[d42jeep]

I found this on Friday. It’s been slightly shortened but at least it was a decent job. Very useable tool still.
-Don

 

[betulauber]

These look like a slightly smaller version of the PS&W Fence Plier and Wire Puller.

 

[LesserSon]

The No.1000 Button’s pattern Pliers with the two Utica-improved wire cutters within the jaws allowed it to catch the cut-offs, and came in four lengths in 1909 (4-1/2, 6, 8 & 10”). Yours are likely a year or more younger, with the forged-in 3diamonds mark replacing the 3chain-links mark about 1910.
The innovation of the bypass cutter pliers is credited to W.X.Stevens in 1867, but most manufacturers called them Button’s Pliers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I already have a thread going dedicated to these, but Storm King is a UDF&T TM from 1907, so I will crosslink here!

 

[d42jeep]

I found this pair of lineman’s pliers at an estate sale this morning. The may have been used at some point to hold some items being brazed.
-Don

 

[betulauber]

@LesserSon Thanks for that. I didn't know they were called Button’s Pliers. So this is the 8" model. I have to say between the two (Utica & Peck Stowe and Wilcox) that I have - the Utica feels like the better quality. I don't know if the Peck Stowe had a rougher life or not, but they seem to be in similar condition and age.

 

[LesserSon]

Interesting linesmans I came across yesterday. I almost ignored them until I saw, despite the unfamiliar model number (TL-13), that they were Utica. Then I thought, before cleaning them, that a “Bell System” or other entity would be stamped on them. Nope.
The grips are not soft, as I originally thought they’d be under the crud, but hard plastic that had a waxy whiteish film and smelled like the stinkdriver handles, only not as strongly or repulsively. I have not found this model in the catalogs yet. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places, or the right era.

 

[3baygarage]

Very nice. I have Craftsman just like that. Same grips. Maybe a clue to the maker but just a guess.

edit: not mine but one that sold on ebay.

 

[bluebolt]

Well here's a new one to me and apparently this thread as well. Utica 470-5 circuit board and jeweler's pliers. If anyone can give an explanation of how these are used I would appreciate it!

 

[LesserSon]

Very nice. I have Craftsman just like that. Same grips. Maybe a clue to the maker but just a guess.

edit: not mine but one that sold on ebay.

That’s pretty interesting to me. I’ve speculated that FSP made the Craftman Vanadium pliers with the forged nested diamonds grips, but a collector with vastly more FSP cred and knowledge says no.
So maybe Utica. It’s a thought.

 

[d42jeep]

Interesting linesmans I came across yesterday. I almost ignored them until I saw, despite the unfamiliar model number (TL-13), that they were Utica. Then I thought, before cleaning them, that a “Bell System” or other entity would be stamped on them. Nope.
The grips are not soft, as I originally thought they’d be under the crud, but hard plastic that had a waxy whiteish film and smelled like the stinkdriver handles, only not as strongly or repulsively. I have not found this model in the catalogs yet. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places, or the right era.

The TL-13 is a Signal Corps number. They also had a TL-13-A which had two different sized notches in the cutting area for stripping two different sizes of wire.

Utica TL-19-A Pliers

I found a pair of Utica 6 inch linesman pliers Saturday. They are marked "TL-19-A" on one side, and UTICA 1950-6 on the other. They have a hole in one handle for a lanyard, and two notches in the cutting blade for stripping wire. I know that the Signal Corps had TL-13-A pliers, but haven't...

www.garagejournal.com

-Don
These CS-34 pouches are in my basement. They each hold a TL-29 Linesman’s knife and a pair of Utica
TL-13-A Lineman’s pliers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

hard plastic that had a waxy whiteish film and smelled like the stinkdriver handles, only not as strongly or repulsively.

I have Craftsman just like that. Same grips. Maybe a clue to the maker but just a guess.

Me too, and I assumed they were akin to the amber handles found on the drive tools, but when I posted them on the Long C thread, here, someone said the grips were after-market, sold separately, and could be applied to any pliers by placing them in boiling water first, kinda like boomer-era mouthguards. If that's true, it reduces their veracity as an OEM tip.

 

[LesserSon]

Thanks for all the replies. Color me edified. Glad I bought them, even on a hunch.

 

[Shelbylex]

The TL-13 is a Signal Corps number. They also had a TL-13-A which had two different sized notches in the cutting area for stripping two different sizes of wire.

Utica TL-19-A Pliers

I found a pair of Utica 6 inch linesman pliers Saturday. They are marked "TL-19-A" on one side, and UTICA 1950-6 on the other. They have a hole in one handle for a lanyard, and two notches in the cutting blade for stripping wire. I know that the Signal Corps had TL-13-A pliers, but haven't...

www.garagejournal.com

-Don
These CS-34 pouches are in my basement. They each hold a TL-29 Linesman’s knife and a pair of Utica
TL-13-A Lineman’s pliers.

Interesting Post, Don. The knife looked familiar - I just went to look at the tools I bought a while ago and sure - I got the knife with TL-29 on the side (Ulster knife USA) but I do not see

I also have some Utica Pliers that I never showed (not restored yet). Two have Utica 1950-6 (different style) on one side. Unfortunately no TL-13-A mark on another side.

However, now the tools are connected... (I will post picture at some point when I get to restoring the pliers - one is not even opening...)

Thank you for posting the pictures - definitely helped!!!

 

[ecotec]

I got a 6” Utica adjustable at an estate sale this past weekend. They priced my wife’s stuff at $10 and my wife said “his stuff too” and they still priced it all at $10. I love when they do that.

When it is a $5 bag sale and there is still a bunch of room in her bag… it is like free tools.

I do not usually buy Utica tools, but it looked very lightly used… and I felt like I couldn’t leave it behind.

 

[Superunknown 7]

Starting off with some typical stuff here.



I don't think the thread has seen many of the 4" adjustables.



Now some interesting ones. This is a custom built "B 822" needle nose with no cutters and an odd spring mechanism. I've looked and looked and only ever seen this style spring on Utica's diagonal cutters (there's a few in this thread). On a side note, I love how all these Utica needle nose pliers come to such a fine point.



Here is a 41-5... In full polish? Is that chrome?
This came from a garage sale just yesterday and I almost didn't even look at them.

 

[LesserSon]

4-1/2” UTICA TOOLS KS 6305 / 319B
I have not found these in catalogs and have no idea what they are for. Not very different from short chain-nose pliers, but with smooth pyramidal jaws. Appear to have a nickel finish.
I have a pair of very similar (though larger, at 5-1/2”) MKlein&Sons pliers, which I think date from the fourth quarter of 1947 (E EC).

 

[craftsman creep]

My dad has this pair of utica slip joint pliers

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Got this 12” crescent wrench, the screw, was well screwed, so I re-threaded the screw hole to 5/16-18, then made a new screw with a bolt and a drill and belt sander.

 

[d42jeep]

Sometimes when I make the new screws, before I remove the head, I cut the slot down through the head with a hacksaw so it looks original after the head is removed. It looks like you put a slot in yours too.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I usually find my 4” adjustable wrenches at garage and estate sales but I spotted this one on eBay and successfully bid on it. I didn’t previously have a Utica 4“ adjustable in the collection.
-Don
Here are the other little ones (excluding the little Barcalo examples).
-Don

 

[LNKMK8]

Picked up a really nice pair of No. 15 Mechanic's Special Chain Repair Pliers last month at a sale...

 

[LesserSon]

Picked these up last week. No62 8” tile setters nippers

and after fine wire wheel
and a no-name equivalent I bought new 30years ago to tile our kitchen, foyer and baths.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Saw this at the flea, never seen one so I had to buy the whole tool box it was in, because it’s what ya do.

Here is what it look liked when I got it, bent and ruined.

Found it a donor shank, ripped them out of of the handles put some epoxy on it and tapped it in there.

Here it is all done. I high grit sandpapered it, scotch brite with a little dish soap, then finished up with steelwool and paste wax.
Do any of you guys have any of these? Does anyone know who made them?

 

[Skyman]

My better half scored this 41-6 for $0.99 when she was browsing at a local thrift store. After a soak in ER, it looks good next to its little brother 41-5 that I've had for longer than I can remember.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Picked this up for $2

Here it is after an Evaporust bath.

Pretty sure it’s pretty old, if anyone knows for sure please share.

 

[LesserSon]

I think late 1940s.

 

[Macduf]

Cheap find , about to have an evapo trust bath.

 

[oldpliers1]

Interesting linesmans I came across yesterday. I almost ignored them until I saw, despite the unfamiliar model number (TL-13), that they were Utica. Then I thought, before cleaning them, that a “Bell System” or other entity would be stamped on them. Nope.
The grips are not soft, as I originally thought they’d be under the crud, but hard plastic that had a waxy whiteish film and smelled like the stinkdriver handles, only not as strongly or repulsively. I have not found this model in the catalogs yet. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places, or the right era.

Great item I believe these handles are a ww2 early plastic Acetate that was a shared design as part of the war effort, I have seen them on Red devil, Crescent, Utica, and maybe Klein. Do you have a pair of uticas with the crimper in the T.L -13 series ?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's amazing those grips are still on there

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a pair of pliers that might well be Utica. They were rusty over the etched marking and the evaporust and cleaning left them totally unmarked. Can anyone confirm who made them?
-Don

 

[Superunknown 7]

Here is a pair of pliers that might well be Utica. They were rusty over the etched marking and the evaporust and cleaning left them totally unmarked. Can anyone confirm who made them?
-Don

Those cuts say Western Forge to me, but just shooting from the hip on that.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Here is a pair of pliers that might well be Utica. They were rusty over the etched marking and the evaporust and cleaning left them totally unmarked. Can anyone confirm who made them?
-Don

Most definitely craftsman.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. That is definitely a match but who made them for Sears? Craftsman never made their own tools.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Those cuts say Western Forge to me, but just shooting from the hip on that.

Yes, WF

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I finally looked closer and saw the WF on SKTF’s pair.
-Don

 

[wrench136]

More Utica- The F-254 lubring pat. 5-18-1948 is not part of the set. Should be #654-6.