Gas & Burner Pliers

[woody 73]

I enjoy learning about companies and their History and although the following pair of Gas & Burner pliers are indeed vintage and made by the well known company of Utica, I thought perhaps some of the GJ members might like to get a better understanding of what they are use for.

Even though Utica made my two examples and you can read all about their History on the AA web-site, you must keep in mind two things (1) Other companies made them and (2) you can still buy them brand new today; They have stood the test of time so to speak.

Over these many years on the GJ someone will show a picture of these pliers that they picked up in a junk tool box sale and ask the question..."What are these strange pliers"?

So to answer that question Gas & Burner pliers were popular among plumbers for light duty work, they could get into tight spaces when working on burners and gas pipe fittings.

I will give you a few links along with some pictures of the two pliers that I own, so next time you find these odd pliers you too will know what they are used for.

http://www.imagesupplyservice.com/item104678.ctlg

http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=31803

http://www.cementexusa.com/pdf/GasPliers.pdf

http://stoves-parts-tools.info/products/gas-burner-pliers

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/utica-tool.html#gas-burner

 

[maxpower_hd]

Cool. Thanks.

 

[jgromada]

I'm glad i came across this. I recently inherited one of these and didn't know anything about these. I too have the one from Utica. Wonder why they aren't used much today?

Your photos also pointed out that there is a serrated opening at the end where one could remove stripped screws a la the new fangled Vampliers. Thanks for the info

 

[markhm]

They were also loved by many electricians.

 

[davethorik]

Woody, who makes new ones?

 

[alton1911]

I have a pair of Herbrand gas and burner type. I puzzled over the obvious differences between these and the slip joint pliers I have from the same period ( Ford). I just assumed that there was an application that is perhaps not common today that would make a double set of jaws in two sizes, an obvious choice over the Ford pliers. I have no idea what it would be.

 

[retDAC]

Woody, who makes new ones?

Am not Woody, but this is one source: https://www.cementexusa.com/product/gas-pliers-2/

 

[woody 73]

Sorry for the delay...If you look at my links above you will find the cementexusa, only problem is it stopped working after 3 years; but redac found it again.

 

[four.cycle]

so... Woody... glad to see the thread got your attention again.

most of those links above were dead when I tried them yesterday.

the model you posted above with the "vamplier" style nose - who made those?

were all gas burner pliers manufactured with that feature?

reason I ask is that the Vampliers are $30 bucks, but I've seen gas burner pliers for way less on Ebay - what brand would I be looking for?
of course, the question remains as to whether they would function in the same manner.

 

[jgromada]

I like this place no one gives you grief if you resurrect an old thread. The Gas burner pliers were new to me at least so it was a pleasure to get additional details.

Those Cementex models look almost exactly like my ancient Utica minus grips, but i am planning on getting some of that plastic stuff and dipping mine.

 

[markhm]

I took a look at mine. I have the Utica 1300 gas pliers in a 6" and a 10". I also have a Jennings plier in an 8" (no model # on the Jennings).

 

[retDAC]

so... Woody... glad to see the thread got your attention again.

most of those links above were dead when I tried them yesterday.

the model you posted above with the "vamplier" style nose - who made those?

were all gas burner pliers manufactured with that feature?

reason I ask is that the Vampliers are $30 bucks, but I've seen gas burner pliers for way less on Ebay - what brand would I be looking for?
of course, the question remains as to whether they would function in the same manner.

If you want to turn screws with rounded heads, you had better get Vampliers or similar made in Japan. "Engineer" is the most common brand. There may be at least one other Jap maker. The old g&b pliers I have don't grip rounded screw heads well.

 

[ganymede]

Here's a couple of
Utica that I think I posted before. They're both the same model # and size but one has rounded edges on the nose and the other is flat.
Rounded edge specimen has textured grip so I'm guessing it's the older of the 2...
View media item 72746

 

[Hexen]

If you want to turn screws with rounded heads, you had better get Vampliers or similar made in Japan. "Engineer" is the most common brand. There may be at least one other Jap maker. The old g&b pliers I have don't grip rounded screw heads well.

Good to know, thanks.

The Japanese company Engineer Inc. makes multiple "screw pliers" models under their own name for the Japanese market, and rebrands them as "Vampliers" for the US market, identical except for the handle color. They hold multiple international patents on these, so there are no other makers, that I could find - just a few mentions of the old gas burner pliers being similar, but now I know, not similar enough. Both lines are available on Amazon (the Japanese version being offered through third-party sellers located in Japan, usually several dollars cheaper than the corresponding US version).

 

[AntiqueBen]

I'd like to try an resurrect this thread. I've been doing research trying to figure out how far back Gas Burner Pliers go. I've seen several online sources saying gas burner pliers were first referenced in 1867. This simply is NOT true. I have found earlier references which has me wandering how far they go back. Gas stoves came about in the 1820's & I'm sure people used some type of pliers before specific pliers were made for gas stoves. The oldest references seem to be found as "Burner Pliers." Below is an ad I found from 1860 by Atkinson & Clough located in Boston. They clearly list "burner pliers" as a tool offering. I also found some other burner plier references from the 1850's, but I'll have to dig them up again & post them here.

Any thoughts on Burner Pliers before 1860?

 

[RTM]

Any thoughts on Burner Pliers before 1860?

ITCL doesn't have any on an easy search, but non OCRd catalogs won't show here, OCR errors, etc. have not checked the undated catalogs at the bottom yet

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here is my pair of 12" Burner Pliers made by C.S. Osborne & Co. They are an early company that got their start in the 1820's that amazingly is still in business being ran by the 10th generation of family I believe. Notice my burner pliers don't have the screwdriver tip on the end of one handle. I think that was a popular thing in the late 1800's & kinda died out in the late 19/teens. I'm not sure if C.S. Osborne & Co had catalogs in their early days. If they did it would be interesting to see when they first offered burner pliers. Any guesses if my burner pliers could date before the reported 1867 date?

 

[woody 73]

C. S. Osborne An American Company

This post story has been fun from the start when I talked to them over the phone the Man was so excited that he yelled in somewhat broken English "yes, yes, yes we are all 100% all made in AMERICA". Now this story was very fun for me because of a Tool connection that I did this week on another...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've been doing research...

This is a good thread to concentrate it on, but I would recommend you use the search feature set on the forum, as well, because examples of the pliers, their history, and discussion on their use have come up in a few different threads, as things are bound to go around here. Then you can bring it back and consolidate it here as it applies to the ensuing discussion.

I'm sure people used some type of pliers before specific pliers were made for gas stoves.

Keep in mind that gas-fitters worked on pipes, fixtures, burners, and mantles for gas lights as well, residential and public, not just stoves.

This is funny...

Notice my burner pliers don't have the screwdriver tip on the end of one handle. I think that was a popular thing in the late 1800's & kinda died out in the late 19/teens.

First of all, C.S. Osborne probably called those gas pliers. Burner pliers were smaller, typically with only shallow jaws, and they also made those.



There are a couple older Osborne catalogs on IA/ITCL. You might want to consult them.

As for the screwdriver tip, the other handle sometimes had a spike, for reaming out pipes, and you can see them on combination gas & burner pliers well into the 50's and 60's.

I have some gas pliers, burner pliers, combination gas & burner pliers, and some funky multi-use Button's pattern pliers that also have some gas & burner features. I'll try to make some time to round them up for a family photo. If I would leave you with one thought for now, though, it's that these are very difficult pliers to get a firm, simple, easy taxonomy on. More complex over time than people think.

 

[AntiqueBen]

This is a good thread to concentrate it on, but I would recommend you use the search feature set on the forum, as well, because examples of the pliers, their history, and discussion on their use have come up in a few different threads, as things are bound to go around here. Then you can bring it back and consolidate it here as it applies to the ensuing discussion.

Keep in mind that gas-fitters worked on pipes, fixtures, burners, and mantles for gas lights as well, residential and public, not just stoves.

This is funny...




First of all, C.S. Osborne probably called those gas pliers. Burner pliers were smaller, typically with only shallow jaws, and they also made those.



There are a couple older Osborne catalogs on IA/ITCL. You might want to consult them.

As for the screwdriver tip, the other handle sometimes had a spike, for reaming out pipes, and you can see them on combination gas & burner pliers well into the 50's and 60's.

I have some gas pliers, burner pliers, combination gas & burner pliers, and some funky multi-use Button's pattern pliers that also have some gas & burner features. I'll try to make some time to round them up for a family photo. If I would leave you with one thought for now, though, it's that these are very difficult pliers to get a firm, simple, easy taxonomy on. More complex over time than people think.

Yes, I'm discovering it's somewhat of a broad subject when researching these types of pliers. Used for many applications & different features on the handles. Cool ad from 1860. I'll have to read some of the discussions in other threads to see what is relevant. Looking forward to seeing your examples.

I've always wondered if these Lightening Pliers would fall into the category of gas burner pliers of some type (pic below).

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here is an ad from 1857 that shows gas fitter tools. Notice on the bottom right hand side of the ad is a pic of the gas pliers.

 

[four.cycle]

I've always wondered if these Lightening Pliers would fall into the category of gas burner pliers of some type (pic below).

The Hjorth "Lightning" was marketed as a "pipe and nut" wrench.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool ad from 1860.

That's not an advertisement. It's from an early trade journal.

Here are some research excerpts I have had tucked away for a few years from similar journals or treatises on early Gas-Fitting as a trade. You may also find them helpful.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A couple more...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Looking forward to seeing your examples.

Here are three of the four examples I own shown together, displaying the definitive-defying diversity I alluded to upthread. Top to bottom are Schollhorn Paragon, Elliot-Lucas Elect, and Utica 1300-10.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Schollhorn jobbies are just one of four different types they made. I am a Schollhorn collector, and I would love to add the others to my collection one day, but so far, this is the only model I have run into in the wild and as you can see, my example has cutters on the pivot. The other three types are shown below. All excerpted from the 1902 catalog.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am sure you noticed the screwdriver blade and the reamer and the pivot cutters on the Elliot-Lucas. .



Classic British gas pliers made well throughout the last century and possibly even still today..., and exemplifying what gas-fitters around the turn of the previous century had found useful in gas pliers!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I can't find the fourth pair (alarmingly!), Smith & Hemenway No. 470 gas pliers, but I am sure it's around here somewhere. Here are a couple photos I posted in the S&H thread years ago...



...and an excerpt from the 1926 Crescent/S&H catalog, shown with the No. 570 burner pliers.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here are three of the four examples I own shown together, displaying the definitive-defying diversity I alluded to upthread. Top to bottom are Schollhorn Paragon, Elliot-Lucas Elect, and Utica 1300-10.

Great info Lugz. I'm finding it's not difficult to end up down a rabbit hole when researching gas pliers. Especially when trying to figure out the first (early) examples & their references. From about the 1880's forward, the info is plentiful. Before that is another story.

 

[four.cycle]

^ well... when did they start piping gas into people's homes?

 

[AntiqueBen]

^ well... when did they start piping gas into people's homes?

Gas stoves came about in the 1820's & the first factory was built to produce them in England in the 1830's if memory serves me right. As they became more popular & more people were using them, it became a common practice to use a pair of pliers. Eventually manufacturers caught on to this an produced a specific pair of pliers. Walla....the gas pliers were born. Of course this isn't the only reason gas pliers came about. As Lugz pointed out up thread, gas pliers were used for plumbing, round stock & several other applications. So, all of this combined resulted in the birth of gas pliers.

I'm finding early references for gas pliers dating back to the 1850's so far. The problem I'm running into is understanding "who" the manufacturers are of these early examples.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I don't have anything back that far, Ben.
I have all kinds of "gas pliers" catalog illustrations, but none of them are prior to the 1880s.
In many cases, they are just generic pliers with no mention of manufacturer's name.
Unfortunately, I don't have any way to search for "gas pliers" at this end, so it's a matter of fish-and-find, poking through one folder after another.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up an early (c. 1901) pair of BHM's this morning made of thick, folded pressed steel. More in the BHM thread here.

 

[3baygarage]

Neat. That's a new one for me. Very odd construction.

 

[john.k]

There were two very differnt types of coal gas ...before about 1850 ,gas was made by destructive distillation of coal ,and this mainly methane burnt with a luminous flame like a kerosine lamp ........after about 1850 ,gas was made by cracking water with red hot coal or coke ....this gas was a mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide ,and burnt with a near invisible blue flame ........gas lights had to have a mantle to produce light............the gas was also very dangerous form the monoxide content causing death at low concentrations..............this was the origin of the phrase "stick your head in an oven" to commit suicide.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Neat. That's a new one for me. Very odd construction.

Thanks, Threeb, and precisely what drew my eye. Especially the fishmouth-like shape of the elongated ovular opening in the jaws. Early Bernard-patent Schollhorn were made of pressed steel, but not like this. The patent diagrams illustrate what each half looks like as a flat sheet, before being folded into final shape. Quickest access is DATAMP page here.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I would think they would have a much shorter service life than a forged equivalent - or is it possible to attain the same degree of hardness on a formed sheet metal jaw?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I would think they would have a much shorter service life than a forged equivalent - or is it possible to attain the same degree of hardness on a formed sheet metal jaw?

In general, I would agree, about any tool, but gas or burner pliers didn't exactly have rough tasks with high torque, for one, and secondly, I am tempted to simply cite "Bernard" in reminderly retort. Making all kinds of pliers from pressed steel was Schollhorn's hallmark, and gazillions of survivors and their entire production scheme and history seems to scoff at the assumption and supply a resounding "yes" to your question.

 

[jim keris]

mc master-carr still sells them

 

[Eric Brown]

A little history: https://www.historicbldgs.com/gaslighting.html

Manufactured Gas

Methods for synthesizing combustible gas by heating carbonaceous materials were known by the late 18th century. In 1792, William Murdock, a Scottish engineer and inventor, delivered the gas he created from distilling coal through 70 feet of pipe to light his home. There was some fear of this new gas, but his development of satisfactory burners for illumination showed promise in a time when mostly candles and oil lamps supplied lighting.

In 1807, London became the first city to use "coal gas" for gas lights. In 1807, Baltimore became the first city in the US to start a gas company and was illuminating by 1816. Boston first lit its street lamps with coal gas

in 1829 and New York City in 1825. Gas lighting appeared in New Orleans in 1833, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in 1836. San Francisco, far away from the coal mines in the East, imported coal to gasify from Australia starting in 1854.
By the mid 19th century, almost all cities, moderate to large towns and even some smaller towns were equipped with coal gas plants. By this point, coal gas fired ranges and water heaters were also available.