Show Your Vintage Utica Tools!

[Ayrhead]

I have a Torque Wrench from Utica…Also a Sears Torque wrench which looks very similar to the Utica. There are a couple of differences: the range for the Sears goes up to 250, the Utica 175, the Sears has a preset knob on the gauge so it’s easier to see when you get to the desired torque, the Utica does not. I’m thinking that Utica made the Sears torque wrench but not 100% sure…

 

[oldpliers1]

These have no ID number but look like one of the NY telco cutters in post #22 in this thread. I haven't found any explanation for the matching grooves on the outer edges or for the single groove below the cutters. d42jeep's post #10 also shows the outer edge grooves. Apologies if I missed the explanation.

I would say it was a time saving idea for stripping Jumper wires on the old wire wrap terminals in which you needed more length then after you terminated you would apply solder to the terminal. It is a clever idea and very forward thinking .

 

[LesserSon]

I’m thinking that Utica made the Sears torque wrench but not 100% sure…

Agree. Triangle acquired Torque Controls in 1968.

 

[LesserSon]

But for our recent discussion on the forging artifacts inside handles, and despite not previously owning an example of this model, I probably wouldn’t have picked up these today at Quakertown Flea, but they have two different marks, one matching Lugz’s initiating example.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's an Utica branded tool chest that I can find out NOTHING about:



Left.





I can't find one mention of an Utica tool chest anywhere.

 

[Beerhippie]

Forgot this one:

 

[LesserSon]

My guess is UTICA chests would date from the Kelsey-Hayes years 1956-1967, but that logo is from the (later) Triangle era, so probably 1970s.
I’ve got no pdf between 1968 and 1977.

 

[3baygarage]

Find from Flywheelers back in January.

Removed a god bit of grease today but still needs work. Two pair are high polish and would probably benefit from a little work. The tongue and groove doesn’t look like quite right. Came with an old Crescent wrench too.

Looks to have been a big player in the construction business.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This Utica, found at the flea market yesterday, is the first and only Utica in my 4-incher stash.



I am not familiar with the markings and could not find this style branding in any catalog, but I have the feeling it may not be very old, and perhaps not even vintage. From 1950 to 1968, the catalogs are very consistent about the 91- series being plated and the 90- series being black finish. This 91-4 is clearly black.

 

[LesserSon]

I have not intentionally collected chrome-plated Utica adjustables. I do have a 91 and a 93 that are.
I have four 91s in plain steel - 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” - and was likewise surprised to see them. (The 6” may have a cad wash on it). The illustrations of the 91 are lighter than the 90 (when included), but I’m not seeing the 91 described explicitly in print as exclusively chrome plated in the pdfs between 1939 and 1967 (in which they are so described).
The characteristics that might help date the wrench include the reinforced hole, lack of a raised panel, and the content and design of the logo:
There is no 3-diamonds mark and there is no Triangle mark. There are periods after each letter of “U.S.A.” The “U” is flat-bottomed and the “A” is barn-roof with the cross-line extending forward from the left down-stroke in “UTICA” on both faces of the handle.


My 6” has the barn-roof font only on the left face, while the 8” has it on neither face. My 10” and 12” examples look the most like your 4”.
The catalog illustrations I’ve seen of the 91 don’t show any variation between 1939 and 1967, so possibly advertisements could help narrow the dates. Without more than condition to go by, I do think they are vintage, maybe 1950s, but who knows?

 

[Leviton]

Found these fun looking “B’ model custom pliers a couple weeks ago.
They are 7.5-inches long and the markings are:

• “Utica B672 Utica N.Y. U.S.A.”
• “Custom Built Made To Order”
• There is also a mark that looks like this at the top of each handle on one side: )

I didn’t know their purpose when I bought them. Looking them up by their model number allowed me to find out. If YOU want to try and guess their purpose, don't click on the last thumbnail until you are ready to see them in action.

 

[oldpliers1]

Found these fun looking “B’ model custom pliers a couple weeks ago.
They are 7.5-inches long and the markings are:

• “Utica B672 Utica N.Y. U.S.A.”
• “Custom Built Made To Order”
• There is also a mark that looks like this at the top of each handle on one side: )

I didn’t know their purpose when I bought them. Looking them up by their model number allowed me to find out. If YOU want to try and guess their purpose, don't click on the last thumbnail until you are ready to see them in action.

They appear to be an early cable lug crimper , I would like to know the intended purpose of the tool.

 

[Leviton]

They appear to be an early cable lug crimper , I would like to know the intended purpose of the tool.

They are typewriter repair pliers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Neat!

 

[RTM]

They are typewriter repair pliers.

Guess you were too subtle the first time.

 

[oldpliers1]

Guess you were too subtle the first time.

It just proves the fact you do not everything ,and you never stop learning . The interesting items I have seen and learned about on this site has been brilliant! Regards from Tomorrow, Literally (+16 hours )

 

[genog]

A good friend of mine handed me a box of wrenches

He said, you like old tools!
So, here you go


It's not much, and certainly nothing to look at, but one of my few Utica tools
So this is my rather small and meager contribution to this thread

 

[oldpliers1]

A good friend of mine handed me a box of wrenches

He said, you like old tools!
So, here you go


It's not much, and certainly nothing to look at, but one of my few Utica tools
So this is my rather small and meager contribution to this thread

I have never held a Utica wrench they are a rare item abroad as are most things Utica ,thank you for sharing.

 

[d42jeep]

A good friend of mine handed me a box of wrenches

He said, you like old tools!
So, here you go


It's not much, and certainly nothing to look at, but one of my few Utica tools
So this is my rather small and meager contribution to this thread

I have never held a Utica wrench they are a rare item abroad as are most things Utica ,thank you for sharing.

I like that Utica adjustable wrench as it clearly demonstrates that Utica was supplying adjustable wrenches to Plomb before the Danielson acquisition.
-Don

 

[dadjeff]

Here is a unique pair of pliers.
Utica pliers, thee diamonds, No. 82 with a hole, and about 7.25"
They are from my father who worked in a factory that made communications equipment for airplanes from the late sixties into the nineties.
jeff

 

[JunkNstuf]

A few more Utica pliers gathered from various boxes around the house & garage.

 

[d42jeep]

I discovered that the dykes I picked up at today’s estate sale had the mystery markings on the insides of the handles.
That reminded me that I had never checked my Signal Corps Utica tools for similar markings and was surprised to see them on a pair of TL-13-A lineman’s pliers. The other Signal Corps pliers had smooth handles.
The Utica Bell System dykes I found today had smooth handles as well.
-Don

 

[oldpliers1]

I discovered that the dykes I picked up at today’s estate sale had the mystery markings on the insides of the handles.
That reminded me that I had never checked my Signal Corps Utica tools for similar markings and was surprised to see them on a pair of TL-13-A lineman’s pliers. The other Signal Corps pliers had smooth handles.
The Utica Bell System dykes I found today had smooth handles as well.
-Don

They have some age on them . Thanks for sharing

 

[d42jeep]

Here are the rest of my Utica tools, all of which are available for trade.
Another mark on the handle of the lineman’s pliers.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I have a pair of those cannon-plug pliers. Nice for removing large diameter caps (like bicycle headtube nuts) where I don't want to scratch them up. If I'm really concerned I make little rubber strips out of an old inner tube for added safety.

 

[Provincial]

I ended up with a bunch of 3003-0 (dead soft) aluminum scraps that are .063" thick. I use it to make soft covers for vise jaws and often to protect the finish on polished items when I have to apply force. One example is to protect a chrome piston rod when using a Vise Grip chain wrench while unscrewing a rod end or piston nut.

 

[copperdoctor]

I found a set of Utica 24-5 1/2 pliers. Searching did not yield any data. There is a round upper and lower jaws (?).
They might be saw sets?? Upper jaw is adjustable from the top for thickness.
Any body familiar with these ?? Thanks

Hello, I teach kids industrial arts jewelry making. We use parallel pliers to compress copper bushings that we make. This looks like it can do that job. Would you want to sell them? The kids love tools. If so not sure how we operate on this forum. Just signed up. Deidre

 

[RedVise]

Hello, I teach kids industrial arts jewelry making. We use parallel pliers to compress copper bushings that we make. This looks like it can do that job. Would you want to sell them? The kids love tools. If so not sure how we operate on this forum. Just signed up. Deidre

Let me see if I can lay hands on them!

 

[copperdoctor]

Thanks!

 

[LesserSon]

Found four old pairs of pliers today. None have model numbers. All have U-TI-CA logo forged inside handles. Three are probably No50-6, one of which has the 3chainlinks logo, but has been reground into something else. I might have left it behind, but the addition of the “DUKE” stamp made it irresistable. The small pliers are probably model 20-5.

 

[RocketOil]

I grew up in Utica and live just a couple miles away so Utica tools pop up quite often at garage and estate sales. Found this gem over the weekend. I've seen a few photos of a no. 16 that looks the same but mine doesn't have the same markings.

 

[Mintgrun]

I was surprised to see that these were marked UTICA. They belong to a friend, who seemed slightly flattered when I asked if I could photograph them to share on this site.









Tom

Edit - No. 402 - 6 1/2

 

[LesserSon]

I grew up in Utica and live just a couple miles away so Utica tools pop up quite often at garage and estate sales. Found this gem over the weekend. I've seen a few photos of a no. 16 that looks the same but mine doesn't have the same markings.

The 1926 catalog does not show it. The 1931 catalog does, with the 3–diamonds logo (is that what you mean by “markings”?), extolling its virtures at spreading and lifting battery terminals located under floor boards and splash pans, but no mention of the patent. Maybe it wasn’t granted.

 

[Leviton]

I was surprised to see that these were marked UTICA. They belong to a friend, who seemed slightly flattered when I asked if I could photograph them to share on this site.



Tom

Wow! Those are in beautiful condition.

 

[LesserSon]

I was surprised to see that these were marked UTICA. They belong to a friend, who seemed slightly flattered when I asked if I could photograph them to share on this site.









Tom

Edit - No. 402 - 6 1/2

The 1981 Utica catalog has compound pliers on p95, but not that model. Same on P20 in 1977.
Ah, p14 in 1968 shows your model 402. So do other catalogs as far back as 1952. Not 1950.
So, 1952-1968, maybe a bit later, but not as late as 1977.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some duck bill longnoses I found at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[Skyman]

Nice.

 

[Squez]

From Friday haul after clean up revealed these long duckbills

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's a little pair of 5" linesmen's pliers that are too cute to live:





I think they'll come in handy around the shop.

 

[d42jeep]

Here's a little pair of 5" linesmen's pliers that are too cute to live:





I think they'll come in handy around the shop.

Plus they have a Signal Corps part number!
-Don