W. Schollhorn Company/ W.A. Bernard

[four.cycle]

^ the address on Chambers Street looks familiar.

 

[twertsy]

Thanks, Machineman. Those adhere to my theory.

- Dog logo appears on tools with following dates: 1890, 1892, 1894 (cutters) 1907, 1913
- Dog logo does not appear on tools with following dates: 1894 (pliers), 1900, 1914 and 1915.

It's a start. As guys post more tools I will update it as necessary from there. We may need to include the line (LODI, PARAGON, etc), which, as noted before by me on this thread, does not distinguish the model or type of tool, but finish on the same model or type of tool.


Thanks a bunch, notlob. Good detective work. And the source makes sense, since Sargent bought them out. Can't wait to dig in!

Interesting that their original TM application says it's been in use since "7/15/1908" and mentions nothing about use prior to that?

TM Link

 

[twertsy]

Also, here is his full obit. Great story. I also found where his son was killed by a train in the 1860's.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Interesting that their original TM application says it's been in use since "7/15/1908" and mentions nothing about use prior to that?

There're only a couple explanations I can think of, Todd.

The first use date is accurate and they were stamping older patent dates (e.g., "SEP. 25 1894", "NOV. 6 1900") on tools made and stamped with the Bernard dog TM after 1908. Meaning, all those tools with Bernard dog TM's were made after July 1908, despite bearing the older patent dates.

Or, when they submitted their TM application in October 1909, they were indifferent about the early history of the company and the accuracy of the date (I have seen this before in some mfgrs, where our historical research was ironically "better" than their own at the time).

I strongly suspect the former.

Great story.

It is. Ironically, tellingly, no mention of William Bernard or pliers. The company through its founder's entire tenure and life was not known for either! Bernard's first patent came just one month before the man whose name is eponymous with the company died. All Bernard era production occurred with his sons running the company.

 

[RTM]

Also, here is his full obit. Great story. I also found where his son was killed by a train in the 1860's.

Hmm, that intermediate S & Tiesing company is not in DAT, note to add it later.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to pull these "IDEAL" branded combination gas and side-cutters out of a mess of junky tools on a dollar table at the flea market this morning. The jaws are forged steel; the handles are folded stamped steel and hollow. It is a noticeably lightweight yet surprisingly robust tool. They have the classic Schollhorn pivot marking. They don't have any BERNARD markings, but they are stamped with Bernard's May 2, 1905 (788,757) and Apr 2, 1907 (848,878) patent dates, regarding metal stamping and bending processes, titled "NIPPERS, PLIERS, OR SIMILAR TOOL" and "PLIERS, PUNCH, AND SIMILAR TOOL", respectively.

A couple of the pictures show the construction technique, and if you look hard, you can see the seam running down the inside of the handle.

These are the 25th unique Schollhorn tool in my collection, and I think they might be the first example we have seen on the thread.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These are not listed in the 1902, 1929, or 1942 Schollhorn catalogs. 4.c posted a 1910 ad on page 2, and I found them in the Schollhorn section of the 1917 Machinists Supply Company catalog on IA/ITCL.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up a 5-1/2" compound parallel jaw side-cutter this morning - second from bottom, which completes the entire lineup! It has the typical Wm Schollhorn markings around the pivot on one side, the BERNARD'S 1890 and 1892 patents around the pivot on the flip side, and the later 1907 and 1913 patents on the side of the handle opposite the dog logo.

 

[nz44tool]

Picked this up today. Anyone else seen one like it? Heat coil pliers? Crimper?

 

[Outlawmws]

What diameter does that one grip?

 

[nz44tool]

What diameter does that one grip?

It's a 1/4" hole.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've never seen one in a Schollhorn catalog. I don't collect Sargent tools, but there are a few Sargent cats on IA/ITCL. Might help. They did continue the practice of custom orders, so might not.

 

[nz44tool]

I did look through a bunch of catalogs (and all the Schollhorn posts on GJ) - no luck.
Likely a custom order, I suppose.
They might work for crimping some kinds of electrical lugs.

 

[Outlawmws]

It's a 1/4" hole.

I'd love to find a pair like that with a 1/2" hole.

 

[calandrod]

I’m happy to say I immediately recognized these in a WW2 museum I recently visited! Neat to think of the history of some of the tools we use.

 

[Beerhippie]

I’m happy to say I immediately recognized these in a WW2 museum I recently visited! Neat to think of the history of some of the tools we use.

It'll buff out.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Which museum, @calandrod ?

 

[calandrod]

Which museum, @calandrod ?

@Private Lugnutz Bastogne War Museum, in Belgium.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Thanks. I just visited their website. I see that while they have some sophisticated panavision type walls and well-curated display cases, they have a room with a table of rusty relics. Very cool. And yes, the side-cutters make the profile unmistakable despite the crust! Thanks for posting.

 

[d42jeep]

I didn’t have much hope for this pair I found at Friday‘s estate sale but they were almost free so I thought that I would give cleaning them up a try.
They looked better after some wire wheeling and an overnight in evaporust but were still frozen solid. After a soak in penetrating oil I brute forced them open and cleaned off some more corrosion. I may be able to free them up but they will always be pretty pitted.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I've found "Kroil" and "MMO" a great combination for "rusted solid" pliers.

 

[Outlawmws]

^ I've found "Kroil" and "MMO" a great combination for "rusted solid" pliers.

Brake fluid is another weapon to try.

 

[four.cycle]

I don't believe I even have any brake fluid here... it's junk once you open the bottle here because there's so much moisture in the atmosphere - may as well toss it (or haul to the transfer station.)

 

[nz44tool]

I didn’t have much hope for this pair I found at Friday‘s estate sale but they were almost free so I thought that I would give cleaning them up a try.
They looked better after some wire wheeling and an overnight in evaporust but were still frozen solid. After a soak in penetrating oil I brute forced them open and cleaned off some more corrosion. I may be able to free them up but they will always be pretty pitted.
-Don

Wow - you really worked on these; they cleaned up better than you'd guess from the "before" pic.
I've had lots of these (I live near to New Haven CT where they were made), and I notice that the moderately rusted ones will often clean up beautifully, with little evidence of the rust left. Sometimes the plating will flake a little on the jaws, though.
The steel in these seems to resist heavy rust damage quite well.

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't believe I even have any brake fluid here... it's junk once you open the bottle here because there's so much moisture in the atmosphere - may as well toss it (or haul to the transfer station.)

Keep a small one after opening it for use as a penetrating oil, or to partially revitalize rubber/neoprene that has gotten hard.

 

[d42jeep]

Another overnight soak in WD40 finally freed them up the rest of the way. They are now coated with fluid film and ready to join the other Bernard tools.
-Don

 

[Eric Brown]

Adding my four Bernard's to this thread. From L-R: Patent 678637 (July 16, 1901) for each handle having it's own pivot. The jaws don't open as wide but they have lots of power. Marked with Schollhorn and Vulcan. Next is patent 1236138 (Aug 7, 1917) for the flush slip joint pivot. Some button type pliers with two cutters on the inside of the jaws and two on the sides. Marked with 508-8. Finally some cutters marked Bernard, Schollhorn Co, New Haven, Conn USA, 577 6 1/2. For you handle pattern lovers here are some you may not have seen. A picture of the first one open, the third one's jaws and the handle insides of the cutter.

 

[3baygarage]

Dug these out last weekend at the picker sale.

W Schollhorn / Bernard linesman pliers
No. 512-6
No. 502-8
Both stamped W.U.T.CO
The grips are also mark W.U.T.CO on the larger plier, along with C.J.F. & E CO and what looks like another part number.

Western Union Telegraph Co.?

 

[Fred Knox]

After a few recent additions to my Schollhorn/Bernard collection, I thought I’d bring the whole band back for a reunion :

Bernard Dog eyelet punch and riveting pliers.

Flat-sided 5” No. 103 needle nose jaws

4” dual wire cutters

6 1/2” no. 102 black oxide parallel-jaw pliers with side cutter

4 1/2” (not marked but likely no. 102) nickel-plated parallel-jaw pliers with side cutter

5” “Lodi” parallel-jaw duckbill pliers with side cutters. No knurling or markings on handles.

6 1/2” Sargent & Co. (not marked but likely no. 102) parallel-jaw pliers with side cutter (“Bernard” on both handles).

Late addition (last photo) is a 8” “Lodi” rotary leather hole punch plier (“Bernard” on both handles).

 

[d42jeep]

With a couple of recent additions, my current collection.
-Don

I can’t seem to leave them behind when I see them at garage or estate sales. These have been beat on but still work fine. Found at a Gardnerville NV garage sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[nz44tool]

I can’t seem to leave them behind when I see them at garage or estate sales. These have been beat on but still work fine. Found at a Gardnerville NV garage sale yesterday.
...well-made tools. I still have one like this that I got 70+ years ago.

 

[d42jeep]

Another pair from another Gardnerville estate sale on Friday. These have a variety of early patent numbers as well as the dog logo.
-Don

 

[nz44tool]

Recently acquired these - a big beast of a wire-forming tool. The largest size I've seen in the catalogs is 7-1/2", but these are 8-1/2".
They're in really good shape, don't even need cleaning. Seem to be very lightly used.
Anyone seen a pair this big?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Recently acquired these - a big beast of a wire-forming tool...[ ]...Anyone seen a pair this big?

No. I have a 4-incher, and it's the cheaper LODI pattern. Outlaw posted two of the compound pattern a couple years ago, not his, from a machinists' kit originally belonging to an employee of Remington Arms, one longer than the other, and by context of the surrounding tools, they look to be 4" and 6" OAL. Linked HERE.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have since acquired a pair 6-3/4" long. blued not plated.

 

[nz44tool]

No. I have a 4-incher, and it's the cheaper LODI pattern. Outlaw posted two of the compound pattern a couple years ago, not his, from a machinists' kit originally belonging to an employee of Remington Arms, one longer than the other, and by context of the surrounding tools, they look to be 4" and 6" OAL. Linked HERE.

These look fairly "recent" to me. I believe Schollhorn continued to be active into the 1940s, but I can't find a '30s or '40s catalog.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I believe Schollhorn continued to be active into the 1940s, but I can't find a '30s or '40s catalog.

The 1929 catalog has both the No. 101 (heavy pattern round nose) and the No. 104 (light pattern round nose).

There is a 1943 'brochure' on IA/ITCL, showing just 15 pliers, and neither round nose is shown.

Sargent acquired all the Schollhorn equipment (machinery, tooling, etc), inventory, and rights to manufacture in 1948, making Schollhorn a division. Sargent used the Bernard name on their tools through the 1950's but it disappeared in 1961.

The 1961 Sargent catalog shows the No. 104, but no No. 101.

 

[Outlawmws]

My pair has "Bernard" on the grips, and W. SCHOLLHORN CO on the sides with NEW HAVEN CONN.

 

[nz44tool]

The 1929 catalog has both the No. 101 (heavy pattern round nose) and the No. 104 (light pattern round nose).

There is a 1943 'brochure' on IA/ITCL, showing just 15 pliers, and neither round nose is shown.

Sargent acquired all the Schollhorn equipment (machinery, tooling, etc), inventory, and rights to manufacture in 1948, making Schollhorn a division. Sargent used the Bernard name on their tools through the 1950's but it disappeared in 1961.

The 1961 Sargent catalog shows the No. 104, but no No. 101.

Thanks, Lugz - I did see the catalog and brochure you mention; I was kinda hoping you had a later one up your sleeve!
Quite an interesting company - there seems to be no end to the number of special-purpose pliers they turned out.