four.cycle
Well-known member
When they stopped supplying replacement blades in the small paper fold-up inside the plastic sleeve, they went to the little black "dispenser box", but I cannot recall what year. Seems like it was early 70s. 
Vintage X-Acto, Exactly, Exclusively!
- Thread starter Private Lugnutz
- Start date
RTM
Well-known member
Maybe if you bought a lot. I got 5pack blades in the paper n cardboard folder til at least 1975 at home.When they stopped supplying replacement blades in the small paper fold-up inside the plastic sleeve, they went to the little black "dispenser box", but I cannot recall what year. Seems like it was early 70s.
We didn't get the bulk pack at work til much later. They may have been available, but we didn't see them (that I recall). Thought we had the 5 pack there as well. We didn't start a huge arts and crafts project until about '85, where our consumption went way up
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ I was going through No. 11 blades during those years like crazy - mostly doing cut-and-paste ad layouts and designing signwork. Buying them from J.K. Gill Co. Memory is really fuzzy on year. I do recall buying the little paper packets from J.K. Gill as early as 1966 or so over at the Tacoma Mall. I can't find any of the black holders here - I must have used them all up. This is the last package I bought - up at "ARTCO" - they closed about 3 years ago.
Attachments
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RTM
Well-known member
Here was a left behind from the Alameda flea market. Saw the box, and immediately started looking for the contents, but no luck appeared. Fun graphics, looks like blueprint blue
RTM
Well-known member
Wow, an X-Acto kind of week here. Saw the above on Sunday, and these two items came home with me on Friday. The plane will go into my 89 kit, but I think it’s a bit newer than mine. The oil seems unused, but will take some poking to find out the when of it.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I found these at an estate sale on Friday. I find it hard to leave the wooden boxes behind. Someday I need to go through mine and do some organizing 
-Don
-Don
RTM
Well-known member
Another XActo find, another #1 handle, the big aluminum handle, and a razor saw, no idea the tpi, but lots, from an ES, where I also got piano tuning tools.
Mintgrun
Well-known member
I found this early box recently and added my oldest looking #1 knife. I wiped the dust off the lid, but otherwise, it's as-found. Too bad the decal is buggered up. It looks like the box top makes a good backer when cutting. I'll try to remember that. The angle of the cuts suggests the previous owner may have been left handed.
Is the wood handle older than the metal ones? Did the thinly-plated blade holder come before the painted ones? Could this be the first one ever made?!?!
Here are a few other recent finds, plus a photo of the X-Acto drawer. They're handy little tools.
I read the instructions for the slitter and they said the lines on the bottom are not parallel to the blade angle. I'll bet that's so it's pulling the strip against the fence while cutting. It's too tall for my X-Acto drawer.
Is the wood handle older than the metal ones? Did the thinly-plated blade holder come before the painted ones? Could this be the first one ever made?!?!
Here are a few other recent finds, plus a photo of the X-Acto drawer. They're handy little tools.
I read the instructions for the slitter and they said the lines on the bottom are not parallel to the blade angle. I'll bet that's so it's pulling the strip against the fence while cutting. It's too tall for my X-Acto drawer.
RTM
Well-known member
That’s the first one I’ve ever seen. Guess I need to read more vintage XActo literature. Nice
Mintgrun
Well-known member
I've got two of them now and I don't see branding on either of them. I assumed the first one I found was made by X-Acto and finding the second one in the box seems to prove it. There've been a couple shared in this thread, but no discussion of whether they were the earliest large-handle style.
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Fixed it for you.
Only a few others on the thread, including mine in post #1. From the late 1930's to NLT 1942.I know (think?) you were mainly joking, but I would personally find it very uncomfortable being such a small, elevated platform. When I am working with mine, or any similar kind of precise cutting or even measuring and marking, I have to have everything - backing, work object or material, tools, as well as and especially my arms and hands - laid out flat and on the same surface. Just thinking about the edges of the box with no place to flatten my arm out is making my right hand unstable.
Unless he had the box turned 180*.
I would suspect so, but like RTM, I'd have to go back to the same Google Books ads I found to date the first gen stuff.
Mintgrun
Well-known member
Turned 90* makes them right handed cuts. If I was to use the box as a chopping block, I'd flip it over and do the cutting on the bottom.
The crayon marks on the inside of the backside of my box show that the box was built and then the lid sliced off. I like the way they sliced at an angle.
I also noticed that the handle-side tool-support-block varies between boxes. Some stop short of the biggest handle, which rests on the bottom of the box; but mine has support under that handle too.
I'll bet they started painting those blocks black at the same time as the blade holding bar... in the later-earliest boxes.
Thanks for digging up old books/information.
genog
Well-known member
A nice gent was selling several tables full of Technician Trade tools
He had boxes of brand new Vaco and Xcelite screwdrivers, nippers, all sorts of pliers, 4" adjustable wrenches...
Solder irons, Weller tips...
Rolls of solder
All sorts of stuff, he said belonging to Her father, referring maybe to his wife?
His FIL was in the Supply business and all of this left over inventory was in his garage
I got a good chuckle out of this X-acto Knife Station which is basically a small piece of wood (balsa? Seems harder than balsa wood....) housed in a plastic case that clamps to your workbench
So, I bought it
What the heck? It's brand new
I've spent 3 bucks on worse things....
The package was dated 1986
He had boxes of brand new Vaco and Xcelite screwdrivers, nippers, all sorts of pliers, 4" adjustable wrenches...
Solder irons, Weller tips...
Rolls of solder
All sorts of stuff, he said belonging to Her father, referring maybe to his wife?
His FIL was in the Supply business and all of this left over inventory was in his garage
I got a good chuckle out of this X-acto Knife Station which is basically a small piece of wood (balsa? Seems harder than balsa wood....) housed in a plastic case that clamps to your workbench
So, I bought it
What the heck? It's brand new
I've spent 3 bucks on worse things....
The package was dated 1986
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genog
Well-known member
Another X-acto that might bring a chuckle...
I posted this mini Draw Knife/Spoke Shave in the Tiny Tools thread
I posted this mini Draw Knife/Spoke Shave in the Tiny Tools thread
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I'm new here, not a collector, but fascinated about tool history. I was working about 50 years in the woodworking industry and as a hobby used to make fine models, so a bit (or more) familiar with a wide variety of tools. Now, a few days ago, picked up an unknown X-acto knife that -based on my knowledge- doesn't exist. It's a standard hobby knife with nice light blue anodized body, split collet, but the closer... It's a lever at the back. Did anybody see one like that? Photos to follow shortly.
Oregon Dave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2023
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- 298
First Welcome; 50 yrs experience = lot to share!
Thanks for posting that unusual knife; do you have guesses as to the functionality of the ball joint end section????
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Is that a magnet, @TrainThek?
I am primarily an early (40s, 50s) vintage X-Acto collector, and I don't recall ever seeing that knife variant before, in found sets or orphan pieces, but I have several similar handles (not X-Acto) with a magnet indexed on the end just like that for picking up small parts. Usually longer, and in some cases, telescoping, which is extremely useful. And I can see it being a very useful X-Acto modification in later production years for picking up blades. Just a guess, though.
I'm curious enough to page through some catalogs later when I have more time.
I am primarily an early (40s, 50s) vintage X-Acto collector, and I don't recall ever seeing that knife variant before, in found sets or orphan pieces, but I have several similar handles (not X-Acto) with a magnet indexed on the end just like that for picking up small parts. Usually longer, and in some cases, telescoping, which is extremely useful. And I can see it being a very useful X-Acto modification in later production years for picking up blades. Just a guess, though.
I'm curious enough to page through some catalogs later when I have more time.
Stubby1743
Well-known member
Train Thek has referred to the mechanism as "the closer". With that information and a close look at the pictures, it is obvious to me that the lever at the top cams and pulls the collet up against a taper to grip the blade. So the mechanism is just a quick release for blades. A very interesting handle.
Does the handle actually have an X-Acto name on it?
Does the handle actually have an X-Acto name on it?
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Interesting, Stubby. I interpreted that like "the kicker" (i.e., the most interesting feature and closing out the story.)
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
It has the logo.
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Now that Stubby pointed it out, I see that the knurled part is not screwed on, it's uniform with that handle. Frankly, I am not sure why they felt the need to monkey with a chuck that had worked well for decades (it doesn't take that long to twist it on or off to tighten and loosen and change blades), and with that logo and that blocky all-caps branding style, I know it's fairly modern, but I looked through every catalog I have and every catalog on IA/ITCL, anyway, all of which are older than 1972, and couldn't find anything like this handle and its mechanism.
@Burgerboy who hasn't been here since 2022 was more of a modern collector. If he ever drops back in and catches up, maybe he'll have some information on it.
@Burgerboy who hasn't been here since 2022 was more of a modern collector. If he ever drops back in and catches up, maybe he'll have some information on it.
Oregon Dave
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- Sep 16, 2023
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Thanks for that; days not worth living if you don't learn something new!
Oregon Dave
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- Joined
- Sep 16, 2023
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Agree on the odd & seemingly unnecessary & complicated to manufacture change to the blade lock; if aint broke for 50yrs, don't do anything to it - have always like to give the knurl a little extra 'feel better' twist myself - may be a company president's son-in-law deal. (OSHA?)
Private Lugnutz unable to uncover another; probably for cause.
William Payne
Well-known member
Someone should start a thread on vintage stationary and office equipment. I would love to see some vintage staplers, hole punches, pencil sharpeners.
RTM
Well-known member
This might be the patent for your blade cover. Granted 1986
US4617735A - Safety cap - Google Patents
A safety cap assembly for a craft knife having a blade and a handle that comprises a cap housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion with an opening at the end of the front end portion for receiving the knife blade, an attaching member located on the front end portion of the...
patents.google.com
RTM
Well-known member
Here is a 1966-67 catalog I don’t see in ITCL
@rustyzman
Your sliding blade covers are listed as new in this catalog.
So much for my 80s theory.
And a different 1950s than at ITCL
@rustyzman
Your sliding blade covers are listed as new in this catalog.
So much for my 80s theory.
And a different 1950s than at ITCL
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RTM
Well-known member
Here is a fairly recent patent for a similar lever to release the collet.
US7726031B1 - Knife system - Google Patents
A knife system for providing efficient replacement of a knife blade. The knife system generally includes a body, a lever pivotally connected to the body, a collet connected to the body, and a shaft connected between the lever and the collet. When the lever is in a closed position, the shaft...
patents.google.com
Digging back thru the patents it cites, I found several fly tying vises and a vice, but also found this one from 1976, which I think is your tool.
US3977079A - Knife having easily removable blade - Google Patents
A knife having an easily removable blade has an elongated tubular housing having front and rear ends. An elongated stem is proportioned to fit slidably in the housing, the stem widening circumferentially in tapered fashion at the front end of the housing to define a blade-holding chuck having a...
patents.google.com
Which is not in DATAMP
RTM
Well-known member
Burnishing down tape? We had some tape we used for fat lines. Tape looked like this.
Thank you RTM! This is exactly the knife I have. Later today I'm going to take it apart and post pictures. My theory is, the knife was proven very good, but too expensive to produce, therefore not marketable. Years later X-acto simplified the concept that lead to the development of the Gripster
.
Looks like I owe a good cleaning job to the interior components.
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OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
That should not be taken as any kind of indication of its non-production. I only looked in X-Acto catalogs, and only those published prior to 1972 and available on IA/ITCL. I have little to no interest in digging any deeper than that to explore this knife (or any X-Acto knife, or generally, any tool) past that era.
(My sweet spot for hand tools is really fin de siecle through wartime, extending into postwar, and my interest, in general, not just X-Acto, significantly wanes when the fuzzy definition of "vintage" (for me, the minus 50 years axiom, i.e., 1975) is eclipsed. Hence why I hang out down here on this board, created and dedicated explicitly for Vintage tools, and not on the General Tools Discussion forum, where more modern tools are discussed.)
I see that the patent was assigned to CBS, Inc., NY, NY. In 1981 it was assigned to Hunt X-Acto, Inc., with a Philly address. I never had any interest in the evolution of the ownership of the original company formed by the original inventor, Sundel Doniger (formally, X-Acto Crescent Products Company, Incorporated, 440 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY), and in this case, I don't think I want to know, but who/whatever Hunt X-Acto is with respect to the original, it looks like the design didn't come from in-house. They acquired it.
rustyzman
Well-known member
That is interesting. Thanks for researching that one![/url]Here is a 1966-67 catalog I don’t see in ITCL
@rustyzman
Your sliding blade covers are listed as new in this catalog.
So much for my 80s theory.
And a different 1950s than at ITCL
OP
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Correction. There was an acquisition involved, but the design did come from in-house after all!
Not to encourage a run of later, newer tools, but for fullest context on the modern conglomerated fate of the venerated little hobby and craft knife maker that could, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Inc. acquired X-Acto, Inc. in August 1971. (Who knew?!
) The purchase was part of a larger diversification effort by the media company in that era. The Hunt Manufacturing Company purchased X-Acto from CBS in 1981, when the diversification was reversed, which is when the patent was reassigned. As long as I am at it..., Elmer's (yes, the glue company) purchased Hunt (and the X-Acto brand) in 2003. Newell Rubbermaid acquired Elmer's (and the X-Acto brand) in 2015.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
1948 Popular Mechanics X-acto ad pp 245
Stubby1743
Well-known member
That advert is very interesting to me as it shows an interchangeable head hammer.
A year or so ago, at my small local car boot sale, I bought this small interchangeable head hammer which is just marked "Made in U.S.A." on one of the flats of the aluminum handle.
The hammer looks that same as the one in the advert. I had no idea that it may be an X-Acto product. Does anyone know whether the X-Acto ones are actually marked as such?
The advert also shows all six of the interchangeable heads. I only have the steel and clear plastic heads as shown in my picture and intend to make brass and aluminum heads when I can get some lathe time on a friends machine.
A year or so ago, at my small local car boot sale, I bought this small interchangeable head hammer which is just marked "Made in U.S.A." on one of the flats of the aluminum handle.
The hammer looks that same as the one in the advert. I had no idea that it may be an X-Acto product. Does anyone know whether the X-Acto ones are actually marked as such?
The advert also shows all six of the interchangeable heads. I only have the steel and clear plastic heads as shown in my picture and intend to make brass and aluminum heads when I can get some lathe time on a friends machine.
INSP380
Well-known member
Here’s some old X-acto that came in my vintage SK box…Never mind the Kwik Skrape.
Steve
Steve
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Stubby1743
Well-known member
These small aluminum clamps were inherited by my late father when his brother died in 1964 and they are now mine. They have no markings on them, but looking at the advert in post #237 above, I see a similar clamp. Checking the 1966-7 catalogue linked to in post #228 above I see that four sizes of clamp were offered. Mine are the smallest 1" x 1" called the "N" clamp.
Has anyone got any of these clamps that are actually marked with the X-Acto name?