Hollow Handle (Wooden, also Steel) Combination Tool and Bits

[Outlawmws]

My affection for these and similar tools ...

EDIT: Shorter and sweeter: I'm an unabashed sucker for these kinds of collectibles! HAHA.

Yep! Me too!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my unmarked version.
-Don

 

[Fred Knox]

Just inherited this from my great grandfather. It is a cocobolo handle with all ten bits. The nickel plating is a little rough, but in general it is in very good condition. Based on the research from Boringgeoff above, I can not tell if it is a Type 1 or Type 4 set, not that it really matters. Happy to have it and use it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just inherited this from my great grandfather. It is a cocobolo handle with all ten bits.

Tools are always a cherished hand-me-down, and tools with wooden handles even moreso, because the patina is literally from your great grandpa's hands. That it's complete (very rare!) speaks to how well he took care of his things. Congrats. Thanks for posting.

 

[PacificaVette]

I found this Buell set at a garage sale sale last weekend. It was pretty dusty and dirty, but cleaned up pretty well. Not bad for 75 cents. I used Johnson's paste wax on the handle, which gave it a nice glow, and should protect it for the next hundred years.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Looks terrific. The nickel-plated parts look great as well and I like the way the finish matches the bits. That's a nice looking tool.

 

[bbbarracuda]

I found another one of these.
It seems to be the same patent as others on this thread, but...
The only markings that i can find is Dunham's Cocoanut. Diving down the internet rabbit hole, I think it was given as a premium by the Dunham Mfg. Co in New York, for the purchase of cocoanut.
I found mention of it in a listing for a 1893 catalog of premiums from Dunham's. I also found a mention of Premium card #295. I can't find any pictures of it from the source.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find! Cool marking.

 

[bbbarracuda]

I seem to have a problem, I just keep buying these things. Luckily they are not expensive.
Over the last 2 weeks I've acquired 3 more different ones.
#1 is a Sargent made with GW Wright patent (which seems really similar to the Fray patent.) Patent dated 1884
#2 is only marked Germany with no other markings I can see. It looks there was a sticker at one time, but its long gone. I is also quite similar to the Fray patent but has 4 jaws to hold tools instead of 2 that Fray has.
The last one is kind of an unknown to me. It has no markings that I can find. The tools are smaller and "daintier" than the others i have. The only matches I can find for it online is a picture and mention of it being a Civil War gunsmithing tool, but I tend to doubt that. The main difference it has it uses a small wrench/ spanner to lock in the tools.(which I don't have)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The main difference it has it uses a small wrench/ spanner to lock in the tools.(which I don't have)

I have a few wrenches that look similar to the one shown in use in the reference. What is the diameter?

I really like that one. Nice find.

 

[bbbarracuda]

The nut seems to be 5/16 square
I’ve tried to search patents but can’t find anything. My google isn’t strong enough, I guess.

 

[Fred Knox]

I just picked up these small, medium and large hollow handle combination tools. The small one has sixteen bits and a rather unique mechanism (similar to bbbarracuda's) to hold them. I can twist the holder tight by hand or certainly by pliers. I believe the handle is some type of fruit wood. The medium and larger sizes (cocobolo handles) each held six bits with the large one stamped with the patent date of August 12, 1884. I am not sure why I can’t pass these guys up, but they are fun to collect.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am not sure why I can’t pass these guys up, but they are fun to collect.

Yeah they are! And they're handsome, too. Although I will admit to not bringing every single one I see home, especially if they're not marked. Even if it's just my little way of showing myself I have some semblance of willpower.

The nut seems to be 5/16 square

Do you ever run into these little machine wrenches? If not, I see them all the time, and this Armstrong is extra if you want it. It doesn't look like the one that came with your multi-tool, but it's the right era.

 

[bbbarracuda]

Yeah they are! And they're handsome, too. Although I will admit to not bringing every single one I see home, especially if they're not marked. Even if it's just my little way of showing myself I have some semblance of willpower.

Do you ever run into these little machine wrenches? If not, I see them all the time, and this Armstrong is extra if you want it. It doesn't look like the one that came with your multi-tool, but it's the right era.

I'd love to have that. I haven't come across anything else.
Let me know how we can make this happen. Thanks

 

[Private Lugnutz]

PM me.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK Some Details Lugz requested in the GS thread - I found another of these hollow handle tools today - -apparently an early S&H (Smith & Hemenway) RED DEVIL

I was wondering about the heat marks on two of the bits, but I'm seeing similar Heat marks on the one I posted earlier as well so apparently factory:





and the Markings:

S&H Co.. W MFG. Co.
RED DEVIL Williamsburg Mass.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was wondering about the heat marks on two of the bits, but I'm seeing similar Heat marks on the one I posted earlier as well so apparently factory

Definitely. All the antique and vintage ads for these proclaim the bits being heat treated or tempered.

and the Markings:

S&H Co.. W MFG. Co.
RED DEVIL Williamsburg Mass.

Very interesting. Whoever "W Mfg Co." in Williamsburg is, that was S&H's source.

This is I believe a Double FOAK, Outlaw. We see plenty of these multi-awls show up, but this is the first S&H on the thread. And we see plenty of S&H Red Devil tools show up, to the extent that it has its own thread (you may want to cross-post there, too, if you'd like...), but this would be the first of its kind on that thread.

Great find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Thx Lugz! and also cross posted.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK As previously posted on the GS thread, I managed to fins 3 more hollow handle tools- One ma be the first of its kind?

The usual culprits: A Frays, (unmarked) and one marked "L.C. SIMMONS KEEN KUTTER" (In italics!) So the ax Co.? - Same tool as yesterday!:





The Simmons is incomplete, missing the cap plug, and the jaw spring, and moreover one jaw is chipped... I got it for the cap, bits it still had, and for research...




The Really Cool find however is the hand vise!




Note the handle! Yes it had tools and the jaw is notched for them in three places - both sides and the top face.

Also note the hole in the side? the handle unscrews and can be re-positioned!




Not a single makers mark anywhere! the opposite side had a couple of lines to ensure correct assembly after drilling, but thats all.

Also unknown is the top "Bit" - I've been unable to figure a use other than to clamp it as maybe a light hammer face? The hole and spike?

The two angled bits seem to be for carving? They have sharp edges... very strange piece...


The guy had every imaginable Dremel type bit, stone, burr, polisher, in multiple cases, - I've never seen so many! not sure that's a hint or what. I had the impression this was the son selling dad's or grand dads stuff, (he was near my age)

 

[bbbarracuda]

That hand vise is really cool!
I don't know what it is, but now I have something else to look for.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

..and one marked "L.C. SIMMONS KEEN KUTTER"

It's E.C. Simmons. Much more than axes! They were a hardware store and catalog outfit in St Louis that in its heyday rivaled Shapleigh, Belknap, etc. That is a very nice find. I have a small KK collection. And we have a thread. See the Index in the Sticky.

The Really Cool find however is the hand vise!

WTF?! I think a tool pixie sprinkled magic dust on you a few days ago! You went and did it now. I haven't cranked up the ****-O-Meter to its highest setting since Wrenchguy's antique iron-and-glass rotating hardware store display!!!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

On the EC vs LC, I'll take your word for it, but I can't see ANY evidence of the "E" at all? (did he have another brother named "Larry"? ) I even took it out in bright sunlight with a good magnifier...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There is zero doubt.

 

[RTM]

The oddball is an Alfords patent hand vise. Often sold by Millers Falls. Can’t find a catalog cut, but googling Alfords vise will get lots of hits. MOre later, gotta make dinner

 

[Outlawmws]

ads for both Millers falls and one in a Prentiss catalog calling it an Alfords vise are on the Vises thread now.

I guess it makes sense to cross them here,,,

 

[bbbarracuda]

$21.00 per dozen. I'll take 2 please.

 

[RTM]

Here is a new to me Buell Bros multi tool hollow handled tool handle. Picked it up a few weeks back at a garage sale, for cheap, (they usually are when bought en masse). It has 8 bits, and the wooden cap has been split and reglued, and has a crack on one side (still? again?). The wood seems to be an exotic, a bit of density to it. It definitely isn't the one with the eccentric cap (ad posted above) will see if I can find out how many tools should be here.






Will fish out my others soon.

 

[y'sguy]

Lug's this is a great find. well done.
I find it fascinating that in that day and age a simple piece of wooden dowel was drilled and threaded with matching male and female threads. A task not done without the right equipment. I would like to see the machine tools that accomplished that work. Any ideas? Or just lathe woodworking? I also bet more than a few of those handles didn't make it through the tooling process. Any thoughts?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lug's this is a great find. well done.

Thanks, y'sguy. I suspect you just happened upon this thread for the first time and you're referring to the Fray's in post #1 page 1. I've found a few more since then (2019!), from other mfgrs (Buell and Sargent), and other GJ'ers have posted theirs along the way as well. There're a few more Buell and Sargent, some unbranded examples, including a rather peculiar chuck, a jealousy-inducing Keen Kutter and S&H RED DEVIL, and an even more jealousy-inducing Alford's patent jobbie that is also a hand vise! All of which has prompted me to change the thread title to be more generic and inclusive.

As for manufacturing process - good questions! I don't believe I have seen it described in any old catalogs or reference, and I will defer to the woodworkers in the group for the experiential answer.

 

[LesserSon]

Here is one possibility.

 

[Outlawmws]

They certainly knew how to thread wood, I have a couple of screw clamps with wood threaded screws. Lots of eggbeater drills with hollow wood handles as well.

 

[RTM]

Olden time taps and dies for wood existed, but we’re a bit different than what LS linked to. On my old tools forum, these same tools were being discussed, and how poorly designed the modern offerings are, in terms of the wrong pitch, and poor adjustable range on the die.

I don’t know that these were used in a factory environment tho, to make any of these. Don’t have a photo or movie to prove it.

the range of threads on most wood tap sets is too high, typically 5tpi is high, even for 1-1/2” threads. The big ones should be done around 2 or 3 some say. 5/8” -8 is kinda high, but workable. Older things like wooden clamps usually are lower than that.

The die equivalent is commonly called a screw box.

William Marples & Sons, Ltd. : 1938 Catalogue : William Marples & Sons, Ltd. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

284 p., illus., 25.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Here is one I own, front right. Big Difference there is often the quality of the blade, mine is big and robust, owners of the current version claim a resemblance to chewing gum wrappers. The ability to adjust the depth of cut, and angle of attack is missing on some.



the tap is usually a bit different. The linked appear to be based on a metal tap. Most of my wood ones have two cutting edges, with holes in front of them to give the chip a place to go. The first cuts half depth, the second the full depth. This one has since been cleaned up, these were as found.





and the real PITA is these were often house made, and unique to each manufacturer, so a harlequin set may work together, but more likely not. Think I have three taps, and one screw box now, of a varying sizes. The hunt continues.

 

[2oolhound]

Nice find on the vise Outlaw. Coincidentally l just found one at the flea market a couple weeks ago. Mine is very badly rusted and soaking in vinegar. The wood handle is decent and the tool bits inside are so so with mostly bad surface rust. I'll post a photo soon.

I also have a wood threading die. It's likely semi new. It's aluminum with a single handle. I bought it because I thought it was for cutting broom handle threads but it's a different thread count for that. I'll try to dig it up and post photos of it also.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I got this one for $1.00 at a yard sale a couple years ago, it has no identification on it anywhere.

2019 Garage Sale Thread

Picked this up for $1.00 at a yard sale on my way home from work this afternoon. No markings that I could find but I thought it was a neat multi-bit tool.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[2oolhound]

After pulling my hand vise from the vinegar soak I've determined it's too far gone for me to attempt a restore. The main problem is the tightening screw (with the wingnut pinned to it). This screw is left hand thread on one side and right hand thread on the other so both jaws slide in and out on the slide pin below which is rigidly mounted to the center section. My unit was over tightened at some point badly enough to strip a few threads so there now is a divot instead of threads there. You can see the concave area on the top just outside the jaw. It's even worse at a different angle. Also the ends of the slide pin have been hammered on and they are slightly mushroomed. This is hard to see in this photo but it's there so I'm just going to side line this project in case I ever find another in better shape. I'd be happy to pass it along to someone but because of the thickness and weight I'm thinking shipping would likely be $20 or so and not worth it. The tightening screw is still seized.



I haven't found my wood threading die so no pics of it yet.

 

[Targa68]

Hi All
Here is a version from STANLEY Sweetheart.

In additon to "STANLEY" it is marked with the "S.W" (inside a heart), "NEW BRITAIN." and "CONN. U.S.A"

From this link https://virginiatoolworks.com/2012/04/19/whos-your-sweetheart/ I have learned it should be from around 1920

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice find!

 

[RTM]

.

In additon to "STANLEY" it is marked with the "S.W" (inside a heart), "NEW BRITAIN." and "CONN. U.S.A"

From this link https://virginiatoolworks.com/2012/04/19/whos-your-sweetheart/ I have learned it should be from around 1920

can probably track it down a little finer here

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

archive.org

 

[2oolhound]

So it looks like Norwegians get left hand threads? Nice find Targa68!

​

 

[Targa68]

So it looks like Norwegians get left hand threads? Nice find Targa68!

​

I believe many have left hand threads?
In addition to the Stanley I also have these two with left hand threads. One is unmarked while the other is a "J.S. FRAY & CO BRIDGEPORT. CT. U.S.A"