W. Schollhorn Company/ W.A. Bernard

[four.cycle]

Schollhorn Bernard

 

[four.cycle]

Schollhorn Bernard

 

[Provincial]

Does anyone know if all the parallel-jaw pliers were plated except during WWII? I have a couple of unplated examples. Could they be GI?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this small pair of Bernard's at the local flea market last Sunday. Tiny, but cute!

Nice find.

Does anyone know if all the parallel-jaw pliers were plated except during WWII? I have a couple of unplated examples. Could they be GI?

I am having a hard time reconstructing the substantiation for this, Jock, but my research includes a note about LODI (economy) and PARAGON (deluxe) brands related to finish, and most of my LODI examples are either blued or have some kind of black rustproofing (not oxide), and my PARAGON seem to be plain steel or nickel-plated. So I don't know if we can make the conclusion that anything not plated was WWII. Schollhorn did have contracts, most notably supplying the 8" version of their most famous and original parallel-jaw side-cutters to the Ordnance Dept for Armorer's Kits, and their 6-tube belt punch to the Ordnance Dept for Upholstery Kits. Those typically have a blackened finish.

 

[Mintgrun]

I like how vintage "economy" tools seem like "quality" tools compared to a lot of what's made today. These LODI dividers are one such example, imho.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up another compound side-cutter at the flea this morning (see Pic 1), this one nickeled and only 5" OAL. That makes three, all different sizes (see Pic 2). It has the typical Wm Schollhorn marking around the pivot (see Pic 3) and the 1890 and 1892 patents around the pivot on the flip side (see Pic 4), but it has the extra patents (1907 and 1913) on the side of the handle (see Pic 5), opposite the St Bernard dog outline logo (see Pic 6). Again, that follows the pattern of my theory that the St Bernard logo is later, always associated with the 1907 and 1913 patents, and probably 1913. Pic 7 is my entire collection to date - eleven pliers, no dupes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Also picked up these needle-nose pliers marked 'BERNARD' around the pivot. Forged. Which I didn't think Schollhorn made. More research required.

 

[3jakes]

I see Lugz & several others already have the Treadle sewing machine belt tool 119-6.
Here is mine I dug out of the dollar box this weekend.
I had no idea what it was, but recognized the parallel jaws right away.
As a kid (now 66yrs) we had my grandmother's Singer treadle machine sitting on the porch as a table.
As I recall, the belt was round correct?, & leather.
Would love to see a vid of this in use.
I used to love to play with that foot pedal.
No dog on mine.

 

[WisJim]

The treadle machine belt tool works well with the metal clips used to join the ends of the round leather belt. You trim the belt end so it is square, and then use the punch feature to make a hole the proper distance from the end of the belt so the clip fits properly. I've use my tool a few times for different sewing machines and treadle tools. One of mine has the cutter and punch arranged so it punches the hole and trims the end of the belt at the same time so the hole is a fixed distance from the end of the belt to match the size of certain clips or staples used to fasten the belt. The pictured one in post 88 is the style that trims and punches the belt in separate operations.

 

[3jakes]

The treadle machine belt tool works well with the metal clips used to join the ends of the round leather belt. You trim the belt end so it is square, and then use the punch feature to make a hole the proper distance from the end of the belt so the clip fits properly. I've use my tool a few times for different sewing machines and treadle tools. One of mine has the cutter and punch arranged so it punches the hole and trims the end of the belt at the same time so the hole is a fixed distance from the end of the belt to match the size of certain clips or staples used to fasten the belt. The pictured one in post 88 is the style that trims and punches the belt in separate operations.

Thanks WisJim for that catalogue and explanation.

 

[LesserSon]

2 pick-ups today.
The (older?) pliers cleaned up very well, but the shiny dikes are nearly frozen. Tried WD40 to no avail. They don’t seem rusty, so I’m thinking it’s something else binding them. Going to try warm water next on them. If that doesn’t work, then alcohol.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added another newbie to the collection this morning. Flea market find.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Scored this Schollhorn M2 sapper's tool at the flea market this morning. WWII martial "U.S." marking. They had a couple contracts supplying the Corps of Engineers in 1944 and 1945 (see Pic 7). Used for crimping, stripping, cutting, wrapping, punching, driving and everything else associated with preparing blasting caps for explosives.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found a chopped pair of Schollhorn BERNARD pliers this morning at the flea market. Those wire cutting disks were part of the 1894 patent and that's what's marked around the pivot: "PAT. SEP. 25" / "1894". Just below that is the "LODI" (as opposed to PARAGON) product line marking. What really makes them unusual is the jaws, though. A prior owner modified them. So, I am not putting them in my count, which stands at thirteen (13). HAHA.

Pic 4 is the whole collection.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are some comparisons showing where a PO took a grinder to them to make a needle nose.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a small set yesterday that included the dog marking. They are currently bathing in Evaporust.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Don, that's too funny! I found this pair of 6-1/2" parallel pliers today at the flea. I have them soaking in evaporust as well.

 

[d42jeep]

What are the odds? I forgot to take the after pictures today. Maybe tomorrow.
-Don

Edit..... Here are the after pictures and one of my small collection.

 

[Username already in use]

Watching an episode of World War 2 in Colour on Netflix today (S01E07) and I look up to see a pair of Bernard Parallel pliers being used on some munitions. I had to rewind it to make sure. Took a screen capture to share. A very distinctive design.

 

[SilverDeck]

Watching an episode of World War 2 in Colour on Netflix today (S01E07) and I look up to see a pair of Bernard Parallel pliers being used on some munitions. I had to rewind it to make sure. Took a screen capture to share. A very distinctive design.

Good eyes.

Looks like they might be being used to arm bomb fuses.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Great catch, Unaiu!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up these compound side-cutters (see Pics 1-4) at the flea on Saturday. Dark blued finish. That makes 4-1/2", 5-1/2", 6-1/2" and 8" OAL (see Pics 5 & 6) - and some poor planning (see Pic 7)!

 

[Targa68]

Hi All

Got this today. Lots of good readable dates and logos

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lots of good readable dates and logos

That certainly is a very clean specimen with very nice, legible markings. (Even the owner's mark is appealing!)

/// BREAK ///

As I have noted before here, I have side-cutters (my 4-1/2" and 5-1/2") with the exact same markings. The 1890 and 1892 patent dates around the pivot, the 1907 and 1913 patent dates on the handle, the "St Bernard" dog logo on the opposite handle. With no model number. No size marking.

But I also have side-cutters (my 8" and now my 6-1/2") with very different markings. They have the model number followed immediately by a hyphenated size marking (e.g., No, 102 - 6-1/2) around the pivot, with the patent number (1,064,956). No patent dates, no "St Bernard" logo. See Post #102 above for photos of these markings.

Note that that patent number is the June 17, 1913 patent, which is the latest patent date of the four patent dates on the other style.

I think we can conclude that means that at some point Wm. Schollhorn decided to eliminate all the utility patent dates, ignore the early obsolete patents altogether, and just mark them with the latest patent number. Because the 1942 catalog shows images of the pliers with the four patent dates, I think we might further safely conclude that the pliers with the model number-size, 1913 patent number, and no dog TM were later in the 1940's.

Here is the reason my display board planning was piss poor! I knew there were only four (4) sizes and I should've known I would find them all eventually. I am going to have to re-arrange some placards to make room for the 6-1/2-incher.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I snagged another unique variant for my collection at the flea this morning. I am pretty sure these are vise pliers, missing the adjusting screw. It would go inside that threaded hole and have a knurled thumbnut. That March 1, 1904 date refers to patent 743,224, which was the Bernard hand vise or vise pliers patent. The Jan 1, 1901 refers to patent 665,052, which was for the tension spring.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The image in the 1942 catalog (Pic 1) looks different than my example, but my example looks exactly like the image in the patent (Pic 2).

 

[Provincial]

The 1942 pattern is certainly a cost-cutting development. It does the same job with fewer parts. I would guess that yours is earlier, and likely very early.

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up this little guy today. I wish is was a parallel jaws model. There is no spring in this one. Maybe removed by PO, or just available that way?
Pat’d 25Sep1894 Re’d 6Nov1900

 

[HeelSpur]

https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/Edwards/88/698788/H4343-L250572985.jpg

Here's a 10" pipe wrench from an auction last week. Not mine.

 

[Shelbylex]

Got another addition to my parallel plier collection. The first picture has older pliers which I posted earlier in this thread. The new smaller ones are just labelled Sargent without reference to Bernard or Schonlein. Mechanism is also slightly different - the older ones have majority of attachment for internals on one side, the newer one have it on both.
... The bottom of the new ones is not damaged - just noticed it has some weird reflection...

 

[RTM]

Hey gang, here is a collection of Bernard stuff for sale in another forum. Not offering to sit in the middle, but trying to share his diverse collection.

His words" 45 Bernard Patent / Schollhorn Pliers, some Sargent, Lodi, & Utica. I don’t know the exact connection between the different companies? Apparently one buys out another? I collected these for years and see they now average $20 each actual sold price on ebay. Judging from some of the collections I’ve see I’m not the only one who collected them. There are some duplicates here, many rare custom ones, and some common ones in odd sizes. I think the Parrot Head pruner is maybe the rarest? Most in very nice condition, some show use but no major damage.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to find this compound No. 125 End Cutting Nipper at the flea market this morning, bringing my collection of unique Bernard tools to fourteen. Missing one nut and thankfully the PO ("MF") had the wisdom and grace to mark it on the flip side (see Pic 4). I may disassemble it for a more thorough cleaning, and it will get its own placard (Pic 2), eventually, but for now it is hung more hastily on the Bernard board with its mates (Pic 6). The patent date marking ("OCT. 24, 1899") refers to 635,417.

 

[3jakes]

Just went through this thread & didn't see a photo of these posted.
A parallel jaw needle nose paper clip holder?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find. Those look like jewelers pliers, for wire forming. The vise pliers also have a notch to hold wire, but jewelers use those to hold wire and form circular shapes in various diameters around the jaws. I'm on the road today, away from my catalogs, so I can't look them up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It seems to be a needle nose version of this chain nose plier.

 

[3jakes]

It seems to be a needle nose version of this chain nose plier.

Thanks,
So till something better comes along, I will call these "Jeweler's Needle Chain Nose Pliers".
The small tool box these were in had nothing similar to indicate their heritage.
Mostly kitchen drawer stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The "chain" derives from their use, for making chains. They typically have a sharp pointed tip, like yours (called needle nose by some), but they could be flat tipped like the figure. The chain aspect comes from the shape of the tapered jaws, though. Perfect for forming oval wire loops of different sizes.

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this BERNARD punch last week. It makes a 3/16" hole.


I added that shiny little screw when I noticed the empty threaded hole. I assume it secured a slotted stop, to set the hole distance in from the edge of the material. That part is missing, obviously. Someone apparently did some grinding on the ends of this pair.




The patent date of June 17, 1913 refers to the way they formed the handles. Here is an image from the US patents site.





A little Google image searching shows some with grommet setting fittings on the end, as well as the stop that is missing from mine. This pair doesn't have the grommet feature, but has a different style spring return mechanism. It appears as though they made a wide variety of punches. It seems like they would work well for putting eyelets in shoes/boots.



Tom

 

[kwigly]

A different set of Bernard/Schollhorn pliers found last weekend. Wire cutters, stamped "Patent Nov 27 1923" which is Pat No 1475273 (not in DATAMP's listings ?). This parallel jaw mechanism is different from other Bernard designs I've seen.
Anyone else seen this style ?

 

[RTM]

Not seen before, but a nice level of gizmocity there.