Vintage Kitchen Tools - Jar Openers

[Chris Christiansen]

Can any one help to identify this mystery tool? It's about 6" length. thanks!

 

[four.cycle]

any markings?
pics are so small I can't really see much.

 

[marak]

That is an old jar opener.
Pretty neat!

 

[four.cycle]

^ It does. Should have some name stamped on it. There's a whole section at datamp.org for "jar wrenches".

Who knew?

 

[Chris Christiansen]

sorry for the small pics.
Here's some bigger ones.
I couldn't find any "maker markings"...
I'll check out the jar wrench website.
I'm wondering if it is to open (twist) off a bottle cork?
thanks!

 

[marak]

I would have guessed to remove the bands from mason jars.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm puzzled, now, because if the overall length of that piece is "about 6" in length" then the wire loop can only be about 1-1/2" in diameter.

 

[marak]

The loop does look too small for a jar. It reminds me of what my grandmother used many moons ago. Here is a picture I came across on the internet:

 

[Mintgrun]

Maybe the loops came in different sizes. Jars do.

The loop looks easily removable and even replaceable, if you've got some old bed springs around and a pair of pliers.

The other (bigger) set of holes might be used for a bigger wire/loop.

I love simple tools like that.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that is definitely a possibility.

I wasn't even aware that "Jar Wrench" was a thing until couple days ago when I was chasing down a patent number.
datamp.org has a "class" for "jar wrench" - there were that many different styles made.

(also a "class" for "Ice tools". mind-boggling.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this one last October, which is, in terms of construction, more like the example marak posted in post #8 than the OP's. We had a brief discussion about it somewhere, either here or the 2021 Garage Sale thread, where it went unresolved. I don't remember anyone mentioning a jar wrench, which makes sense. Funny. When I was a kid the 'jar wrench' was dad with a dish towel after running it under warm water for a bit. Somewhere along the way we progressed to various kinds of fancy textured rubber pads. Lately it's me with a dish rag after running it under warm water for a bit.

Pic 1 is open. Pic 2 is compressed.

 

[driftpin]

When I was a kid the 'jar wrench' was dad with a dish towel after running it under warm water for a bit.

I keep a couple slip-joint pliers in a 'junk drawer' in the kitchen, to open bottles, one is smaller and one is water pump pliers size. The smaller one is good for bottles of champagne: no cork can defeat me. Grip the cork with the pliers, and turn the bottle.

 

[Ricky Joe]

No one knows the old trick of striking the cap on edge with a table knife? Two or three indentations and off it comes!

 

[Mintgrun]

Now that we've answered the OP's question, I'll go ahead and share a couple that I have.

I think this one is a cool design. (edit) Patented in 1921.



I posted this one in the Wizard/Western Auto thread last November.



I like vintage kitchen tools.

Tom

 

[Private Lugnutz]

no cork can defeat me

Haha.

I like vintage kitchen tools.

Maybe we need a thread. If the OP would accommodate by changing the title, we could just make it this one.

 

[four.cycle]

Mintgrun, could you please P/M me the patent number on that unit?

The "Wizard" was extremely popular. I bought one for my mother, but she insists on using a gigantic pair of pliers.



It would be interesting to start a "Jar Wrench / Kitchen Tool" thread and see what comes out of the woodwork, or perhaps put a different title on this thread.

"Jar Wrenches" and "Ice Tools" and "Can Openers" are three genres of hand tools that are right up there with mousetraps and adjustable wrenches in respect to how many entrepreneurs were trying to design a better one.

Private Lugnutz:
Yes, there was a "Champion" jar wrench, too.... along with all the other "Champion" brands.
(example below)

 

[Mintgrun]

Maybe we need a thread. If the OP would accommodate by changing the title, we could just make it this one.

I'll start one, since I've mentioned it a few times now. I can't do it this morning, but I'll try to do it sooner than later. The OP could make this the official "Jar Opener" thread.

Here's one more style I have.







Tom

 

[Mintgrun]

The patent date/number on the cable style opener is Jan 30, 1921 No. 1389515

I found the other 'gear style' opener I have it also has a patent number. Funny to have one made by "Wizard" and another by "Bonny". Too bad they spelled Bonney wrong.

Both of the gear style openers close down this far, but the other knock-off that was made in Hong Kong was sticking a bit. They cover a large size range, for both bottles and jars. The difference in quality is obvious in these photos.

 

[four.cycle]

Your Jar Wrench with the cable (post #14), unless I am mistaken, was manufactured by the Flint Novelty Company.
Patent 1389515 was issued to one Alex Kikta of Flint, Michgan, on Aug. 30, 1921
The original patent design is actually for what we would today call a "Chain Wrench":

patent 1389515 Aug 30 1921 A. Kikta

USPTO Oct 21 1921 Patent 1389515 Aug 30 1921 A. Kikta

As near as I have been able to determine, Mr. Kikta was born in Austria in 1881.
The "family tree" stuff is a bit confusing for me - Woody is a bit more adept at that part of it.

Mr. Kikta apparently had a good imagination and a head for business, he also designed and marketed the "Shoot-O-Plane".


1906 Wooden and Willow-ware Trade Review Vol IV No 4 - Flint Novelty opening announcement

1926 Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record Vol 36 pp 7 - Flint Novelty Co. "Shoot-O-Plane" announcement

patent 1541579 Jun 9 1925 A. Kikta

disclaimer:
This is all I was able to find on that unit. I am only ASSUMING that Flint Novelty is actually the company that stamped out the jar wrench, because there just isn't any other information available.

I'll have to look at the "Bonny" model later - too much on my plate right now.

 

[Chris Christiansen]

I'll start one, since I've mentioned it a few times now. I can't do it this morning, but I'll try to do it sooner than later. The OP could make this the official "Jar Opener" thread.

Here's one more style I have.







Tom

Great idea! Thread title changed from Mystery Tools - What is it? to "Vintage Kitchen Tools - Jar Openers".

 

[four.cycle]

^ Thanks.
I will be fun watching what comes out of the woodwork here.

 

[4xdog]

Here's my favorite jar opener. This one was my grandmother's and we always got a kick out of using it as little kids. When we settled her estate just as I was starting out on my own I grabbed it for my kitchen, where it's been in service for over 40 years. It works great.

I'd not be surprised to find this style to be a hundred years old. No maker name. The imprint reads "Portland Elevator Company, Portland Michigan". An old advertising giveaway most likely.