Call those tin snips? THIS is a tinsnip...the Bartlett Compound Tin Snip

[Toolmaker51]

Given to me yesterday, by son of WWII Navy vet, a metalworker no less. The stipulation was promise not to turn but keep. I say OK, he pulls this out.
I've no recollection seeing a compound tin snip.
Ever.
Ridgid compound pipe wrenches? Yes. Compound loppers? Yes. Compound sine plate? Sure, have one. Prison compound? No. Compound interest? Not any more.
"BARTLETT MFG CO
DETROIT MICH.
MADE IN U.S.A.
1401 (model number, cast into handle) is also size, 14''. I thought was manufacture date, not far off, some research indicates 1909. It's a straight cut style, both loops are large. No visible marks from hammering them to induce a cut, no drag marks there or the bills (outside of blade) being shoved along a rough surface.
Test cut on Garlock Gasket material, very tough stuff, THE choice for pipe flanges. Perfect cut. Another on 16 gauge, a breeze even with my old hands. The real test was 28 gauge. Lots of current shears only turn the edge and then cut. That is not shear but fracture. Thin material flexes into gap needed for thicker stock. These cut like good scissors on paper. Not common snips, they're exceptional. Joints all tight, no play in the 4 total; 2 are screws, 2 are flush pins (non binding rivets in the link plates), No nicks in cutting edges, maybe never been resharpened. The links ride tight on raised narrow pads to eliminate side play.
Even more pleased than his four, 6'' Cincinnati Tool Co. clamps @ $20.00.
A google pulled loads of hits for 'Bartlett Tin Snips" at surprisingly low $$. I don't believe they are experienced appraisers, or have less carefully used examples; usually its the former situation.

View attachment 1761885

 

[four.cycle]

excellent example, Toolmaker51

Bartlett / Bartlett Mfg. Co., Detroit, MI / 7876 Van ****, Marlett, MI 48453 / https://www.bartlettman.com / Searight Mechanics Shears / patent 936574 Oct 12 1909 John R. Searight /

from The Metal Worker, Plumber, and Steam Fitter, Volume 81 (1914):

IN 1909 J. R. Searight, of Detroit, Mich., conceived the application of a compound lever to the cutting blade of metal snips as now produced by the Bartlett Manufacturing Co. on snips in sizes ranging from 7 to 14 in. in length. The success realized from the first few snips manufactured led to the organization of the Detroit Shear Co., which put in a complete line of machinery for the manufacture of the sizes of snips above referred to from crucible steel drop forgings, therefore getting a highgrade tool steel cutting shear of solid high-grade steel throughout, making it possible to temper for metal cutting which makes it more reliable than would be the case had the shears been produced with the ordinary inlaid blade of cutting steel welded to low carbon machinery steel as found in the ordinary snip.

The manufacture of these snips was taken over by the Bartlett Manufacturing Co. on January 1, 1913, since which time it has materially increased the output of snips and are fast adding new special machinery for their production. -Tested on .040 x .500 inch thick brass strip, snipped through in one stroke, no problem.


1917 Metal Worker, Plumber, and Steam Fitter pp 147

 

[crguy]

Given to me yesterday, by son of WWII Navy vet, a metalworker no less. The stipulation was promise not to turn but keep. I say OK, he pulls this out.
I've no recollection seeing a compound tin snip.
Ever.
Ridgid compound pipe wrenches? Yes. Compound loppers? Yes. Compound sine plate? Sure, have one. Prison compound? No. Compound interest? Not any more.
"BARTLETT MFG CO
DETROIT MICH.
MADE IN U.S.A.
1401 (model number, cast into handle) is also size, 14''. I thought was manufacture date, not far off, some research indicates 1909. It's a straight cut style, both loops are large. No visible marks from hammering them to induce a cut, no drag marks there or the bills (outside of blade) being shoved along a rough surface.
Test cut on Garlock Gasket material, very tough stuff, THE choice for pipe flanges. Perfect cut. Another on 16 gauge, a breeze even with my old hands. The real test was 28 gauge. Lots of current shears only turn the edge and then cut. That is not shear but fracture. Thin material flexes into gap needed for thicker stock. These cut like good scissors on paper. Not common snips, they're exceptional. Joints all tight, no play in the 4 total; 2 are screws, 2 are flush pins (non binding rivets in the link plates), No nicks in cutting edges, maybe never been resharpened. The links ride tight on raised narrow pads to eliminate side play.
Even more pleased than his four, 6'' Cincinnati Tool Co. clamps @ $20.00.
A google pulled loads of hits for 'Bartlett Tin Snips" at surprisingly low $$. I don't believe they are experienced appraisers, or have less carefully used examples; usually its the former situation.

View attachment 1761885

Neat old snips, but they aren't rare by any means.

 

[Toolmaker51]

Not rare in the sense of no longer being seen; rare to see utilized. Hard to believe they aren't prevalent. Not being one concentrated on sheet-metal, it was kind of a lightning bolt, and seem tight as the day they were made.
And I like to write.
It's one of those things that suits my sensibility, where modern items are only new, not better.

 

[slowtwitch73]

So do they work substantially better than regular snips?

 

[Toolmaker51]

So do they work substantially better than regular snips?

Without a scientific test, the impression is yes. But if so, why didn't production continue? It's noticeable toward end of cut, as distance from hinge increases, with loss of leverage in a common snip.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find, @Toolmaker51. I found a pair at a flea market several years ago. They were duckbills/combination cut. I don't think they were marked. This is a photo from the 2017 Garage Sale thread and a cropped zoom from the same photo. I'll have to scout around and locate them to snap better photos.

 

[American Locomotive]

Not rare in the sense of no longer being seen; rare to see utilized. Hard to believe they aren't prevalent. Not being one concentrated on sheet-metal, it was kind of a lightning bolt, and seem tight as the day they were made.
And I like to write.
It's one of those things that suits my sensibility, where modern items are only new, not better.

I think they have just fallen out of fashion. Most people seem to prefer aviation snips for most sheet metal work.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice acquisition! And if they ever get too weak for cutting metal, you can use them for stubborn nose hairs!

 

[Toolmaker51]

Nice acquisition! And if they ever get too weak for cutting metal, you can use them for stubborn nose hairs!

Why not; already need a weedwacker on ear-wigs.

 

[rancherbill]

Given to me yesterday, by son of WWII Navy vet, a metalworker no less. The stipulation was promise not to turn but keep. I say OK, he pulls this out.

What a nice gift of something that has so much value and memories.

You're lucky to be the recipient.

I have never seen this style - I want.

 

[Firebrick43]

Without a scientific test, the impression is yes. But if so, why didn't production continue? It's noticeable toward end of cut, as distance from hinge increases, with loss of leverage in a common snip.

So your saying they work better than a pair of Midwest aviation snips?

 

[RivennHewn]

Higher production cost with little or no advantage. Bulkier, almost awkward to use.

Neat looking wall hangers at best.

 

[Toolmaker51]

Higher production cost with little or no advantage. Bulkier, almost awkward to use.

Neat looking wall hangers at best.

Proportionally, I'd think the multiple stampings to assemble aviation style is somewhat advantageous, despite limitations of their short cut. But shears ala the Bartlett are 1 forgings for both handles, 1 simple stamped part for both links, as front and back are the same, front with company name. The bulky part? Cutting is rare over head, usually on a table like a tailor or seamstress. That 3-3/8" long cutting edge is about 3 bites of aviation snips.

Aviation snips are all stampings and form dies. Faster in parts per minute, lots of tooling to finish, sort and assemble. Some Most of that alleviated by symmetrical parts, but far more orientation of those, front and back might be same, but they have ends that go here, not there. That's usually solved with vibratory parts feeders that can get things facing the right direction. I'd bet majority of brands are 90% automated production, fall off a conveyor into a packaging line.

Probably have 15 various snips, crimpers, notchers & benders. Right now, home is 1700 miles away, so a census is out of the question.
Like all tools, most have a niche they fill best. I don't spend a lot, always fishing in 'Used Pond', and rarely, very rarely, disappointed.
BTW, the 'Blue' big box store ran a special on 'Toughbuilt' aviation pattern. Right, left, straight long cut and bulldog, a bit under $50. Took them too. Not doing stainless, just cold rolled and galvanized my current snips do fine. These brand new ones are for brass and copper only. Just like hand files files, they can do steel all day until used on brass, they loose performance.

There are no wall hangers here, except for WWII War Bond posters, drill/ tap size and decimal equivalent charts. Well, those and the college laboratory cabinets I posted sometime back. Real wood is the best storage of instruments in our climate. This time next year, plan to have 330k BTU boiler up and pumping water through cast iron radiators. Once machine tools catch the heat, I'll be able to work all year.
I'll never decorate or declare it a man-cave.

 

[Joemctag]

I have used and still use aviation snips a lot. You learn to cut about half way down the “blades?” and get another bite because you lose leverage the farther you go. Of course, any sheet metal worker knows not to go ALL the way if you want a nice, uniform cut.

 

[Toolmaker51]

That fits my experience, 1/2 or 2/3 cut length of blade depth, as stated in post *6
It's why I'm struck by these 2-1/2" long blades at around 2x that of aviation. Are they be-all, end-all? No. Does that mean obsolete? Of course not. They'll hang with other snips because they're another solution.

 

[Sumboodie]

Proportionally, I'd think the multiple stampings to assemble aviation style is somewhat advantageous, despite limitations of their short cut. But shears ala the Bartlett are 1 forgings for both handles, 1 simple stamped part for both links, as front and back are the same, front with company name. The bulky part? Cutting is rare over head, usually on a table like a tailor or seamstress. That 3-3/8" long cutting edge is about 3 bites of aviation snips.

Aviation snips are all stampings and form dies. Faster in parts per This time next year, plan to have 330k BTU boiler up and pumping water through cast iron radiators. Once machine tools catch the heat, I'll be able to work all year.
I'll never decorate or declare it a man-cave.

Dang, you have a 20,000 sq ft shop?

 

[Mark914]

picked these up years ago at a garage sale, didn’t know what they were, the name was very rubbed off, very “well loved” and even had a braze repair. Now I know! Thanks

 

[Toolmaker51]

Dang, you have a 20,000 sq ft shop?

Nope. 6,500. We moved from Los Angeles County 2005, where shop rentals were about $3 to $5 per square foot. A quick search has it at $8-$10 now. The 2005 calculation, buying over rent was less than 6 years ROI. Adding proper building on rural property was $40. 00, not even 2 years.
It's loading dock high, forklift ramp, 3 rollup doors, 15'8" clearance overhead, reroofed from flat to trussesso it's free span, zoned M1 and a few more perks. Built 1897, all brick, and I'm second owner. Looked at every available building in the vicinity, none had 'the right stuff like this.

 

[Sumboodie]

Nope. 6,500. We moved from Los Angeles County 2005, where shop rentals were about $3 to $5 per square foot. A quick search has it at $8-$10 now. The 2005 calculation, buying over rent was less than 6 years ROI. Adding proper building on rural property was $40. 00, not even 2 years.
It's loading dock high, forklift ramp, 3 rollup doors, 15'8" clearance overhead, reroofed from flat to trussesso it's free span, zoned M1 and a few more perks. Built 1897, all brick, and I'm second owner. Looked at every available building in the vicinity, none had 'the right stuff like this.

We heat a 80x200x30ft building with winter temps getting to -50* with less than 330k BTU.

 

[HeelSpur]

Here's a large pair and have got a 8 or 10" pair somewhere.