My grandfather's odd pliers?

4xdog · Jun 20, 2014

These have been in the family for, I'd guess, 70 or 80 years at least. My grandfather worked as an ice deliveryman in the 1920s-early 1930s, and then rigged heavy machinery in the late 1930s-early 1950s. They're from Vom Cleff & Co., made in Germany (which seems quite unusual for his old tools), with our family initial "H" hand-scratched into the head.

These look like some sort of crimping pliers, yes? For what?

MFolks · Jun 20, 2014

I'm thinking, they were used to swage(crimp) the ferrules on steel cable, to make loops. Something similar could be used to crimp non insulated electrical splices.

arsco · Jun 20, 2014

they look more like a holding tool than a crimper.

4xdog · Jun 20, 2014

arsco said:
they look more like a holding tool than a crimper.

I could buy that. Crimping isn't normally done with a wide contact area or serrated faces. What would they hold, I wonder?

augustus · Jun 20, 2014

Yeah, why the serrated surfaces? If it weren't for those, I'd say definitely crimpers. Maybe nut crackers?

augustus · Jun 20, 2014

Oh, maybe for holding the handle of something hot, like a cast iron pot or something like that? I think the latch at the end of the handle is a clue.

4xdog · Jun 20, 2014

augustus said:
...I think the latch at the end of the handle is a clue.

I think you're right -- that is a clue. The pliers close so tightly that that handles need to be "sprung" closed a bit to slide the loop over. They're under some tension when closed.

mickeyone · Jun 20, 2014

early telegraph or phone line crimper crimps nicopress type sleeves. klein and lindstrom also made these

ttpete · Jun 20, 2014

mickeyone said:
early telegraph or phone line crimper crimps nicopress type sleeves. klein and lindstrom also made these

They're not crimp tools. They were used in conjunction with special splicers that were 2 parallel tubes joined together to make splices in telegraph wires. The procedure was to put the two wire ends in opposite ends of the splicer, then using two of those tools, one on each end of the splicer to twist the splicer and wires together. It made a more secure splice than just using the old "western union" twisted splice.

lbgradwell · Jun 20, 2014

Those look more like gas & burner pliers to me...

SnowDrifter · Jun 20, 2014

Looking at the ring on the end... Some sort of hose clamp maybe?

theoldwizard1 · Jun 20, 2014

ttpete said:
They're not crimp tools. They were used in conjunction with special splicers that were 2 parallel tubes joined together to make splices in telegraph wires. The procedure was to put the two wire ends in opposite ends of the splicer, then using two of those tools, one on each end of the splicer to twist the splicer and wires together.

I'll buy this but I need some pics to better understand.

nyrapscalion · Jun 21, 2014

I'm thinking they're wire holders so you can connect the wires with solder or a crimp lug.
I've used similar tools to hold data wires in a cabinet while a lug or solder connection is made.

DenisG · Jun 21, 2014

theoldwizard1 said:
I'll buy this but I need some pics to better understand.

This shows them being used:
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/ot-how-klein-splicing-crimping-tool-used-257902/

WWIIjeep · Jun 21, 2014

DenisG said:
This shows them being used:
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/ot-how-klein-splicing-crimping-tool-used-257902/

That's just one way they were used, using the figure-8 shaped dies.

They were also used with twistable splicing tubes or sleeves, as ttpete said, and for holding wire while applying (separate) clamps, hence why the gripping grooves are present on the surface of the die openings.

They're more correctly called "splicing clamps" and are not crimping tools in any way shape or form.

Some samples from a 1940s catalog, including another style of sleeve twister in the last image:

4xdog · Jun 21, 2014

DenisG said:
This shows them being used:
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/ot-how-klein-splicing-crimping-tool-used-257902/

I'll buy this. It explains the tensioned lock ring and the wide serrated jaws.

One of the other tools that's been around since loooong before I was born are my grandfather's old Klein linesman pliers -- these and the splicing pliers fit a theme of working on wires and seem complimentary. He never had a lot of money and raised seven kids in the Depression. If he bought a tool, it's because he needed it, and he bought good ones.

4xdog · Jun 21, 2014

WWIIjeep said:
...Some samples from a 1940s catalog, including another style of sleeve twister in the last image:

Thanks, everyone! You guys are GOOD!

nanofrog · Jun 21, 2014

nyrapscalion said:
I'm thinking they're wire holders so you can connect the wires with solder or a crimp lug.
I've used similar tools to hold data wires in a cabinet while a lug or solder connection is made.

FWIW, I've seen something made from hemostats by a machinist for this purpose that work really well.

First version.
Second version.

Attach to some Loc-Line or similar coolant hose, and you've got a helping hand apparatus that actually works. :thumbup:

DenisG · Jun 21, 2014

WWIIjeep said:
That's just one way they were used, using the figure-8 shaped dies.

They were also used with twistable splicing tubes or sleeves, as ttpete said, and for holding wire while applying (separate) clamps, hence why the gripping grooves are present on the surface of the die openings.

They're more correctly called "splicing clamps" and are not crimping tools in any way shape or form.

Some samples from a 1940s catalog, including another style of sleeve twister in the last image:

{snip for brevity}

Great pictures from your catalog! I found an image of the sleeve application you described:

4xdog · Jun 21, 2014

DenisG said:
...I found an image of the sleeve application you described:

I've seen those on old overhead lines -- and vaguely wondered what I was looking at! Now I know.

My grandfather's odd pliers?

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