Vintage tool finds for the day

isr2kba · May 5, 2009

Every once in a while, I decide to go looking for vintage tools. Usually I do this in my basement where there are literally boxes and boxes of stuff remaining from family members long since departed. I pluck out a few interesting finds and add them to my garage box or the "in the house" box, where they'll come in handy AND make interesting conversation pieces when people come over.

Here is today's crop.

isr2kba · May 5, 2009

For those interested in details:

The vice-grip like tool says: BMC MFG Corp. Binghampton, NY. Patent applied for. Just above the adjusting wheel, it has a little scale which is graduated: 1/4 1/2 3/4

The 100' leather-wrapped reel tape is "Roe's 100 FT. Steel Tape"

The pliers are uncredited but interesting because they have a flat screwdriver stamped into one of the handle ends (clearly seen in the picture).

The multi-pliers are: "Bernard's Pat May 6, 1890" "July 19, 1892"

The doo-dad that looks like a glass cutter is actually a small right-angle flat blade screwdriver with reversible ratchet action, "YANKEE" by "North Brothers MFG of Philadelphia, PA no. 3600"

The cutters are nice and small and in great shape, stamped only "Forged England".

The ball peens appear to be manufactured in a home machine shop. No idea whose, though.

lbgradwell · May 5, 2009

Cool haul!

BMC MFG Corp. is "Botnick Motor Corporation"; cool idea.

It is not uncommon to see some of those older pliers with a screwdriver blade at the end of a handle; an early multi-tool!

Bernard pliers were famous for their parallel action...

The "Yankee" screwdriver was a famous line by North Bros.!

I have a very similar old ball pein marked "Indestro"...

fatfillup · May 5, 2009

What is the use of the Bernard Pliers? I have a pair and didn't know what they were for.

Scooterfish · May 5, 2009

I have a pair of the BMC grips matching yours. Any idea what era they were made?
Thanks

isr2kba · May 5, 2009

Scooterfish said:
I have a pair of the BMC grips matching yours. Any idea what era they were made?
Thanks

Looks like the patent (2478728) was issued in 1949, and applied for in 1946. Mine, being marked "Patent Applied For", would lead to me to believe they were made sometime before August, 1949.

superautobacs · May 12, 2009

isr2kba said:
The pliers are uncredited but interesting because they have a flat screwdriver stamped into one of the handle ends (clearly seen in the picture).

Do they have a serrated opening on the ends of the jaws to accommodate turning a ****** or valve? They could be one of those early gas and burner adjusting pliers. I have one made by Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing that look similar to yours.

isr2kba said:
The multi-pliers are: "Bernard's Pat May 6, 1890" "July 19, 1892"

I got a pair of these recently from an anitque shop; couldn't resist bringing it back home as it was so unique.

Oh, you need to go back there and dig out some more goodies!

Packard V8 · May 12, 2009

Neat stuff, but still have lots of utility in them. Most of those tools, or the equivalent are in my use-every-day boxes.

thnx, jack vines

bmwpower · May 12, 2009

Someone just sold one of those hammers on here, IIRC.

Every garage needs a 100ft tape. Nice.

Junkman · May 12, 2009

The plier tool below the tin snips with the cutting tool on the side is a fisherman pliers. You can cut the line or the hook, and grab it with the plier end. Had one of those when I was a kid and enjoyed fishing.

Brad54 · May 12, 2009

I have one of those hammers. No manufacturing marks. It came from my Grandma's house. Not sure if it's the big one or the smaller one in your pic.

If you want to sell either, let me know. Darn handy little hammer.

-Brad

Duckman · Oct 1, 2011

The Bernard multipliers with the parallel jaws were part of the armorers kit for the M-1 Garand rifle,.30 cal. This tool kit was issued at the company level per 100 rifles.

Amitygravel · Oct 1, 2011

Those Bernards are a good find.

The parallel jaws allow a much firmer grip.
Brownells gunsmith supply carries parallel jaw pliers ,I'm not certain they are Bernards though. I don't think they are cheap either.

Forgot , the wire cutters on the backside cut like you're going through butter.

2oolhound · Oct 1, 2011

isr2kba said:
For those interested in details:

The vice-grip like tool says: BMC MFG Corp. Binghampton, NY. Patent applied for. Just above the adjusting wheel, it has a little scale which is graduated: 1/4 1/2 3/4

.

I had the identical one in my motorcycle toolbox in the 70's (now long gone). I found it in a junkshop back then. I liked it because the parallel jaws didn't harm the nuts and bolts like other visegrips.

Nice group of tools.

Vintage tool finds for the day

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