c.1916 Mossberg Cycle Tire Irons Set No. 710

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Thanks to a tip from four.cycle feeding my Mossberg-Tool-Board-thread-inspired Mossberg kick right now, I recently made a rare eBay purchase for a Mossberg Cycle Tire Irons Set No. 710, with original pouch.

Here's what it looks like...

(Post 1 of 3)

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Doubly rare because I can’t find another example anywhere except in a drawing from an advertisement in the April 27, 1916 issue of Motor Cycle Illustrated. Link to full page ad here.

Excerpt of full-page ad here…

Tracking down the tools to a 1916 Mossberg ad was fun.

But does anyone notice anything unusual about the pouch? :shocking:

How about now?

This tire irons set pre-dates WWII by a few decades, Mossberg did not supply motorcycle tire irons to the Third Reich, and many of you learned tool hounds already know that the “********”, an ancient Sanskrit symbol for good fortune, was the trademark of the Buffum Tool Company, of the town of Louisiana, Missouri.

Alloy Artifacts dates Buffum to 1908. By 1917 they were running ads in trade mags boasting their self-proclaimed position as the largest toolmaker in the country. It might be true. They were making a wide variety of tools for a wide variety of industries, including bricklaying, blacksmithing, mining, and the nascent mechanic and automobilist industry. At a 1917 trade show, they exhibited over 500 tools, including machinist, engineer, plumber, tinsmith, and gardener in addition to the categories I already listed above. They also made household items, and during World War I, bayonets and airplane parts.

Even though I was well aware of Buffum and their trademark…

…I have to admit that the swastikas on the pouch was a headscratcher.

I found it improbable that Mossberg, who made tools for others in addition to their own output, would have to sub out something as simple as these nickel-plated tire irons. And it seemed equally improbable to me that Buffum would be supplying the pouch.

But I was wrong.

A snippet-only view of page 429 of the 1910 edition of the Chilton Motorcycle, Motorboat, and Automobile Trade Directory, linked here, cites “rolls” as one of the may products Buffum had listed in the directory.

Note that the directory says to see page 507 for the full page Buffum ad. That page is also a snippet-only view. I am waiting to hear from the Google Books team on my request to un-lock it for full view, but the directory alone is fairly strong substantiation for the pouch.

(Post 2 of 3)

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Buffum tools are fairly rare, although they do show up here on GJ from time to time.

GJ member and fellow Garage Sale thread regular topop101, who, as a Missouri resident, has the advantage of proximity in his favor, has had good luck finding them, with a gate latch, linked here, and a curved adjustable wrench, linked here, to his credit.

A few other tools that have shown up here on GJ include a bearing scraper, linked here, an extra heavy duty machinists’ screwdriver, linked here, and most recently, twertsy found some babbitt scrapers in the bottom drawer of a 1920’s era Snap-on box, linked here.

(Post 3 of 3)

woody 73 · Dec 13, 2018

Strange how such a large company as Mossberg was having Buffum make tools for them, but then I guess snap on has other tool companies make tools for them and then brand their own name on those tools. I learn new things everyday thank you for sharing this story.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Just to re-emphasize the point I was making in post #2, woody, I don't think Buffum made the tools. I think they made the pouch. Their mark is only on the pouch, not the tools. And the Mossberg mark is on the tools.

woody 73 · Dec 13, 2018

I think I need new glasses, getting older *****... So the case was only made for them, makes me think that tool companies having other tool companies make items for them must have been going on for more years then I can count.

d42jeep · Dec 13, 2018

It’s too bad the new tires are already installed on your BSA. You could have pinched the tubes yourself with your new tools. I really like the spoke slots! Sometimes amazing things can be found on eBay.
-Don

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

I was thinking the exact same thing, Don. As for eBay, I typically try to confine myself to the occasional hard-to-find-in-the-wild item, but if everyone keeps sending me tips I am prone to get sucked back in! :lol:

leg17 · Dec 13, 2018

Nice work Lugz on the Buffum/Mossberg connection.

3baygarage · Dec 13, 2018

Nice set. I don’t think I’ve seen those before. Fantastic to have the pouch.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Thanks, leg. Finds like this just reinforce the notion that there's still more we don't know then what we know!

Private Lugnutz · Dec 13, 2018

Thanks, 3bay. It was an extravagant purchase, but the pouch put it in the 'couldn't not buy it' category. Ironically, the seller did not know notice the ********, and did not mention it or the Buffum connection in his listing description. I made an offer and I was elated he took it.

four.cycle · Dec 13, 2018

something tells me you nailed it with the "rolls" entry in the trade journal.

funny that I would never have imagined any of you guys would have taken me seriously when I sent you the note on that set - it was just so out there.
but then, I guess it isn't any more obscure than the widgets I've accumulated here.

great work on digging up the info on that. those directories are huge! one of those you linked to is almost 400MB.
wonder how long it takes to fill up a 400GB hard drive with *.pdf files?

now... if I'd have known.... I would have given you a heads up when I saw this gem... you'd have had another piece for your bicycle tools collection:

Stevens Walden Worcester spoke wrench (Ebay 273063078559 01).jpg

Stevens Walden Worcester spoke wrench (Ebay 273063078559 02).jpg

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any that come along.

Modern Garage · Dec 13, 2018

I find it interesting that there are three irons in the set. All of my tire iron sets have two and I find myself wishing for a third pretty often. I wonder when two became standard? Or is this some sort of premium set so only really cool guys would carry it? Or this is the shop set and you ditch the third lever to save SO much weight for the on-bike tool kit?

Joe

Modern Garage · Dec 13, 2018

Sheesh, can you tell I'm a mechanic?
You guys do a great job tracking down the history of this stuff and I'm stuck on function...

Private Lugnutz · Dec 14, 2018

four.cycle said:
something tells me you nailed it with the "rolls" entry in the trade journal.

I have a good feeling about that, too. But I wish the Google Books Team would get back to me sooner rather than later on this one. I am anxious to see that full-page Buffum ad.

four.cycle said:
I wonder how long it takes to fill up a 400GB hard drive with *.pdf files?

I don't know, but DON'T Send me the zip versions! I am still twelve (12) zips behind! :lol:

Modern Garage said:
I find it interesting that there are three irons in the set. All of my tire iron sets have two...

Are they modern or vintage? I have a pair of modern users that have a spoon on one end and spoke slots on the other. My 1943 BSA toolkit has three. A pair of spoon types and a third with the spoke slot in it. EDIT: You can see more in my ‘c.1943 BSA WDM20 Toolkit’ thread, linked here.

Modern Garage said:
Sheesh, can you tell I'm a mechanic?
You guys do a great job tracking down the history of this stuff and I'm stuck on function...

We talk in both languages down here on the vintage board fairly often, Joe. Sometimes they're inextricable. In some cases the history doesn't make sense, mechanically, and it casts doubt on the conclusions. Or vice versa. And in some cases, one thing augments or informs the other.

four.cycle · Dec 14, 2018

Some of us just turn wrenches more often than others.

I'd venture that you're spot on about Buffum having made the pouch and Mossberg stamping out the tools.
I've said many times here that I think everybody was outsourcing something from somebody else at one time or another.

I'm sorry to say I did not really think through the whole "zip file" thing as thoroughly as I should have. I have spent the last three days and nights picking through files (many of which I've already sent to you) and I am finding all kinds of errata and duplications. I'm on "M" right now.
Don't worry about any of it for now. I need to reorganize this entire mess after I pick through all of these and then I'm just going to burn them to CD.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 14, 2018

I always appreciate your research efforts, 4.c. 2018 was a good year on GJ and it got even better when you came back. I was just joshing.

twertsy · Dec 14, 2018

Nice work Greg. I'm betting you're spot on with the Rolls theory. Hard to believe with all the industry up there, there was no satisfactory roll manufacturer in Attleboro or surrounding area. There's got to be more to the story.........perhaps a personal relationship in the background yet to be uncovered?

:bounce:

My Apologies, we both have such an obsession about researching these things I couldn't help but to goad a little......

four.cycle · Dec 14, 2018

It's cool.... I should have paid more attention when I was downloading and naming those files. I think I must have been half asleep on a lot of them.
Use what you've got now, but don't put any work into sorting or renaming or anything like that. I'll get them fixed and burn them to CDs and send them snail mail.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 14, 2018

twertsy said:
...we both have such an obsession about researching these things I couldn't help but to goad a little......

Oh, I am still looking, trust me. In addition to the geographical wonder (i.e., why pay the shipping?), note that Mossberg made other tools that came in roll-ups. Why weren't those sourced by Buffum? There is definitely more to find out. But in the meantime I am enjoying the undeniable connection.

humber2 · Dec 15, 2018

I'm curious about one iron not being slotted.

It is my experience to have two irons latched to begin so the third one becomes the worker so to speak.

But once the third one is used the second one comes loose and would be the next one to use, if the third one is latched on.

That's why I've found all should have slots.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 15, 2018

Hmm. I don't see the problem, humber.

I haven't changed a motorcycle tire for many, many years until recently, and with that one, I used these newfangled jobbies that have a spoon on one end and a notch on the other. I alternated between them, one end at a time.

When I was in my teens I changed more motorcycle tires than I care to remember using only two spoon type tire irons without any notches, the way my old man taught me. Maybe it was wrong or crude, but it worked. You pry the tire out near the valve stem and leave it inserted, keeping it there by standing on the tool with your foot. Then you do the same thing on the other side of the valve stem to free that up first. Then you work around with the second one, all the time leaving the first one in place with your foot on it.

And as I said, the WWII BSA kit only came with a pair of spoon types and one with a notch. So there must be multiple ways of changing a tire!

These particular irons are all clearly original to the pouch, with each piece and the pouch being marked "No. 710", and the 1916 ad showing all three pieces, two notched and one not notched. Besides not being notched, note that it doesn't have rounded corners, either, not on my example or in the ad.

In the ad, it looks like they have the two with notches latches on, probably on either side of the valve stem. And the third spoon type with no notch is show loose to the side. The next step with these I would think would be to use the spoon type to get another coupe inches free, then move one of the latch types. Repeat, and move the first latch type. And keep going around like that.

But I suppose you could take your argument up with old Frank!

Modern Garage · Dec 18, 2018

Are they modern or vintage? .[/QUOTE said:
My oldest set is the pair of spoons in the original tool kit of my '72 Commando. Clunky things clearly supplied by a dying enterprise.
My newest are aftermarket aluminum levers forged with hex box ends to remove the axle nut and pinch bolts on my KTM -pretty slick.
My question is if three levers was standard on your BSA and in this Mossburg kit, when did economics step in and tell us we should be happy with two? Before my time, I'm just wondering if anyone knows.
Joe

Private Lugnutz · Dec 18, 2018

Good question. I don't know.

c.1916 Mossberg Cycle Tire Irons Set No. 710

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