Diamalloy Handyboy Combination Tool

[woody 73]

Look up in the sky it's a bird...It's a plane...No it's a Handyboy!

I thought maybe of doing this post as a Q & A (Question and Answer type post).

Q. Are they rare ?

A. No They started making them in the early 1940's and it was called the Handiman Combination tool, after the second World War they were called the Handyboy and they were still being made in the very early 1980's. With a 40 year time span enough were made to not make them rare.

Q. Are there different sizes of them ?

A. Yes they came in two different numbers the model DH 18, which was the larger size and the model number DH 16.

Q. How come I do not see them when I am tool hunting ?

A. Enough people when they first came out must have thought that would it be collectible one day, and they thought I had better save a few and they got scarfed up.

Q. How can I tell how old my model is ?

A. At the present time I do not know how to put a date on what year they were made; I do not even know if my handyboy is vintage or made later then 1967 ?

Q. What is the going price of a handyboy pliers at this time and date ?

A. From what I am seeing on Ebay it looks like a lot of people are asking in the $85.00 price range.

Q. How can I buy one ?

A. Because these tools were so popular you can still buy them today, but the coo will be made in Mainland China.

A few links for you to look at and pictures of my Handyboy to enjoy on this windy March Day.

http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=10600.0

http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=2919.0

http://www.trademarkia.com/diamalloy-71457386.html

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/handyboy-farmer-s-pliers.html

http://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=7554

http://www.bookofjoe.com/2006/03/4in1_farmers_pl.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Calk_Horseshoe_Company

http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/tools/diamond_dh16_pliers_handiman_diamalloy_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/tools/diamond_dh18_pliers_handyboy_cropped.jpg

https://books.google.com/books?id=m...EwAQ#v=onepage&q="diamalloy" handiman&f=false

http://alloy-artifacts.org/diamond-calk-horseshoe.html#handy

 

[3baygarage]

This is indeed an cool tool Woody. I have seen a few different branding of a similar thing, including older Blue Point and KABAR. Not sure who made what for whom.

They've def become a bit of a collector's thing. I have to wonder would a current US made run of this tool do well in the market? They look nice to display, although awkward to use. The idea is they are "handy".

 

[Cope]

One of those tools you plan to buy one day and one day their gone.

 

[ganymede]

I was so excited when I bought mine.
I was so let down when I looked at it up close and saw a crack between the wire cutter and the hole for the pivot .
:/.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have a pair of modern COO china handy-boy pliers and I have used them a couple of times, they live in the house tool box. Wouldn't mind finding an older pair someday.

 

[454ragtop]

Thanks Woody, never heard or saw of one before. But at least now if I come across one in my travels, I'll know what it is. Maybe I'll get lucky like I did a couple weeks ago when I stumbled across a Craftsman Speed ratchet.........

 

[bob from indiana]

I have a Chinese copy of the tool. It stays in Dad's old pickup so there is at least one tool in it. I have used it a few times, not a bad tool but the "Feel" of it is not good. I would like to find a 6" diamond tool.

 

[Coach James]

Nice write up Woody. HJE used to sell a Chinese copy of this.

Coach

 

[WWShop]

I have both sizes and I actually forgot about them until I saw this thread. I will have to put them in a spot so they are readily available. Thanks for the nice write up. I own several diamond/diamalloy tools and I use mine all the time.

 

[ScottTheSculptor]

Just found a set. Absolutely no rust. Put a smile on my face

 

[d42jeep]

They are cute but kind of a silly tool. I flipped the one I found in 2019.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

when I was moving files in the Diamond folder I found this...


undated Diamond Tool and Horseshoe Co. DH16 HandyBoy pliers flyer

 

[toolmiser]

I also seem to accumulate Diamond tools. I've found a "generic one", but still searching for a diamond. I do have their double ended adjustable wrench, which I'm still not sure of. One of my children used to have "show and tell" at school once in a while and I would send things like that. The teacher said she even enjoyed them.

 

[Farmer J.]

They are cute but kind of a silly tool. I flipped the one I found in 2019.

I should have bought it, they are just so 'wacky'!

 

[Moldyjim]

I picked up a new one at the feed store last year to add to my "Improvements on Perfection" collection. Probably Chinese IIRC. Its around somewhere.
I also have an old one in the box but don't recall the brand.

It's not a terrible tool, kinda nice to have when you gotta climb up a ladder or crawl under something to not need to crawl back out to grab an adjustable wrench or pliers.

 

[txtoolguy]

Interesting thread I happened upon here. There was a question early on "if they are rare?". The answer by Woody was 99.99 % correct in "no" with possibly one exception, Diamond did make the "Handiman" with no branding early in WWII that had no Handiman branding only a diamond logo and "Duluth USA" with "US" stamp on the handle. These are rare and command quite the premium I have seem them for sale based on condition from the high $100's to near $700's. So if you have one of those it is pretty rare.

-Tx-

 

[knock knock]

I acquired on this week from an estate sale I could live with out if someone really wanted one.