Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
As first reported in the 2018 Garage Sale thread, linked here, I picked up a strange pair of “pliers” today at the flea market.
Strange because of the unusual 90* pattern head. So-called parrot-head pliers aren’t unusual. I own a few pairs from various mfgrs. But those are simply combination slip-joint and cutting pliers with the head turned at different angles, typically 45* or 90*. These also have unusual serrated jaws with a distinct notch near the tip.
Pliers in quotes, because it was actually marketed and marked as a wrench. An “EAGLE CLAW WRENCH” to be precise.
Also marked with an “M T CO” in a triangle logo, “Rockford, Ill. U.S.A.” around the logo, model “No. 301” on either side of the logo, and “FEB 6-12”, under the logo. That is a reference to the patent (1,016,296), granted on February 6, 1912, for what the patentee called a “BOLT-HOLDER” (in reference to carriage bolts, and hence the notch).
After some research, I concluded that the branding may have more to do with an alternate company name (Eagle Claw Wrench Company, founded in Minneapolis, 1905, trademarked in Chicago in 1913) that also manufactured these pliers than their construction and function. “M T CO” are the initials of the Mechanics Tool Company. Both manufacturers are associated with the patent holder, who had a later related patent for a similar tool, and other tools. The sequence of the company names and the tools is a little confusing/ambiguous.
I did find another one reported here on GJ back in 2015 by scooternut, linked here.
Here is a link to the DATAMP site, where you can view the patent, and skip around to related patents and tools made by the Eagle Claw Wrench Company and the Mechanics Tool Company.
And here is a link a summary on the Tools Archive.
Strange because of the unusual 90* pattern head. So-called parrot-head pliers aren’t unusual. I own a few pairs from various mfgrs. But those are simply combination slip-joint and cutting pliers with the head turned at different angles, typically 45* or 90*. These also have unusual serrated jaws with a distinct notch near the tip.
Pliers in quotes, because it was actually marketed and marked as a wrench. An “EAGLE CLAW WRENCH” to be precise.
Also marked with an “M T CO” in a triangle logo, “Rockford, Ill. U.S.A.” around the logo, model “No. 301” on either side of the logo, and “FEB 6-12”, under the logo. That is a reference to the patent (1,016,296), granted on February 6, 1912, for what the patentee called a “BOLT-HOLDER” (in reference to carriage bolts, and hence the notch).
After some research, I concluded that the branding may have more to do with an alternate company name (Eagle Claw Wrench Company, founded in Minneapolis, 1905, trademarked in Chicago in 1913) that also manufactured these pliers than their construction and function. “M T CO” are the initials of the Mechanics Tool Company. Both manufacturers are associated with the patent holder, who had a later related patent for a similar tool, and other tools. The sequence of the company names and the tools is a little confusing/ambiguous.
I did find another one reported here on GJ back in 2015 by scooternut, linked here.
Here is a link to the DATAMP site, where you can view the patent, and skip around to related patents and tools made by the Eagle Claw Wrench Company and the Mechanics Tool Company.
And here is a link a summary on the Tools Archive.
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