Eifel-jawed PlieRench

[BlueBomber]

I found one of these Eifel-jawed PlieRenches at an estate sale this weekend and paid a ridiculous $10 for it. Only after getting home and doing research did I learn more about this tool. The jaws are parallel and geared to bear down on a six-sided nut, either on the flats or on the points. The handle opens wide to allow the jaw to be re-indexed to get the right amount of space between the jaws. It also has a built in wire cutter on one side and a flat-blade screwdriver at the end of one handle. I'd never seen one before, so I brought it home. It's a keeper.






Turns out they came with four different jaws, which I didn't know to look around for in the basement. Oh well.

There are a lot on EBay right now, and I found one with original sales literature, so I thought I'd capture the pics for posterity. I love the summary line at the bottom of one of the pages: "If You Don't QUICKLY find the PlieRench as Handy and SPEEDY as Your Own Right Hand, It Can be ONLY because You are NOT following directions"

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A few other folks on GJ have these, so feel free to post additional info and pictures if you have something to share!

 

[woody 73]

The search function on the GJ *****...


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269558

 

[hemifalcon]

Keep your eyes open for additional jaws--they make the tool pretty practical (in an ol'skool way)!

 

[BlueBomber]

The search function on the GJ *****...


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269558

Oh, snap--I didn't search in the General Tools Forum. Thanks, Woody!

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: I saw your wrench on the Garage sale thread and since I own one similar came here to check your thread out. it might be nice to know how it works because mine is just sitting in a drawer. I also bought it because it was cool looking and I hadn't seen one before. or maybe it might have been because I NEED it now.

thanks for starting a thread because I probably wouldn't have found Woody's thread with all his great information too. nice eye, but I know you knew you have one for vintage stuff that looks cool.

I used to GOOGLE for old tools and get GARAGE JOURNAL posts and threads for maybe 5 or more years before I joined here. might be another option for GJ searches you know are here because i'm guessing if a thread has a few hundred threads with that same information in your search you won't find it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is another GJ thread on them: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59124


I'l see about posting my two pair of the early version.

 

[kerr]

Never seen such a thing , love this site .

 

[exmaxima1]

I found one of these Eifel-jawed PlieRenches at an estate sale this weekend and paid a ridiculous $10 for it. Only after getting home and doing research did I learn more about this tool. The jaws are parallel and geared to bear down on a six-sided nut, either on the flats or on the points. The handle opens wide to allow the jaw to be re-indexed to get the right amount of space between the jaws. It also has a built in wire cutter on one side and a flat-blade screwdriver at the end of one handle. I'd never seen one before, so I brought it home. It's a keeper.

A few other folks on GJ have these, so feel free to post additional info and pictures if you have something to share!

I bought one about 30 years ago. Great for hose clamps, but never really used for much else. Not as much leverage ss I would like on the jaws. Still, made in USA!

 

[NJ Marty]

I picked up a pair with the paper work a few months ago. They are interesting to say the least.

 

[Outlawmws]

Marty, can you scan a nice copy of that paperwork? Most are in tatters.

 

[ganymede]

Marty, can you scan a nice copy of that paperwork? Most are in tatters.

Indeed.
I'd pay more for the paperwork than I would for the tool.

 

[rlitman]

I bought one about 30 years ago. Great for hose clamps, but never really used for much else. Not as much leverage ss I would like on the jaws. Still, made in USA!

The mechanical advantage is pretty good, but not quite as high as the Knipex Pliers Wrench.

However, just like the Knipex, you get more advantage in one direction than in the other. Turned one way, you're killing your hands trying to hold the jaws together, while turned the other way, it does most of the work for you.

The catch, is that the Knipex has angled jaws, just like groove-joint pliers, so the user will naturally only try to use it to turn in one direction. The Eifel appears more symmetric, so it is not always obvious to the user to push in the direction of the "Locks this way" arrow.

The Eifel is actually a pretty good tool IMHO, though I've only owned for for about a year. Picked it up for cheap at a flea market after learning about it here.

BTW, the jaws in mine, have grooves in a * pattern. They allow you to grip a nut going straight on, or at 45 degrees to the jaws too.

 

[drivesitfar]

RL: I also have that pattern in the jaws on mine. so these wrenches came with extra jaws? i'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some and probably passed on any that might have come with mine thinking it was a broken tool.

Marty: great find with the catalog pages. you've got a great eye sir.

ALL: pictures of at least one that I own. I haven't used mine yet and really am wondering if it might have been an early design for channel locks.

 

[rlitman]

RL: I also have that pattern in the jaws on mine. so these wrenches came with extra jaws? i'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some and probably passed on any that might have come with mine thinking it was a broken tool.

Yeah, we've got the standard jaws. The extra jaws seem to fetch more then the whole tool on eBay.

 

[BlueBomber]

Yeah, we've got the standard jaws. The extra jaws seem to fetch more then the whole tool on eBay.

Yeah, dang it. I'm halfway certain the jaws were somewhere in the loose pile of tools on the work bench.

 

[beakie]

These seem very similar to my Vaco Plierench
Wonder if any relation between manufacturers?

 

[woody 73]

beakie the answer to your question is yes see post number 2 about the vaco connection.

 

[pendragon1998]

I have a pair, but I think it is broken. The removable jaw doesn't engage correctly. I need to take another look at it.

 

[NJ Marty]

Marty, can you scan a nice copy of that paperwork? Most are in tatters.

Damn, If I can figure out how to scan it I will.I will see if my old scanner is still around, haven't used it in prob 10 years.

 

[LesserSon]

Here's mine. In use, I find it remarkably similar to RoboGrips.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Got 3 sets of these things. One to use, and 2 complete sets, one with original paperwork, pre 1930.

A very cool, and still useful tool.

 

[Know Wosad]

Theres one around here somewhere. I need to get The Smart One to dig it out and clean it up

 

[KnurledNut]

IIRC, didnt these originally come in a cool little pouch?

 

[bonneyman]

Damn, If I can figure out how to scan it I will.I will see if my old scanner is still around, haven't used it in prob 10 years.

Shoot, I'd pay printing and shipping costs for a photocopy of that from a local print shop. That information is extremely hard to find.

 

[GreyOwl]

I have a set that came with a worn out pouch so I made a new pouch off of the original out of good leather. I've had this set for 30+ years and it has 3 jaws for it, the regular, curved and long-nosed.

 

[Outlawmws]

I got another pair of Eifel PlierWrench Pliers(#3)

Like BB's in Post one of this thread, this pair have stamped instead of forged in markings, and includes two patent dates, and "something" EYEFEL... (really spelled that way)
Mod. 8 1/2" -35-Gr. 10to1. $500
And Made in USA By Amer. Plierench Corp'n
Chicago, Ill.

And on the far side:
Forged
Chrome-'Molly!

Lots of oddities for markings on it!

A buck for that new one.

Pics of all three:

 

[northwoods]

I have a couple pair of these. Also was lucky enough to find the accessory handle clamp that turns the pliers into a vise. A U-shaped gadget with a thumbscrew that holds the handles sort-of tight.
The whole thing is kinda hinky, but they are a neat looking item.

 

[WisJim]

I came across the older Eifel PlieRench threads and haven't found any pictures of the accessory jaws, so I thought I'd post pics of one of mine with six jaws. second picture is a close up of the tubing cutting jaw and the little tubing holder that fits in the stationary jaw (which is a part that is often missing). I'm looking for a similar set with all the accessories but in the smaller 7" size.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very nice, Jim. Somewhere here on GJ there's a complete set in the pouch with a jobber's tip sheet on selling them, printed by Eifel. One of the tips was to wait on the side of the road for a car to break down, and then offer to help him fix it with the Eifel PlierRench. One of my favorite historical tidbits.

 

[LesserSon]

This past weekend, I added a pouch and several jaws to my collection. I did not at first recognize the GripClip, so I am very happy I didn’t leave it behind, but I wonder if the tube cutter V-clip escaped my notice.

I now have two pouches, three Pliers, one extra wire jaw. The group at left was the most complete as found, marked 1945.

The center group is the most complete assembled, including a long pipe jaw and Grip, but lacking the V-clip. The Pliers are an earlier find, marked 1941, chrome-molly alloy.

My first (and oldest) PlieRench (at right) only has the original patent date, (so presumably made before the Dec1927 application for the 2nd patent) is generally a bit heavier.

The single jaw that was with it is likewise a heavier version of the short pipe jaw.

I think it was my grandfather’s. I’ve begun to notice that the more tools I acquire, the less I remember about each one. Hopefully, I posted something about it before.

 

[Fred Knox]

At the urging of Private Lugz, I thought I would share with you a recent addition - a vintage 7” Eifel-Geared Plierench (smallest version) with three jaws and the original pouch in fairly strong shape. I have not had a chance to clean it up yet, but you can see the etched $4.50 price. One interesting addition to the set is an Eifel Multitool, originally designed to be a bottle opener, three sized slot screwdriver, and a nail pull. It is relatively small at just over 3” long.

It is very clearly marked (the back side is blank):

EIFEL MULTITOOL
MADE IN U.S.A.
PR (price) 15c
PAT. APLD. FOR
CHICAGO. ILL.
AMERICAN PLIERENCH C'N

I love the $.15 etched price.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Fred.

As I mentioned, I believe that's the first Eifel multitool that has been posted here on GJ. I could be wrong. It's small and somewhat innocuous and it's possible someone with a pouched set posted a group shot and didn't mention it, but I have no recollection of even knowing about it before. I don't recall seeing it included in the massive salesman's kit in the other thread, linked here, either.

One more thing to look for!

 

[Farmer J.]

Oh, Wow! An Eifel multi tool.. Thanks for posting that, never seen or heard of one before.
One of my sons is a tremendous fan of the plierench, and he also likes multitools, so will pass the info on to him.

 

[RTM]

Time to add my stash to the GJ Eifel records. Up until yesterday, this was my collection of PlieRench tools. Picked up at 3 different Estate Sales over a few years, one where I found a loose jaw, thought someone fouled up a Crescent wrench, then found a second jaw, and the light came on. Others were just normal grabs.



Closeups to help with the text


R - L: The oldest of the bunch I assume, came with a dynamic jaw matching the fixed jaw, no markings on the reverse side. The side shown, and the face.

EIFEL_FLASH
PLIERENCH
Pat.5.2.16

On the fixed handle
FLASH SL'S
C.N. Chicago

The Middle one came with a small pipe jaw is marked on the face
Forged
Chrome Molly!
Alloy

On the obverse, top right xxxYEFEL
Eifel-Geared PLieRench
Pats 1161654, 1662817
Mod 8 1/2"-36-Gr.10 to 1 $500
1 8 Made in U.S.A.BY-
Amer. Plierench Corp'n
Chicago, Ill.
Locks
One
Way

The Left, came with a dynamic jaw matching the fixed jaw, has no markings on this face

On the obverse
Eifel-Geared PLieRench
8 1/2"-'45-5 -(bent arrow) 10 to 1 $500
Forged
Pats 1161654, 1662817
1 8 Made in U.S.A.BY-
Amer. Plierench Corp'n
Chicago, Ill.
Locks
One
Way

I have 4 extra jaws, two match the fixed jaw, the other two seem like derivations of each other. Trying to decipher from the pix in the four threads, but getting nothing on this **** monitor. Will try more later

 

[LesserSon]

Today I did an idiot move. I plucked this 7” model from a bin of obscurity. I noticed it had an unfamiliar label, but failed to take a good picture of it. Some came off in my backpack, and the rest when I started handling/cleaning the jaws! This is the only pic I have before it was gone. “P” but not “PLIER”, I think, and in small letters at the bottom, “NEW”. I have no clue.

 

[Outlawmws]

LS - That also looks to have some mods? Maybe a special order tool?

 

[LesserSon]

That makes the most sense to me. Note the internal wire cutter blade has been ground off from the lever/handle, I guess to make space for the unusual spring. The pin of through the external metal band prevents the handle from shifing out of the dynamic jaw gear, so the jaw cannot be swapped out. Those are intentional mods for some functional purpose. The modified jaws (the permanant one, too) are angled, and definitely specialized, like for pulling a rimmed cylinder, but what? The decal probably held the best clue to an answer.With the static jaw similarly modified, these are special purpose, begging the question: what is “C.E. GEN USE”?

 

[bmwrd0]

I picked this set up over the weekend, as I can never resist packaging like that!

two extra sets of jaws

and a shot of the patent markings

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Ooohhh that's a nice one

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ooohhh that's a nice one

That snap pouch is fantastic.