Frank J. Mayer Splicing Sleeve Compressing Tool Pat. # 116745

[woody 73]

I apologize up front it seems that the web has so many services for hunting long lost people; that each web-site charges a fee up front and it is out of my pay grade as they say. I could not locate information about Mr. Mayer but I did find a treasure trove about the tool he invented.

It is interesting to note that the company that made his tool is still in business, his tool was assigned to the National Telephone supply Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The publication patent date was Sept. 19th, 1939 and the filing date was May 5th, 1939. Nicopress is till going strong for the utility companies and their best known brand of the National Telephone Supply Company is the industry standard in pioneering design, since 1901 in Cleveland, Ohio.

I have some very nice links for you to look over and a few pictures to look at.

https://www.google.com/patents/USD116745

http://www.nicopress.com/

http://www.telephonecollectors.info...er-no-17-2-nicopress-tool-description-and-use

https://books.google.com/books?id=c...EISjAI#v=onepage&q=nicopress no. 17-2&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=l...F#v=onepage&q=save time use nicopress&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=H...H#v=onepage&q=save time use nicopress&f=false

http://cdn-5.psndealer.com/e2/dealersite/images/internationallinkllc/scan0005.pdf

 

[woody 73]

Link three is not coming through:

http://www.telephonecollectors.info...er-no-17-2-nicopress-tool-description-and-use

It should be Section 081-750-107 Issue 1, September 1952 and it gives a complete use of the tool No. 17-2


See page #11

 

[jeffmoss26]

National Telephone Supply has been here in Cleveland forever! I've got one of those Nicopress tools

 

[woody 73]

Jeff you were just the person I had in mind when I wrote this post, knowing that you enjoy working with phones and you live & work in Cleveland you would enjoy this post story.

 

[Tarnished]

Woody, Used this press for many years repairing outside telecom cables. There were cotton selves that you placed over the cut cable, then you placed a copper sleeve over the two ends of the cable and crimped it with your tool (we called it the Nicoopress). The cotton sleeve was pushed over the splice, and the next splice made. (could be hundreds of pairs to splice) After all cotton sleeves were in place, the whole splice was warped in cotton cloth tape and placed inside a lead sleeve. The lead sleeve was then pounded down to match the lead cable size and the ends were heated and covered in hot lead to form a perfect lead splice/repair. We did this many many times over the years, and the Nicoopress was still in use when I left. (although on plastic cable now lol) The other option was to twist the pairs together and then solder the pairs. Nicoopress was quicker.

 

[skruft]

That is a great story - thanks very much. I have two of these tools of different sizes and never knew this history. They look very much like swaging tools for small wire rope.

 

[twertsy]

Sorry Woody, All I come up with for him is a drug store owner and a cop, both in Marion, OH.