Grandfather invented Self adjusting vice grips

[ilbcrzn]

Dear Members

I have seen questions re: the self adjusting vice grips. Some have said they were invented by The Peterson Tool Co. Not true. They were invented by my grandfather and he received a patent for them Aug. 14, 1951. Patent # 2,564,585. His name was Harold Arthur Shaw. Before that he had invented the ratchet wrench for tightening and loosening bicycle spokes in 1942. He received a patent for this tool also. Patent number 2,306,228. My cousin still has the 2 prototypes for the vice grips. I would like to have them to display with the paperwork.

Just wanted to set the record straight.

Thanks!!!

 

[The Copilot]

Could you post a picture of what these tools look like? Not sure if I've ever seen a "self adjusting vise grip". Thanks.

 

[Davefr]

We'd love to see some images of the prototypes!!

 

[wafrederick]

I read in a book,Did Monkeys Invent The Monkey Wrench that the first pairs of vice grips made by the Peterson tool company were made out of wood.It was not a good idea at all and went made out of metal after that.

 

[ilbcrzn]

http://www.google.com/patents?id=q_...=gbs_selected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

Hope I did this right!!!

My cousin has the prototypes. One is made out of wood with plastic over the handle so you can see the inner mechanism workings. The second one is made out of metal. I ran the patent paperwork, to keep with it, over to him so someone in the future won't throw it out, thinking someone was to cheap to go out and buy one.

 

[lbgradwell]

Cool.

Were these ever produced? If so, by whom & under what brand names?

 

[78Bird]

i have some vise-grip style pliers that you adjust the TENSION on but it'll grip anything from wide open to empty with that force...

is that what you mean? they are cool, though not always the right thing for the job

grandpa was a smart cookie if he figured that one out.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Your Grandfather did invent a self adjusting vise grip type tool but Peterson did invent the vise grip as we know it most commonly today and did it almost a decade before your Grandfather.

See here:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=sWdiAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

-Erik

 

[nine4gmc]

Petersen was cited as a reference on your fathers patent as April 14th 1942
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=2280005&id=21108

 

[ilbcrzn]

I don't think my grandfather ever did anything with it other than let it run out. A gold mine? maybe. I think he was afraid of investing in it or getting investors to go in. I don't think he trusted anyone enough.

 

[Farmall450]

Your Grandfather did invent a self adjusting vise grip type tool but Peterson did invent the vise grip as we know it most commonly today and did it almost a decade before your Grandfather.

See here:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=sWdiAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

-Erik

About identical to the tool most everyone has a pair of!

Amazing! Nothing has changed.

 

[ilbcrzn]

I understand that.

My grandfather did not invent the vice grips. He invented the "self adjusting" vice grips.

 

[Farmall450]

I understand that.

My grandfather did not invent the vice grips. He invented the "self adjusting" vice grips.

I see that. I was just saying how little the ones most folks use have changed since the 40s.

 

[ilbcrzn]

The ones used by Peterson has the screw to adjust which can also vary the tension. The one one my grandfather invented was self adjusting but tension could not be adjusted. A good tool for some applications.

 

[ilbcrzn]

I never said my grandfather invented the vice grips...so saying see here minimizes his contribution. I said from the start "self adjusting".

 

[ilbcrzn]

I see that. I was just saying how little the ones most folks use have changed since the 40s.

Amazing indeed!!!

 

[thesilverone]

pics?

 

[ilbcrzn]

pics?

sent the link for the self adjusting vice grips. I can link to the spoke ratchet also...Let me know!!!

I do have the original Patent document from the Patent office for the bike wrench. Wish I knew where the one for the vice grips are!!!

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[ilbcrzn]

The link is in a post above

 

[ilbcrzn]

I see that. I was just saying how little the ones most folks use have changed since the 40s.

If he would have invented the METRIC self adjusting vise grips...I would be rich now!!!

 

[justanengineer]

My grandfather and his brother "invented" and patented the stop light and hydraulic clutch. Unfortunately, so did quite a few others simultaneously, some of which actually made money from it. Realistically, all their efforts did was show how terrible the patent system was back then. FWIW, it hasnt improved.

Call me crazy, but I have quite a few pairs of Vise-Grips and thankfully no Robo-grips.

 

[ilbcrzn]

I will give your post the consideration it deserves

 

[TwoInch]

i am not sure what this post means?

there is a patent for a tool that was never produced? there are millions.

peterson did invent their particular mechanism, and produced them.

 

[skeletonizer]

Odd, this thread is.

 

[cosmik binturong]

seen the patent for the ratcheting spoke wrench but would like some pics of the prototype too, pleaaaaase...

 

[4x4gearhead]

Who cares if it was produced, its cool that he was onto something like this way back...why down it?

 

[NWphotog]

i am not sure what this post means?

there is a patent for a tool that was never produced? there are millions.

peterson did invent their particular mechanism, and produced them.

This. Just having a thought and even getting it patented is no big deal. Leaving a mark on the world, now that is something.

 

[Gmonkee]

Did Mr. Peterson himself ever claim anything about the 'self adjusting' locking pliers?

Or was it just a tiny tidbit of GJ misinformation?

Either way the late Mr. Shaw's idea is interesting, and still could be made a useful present day tool. Done right it could be more than a homeowner grade tool.

I can see where it falls into the masses of multi-tools, one size fits all and self adjusters from 1900 into the late 50's that all sort of flopped. Few 'innovative' tool designs really stood the test of time.
The crescent style adjustable wrench from 1890 and the Vise-Grip stand out as commercialy accepted examples.

 

[sk farmer]

i am sure your grandfather was a good guy and you are proud of what he did. let's just clear the air a bit first.

he did not invent a self adjusting vice grips. he himself called it pliers or wrench, says so right at the top of the patent. for you to claim it is a vice grip is false, the patent says so and the vice grip was invented long before you grandfathers patent.

i am not sure why you are upset about about this and feel the need to set things straight.

all of that said , thanks for putting out some info showing the patent for what could have been an interesting tool if ever made.

 

[Kevin54]

Damn......The newbie went down and he's still being kicked. At least his grandfather DID invent something and filed for a patent. Maybe he was wrong as to WHO invented the vise grip, whether it be self adjusting or not, but he did show the paperwork and as to what it pertained to. Given that...just having the paperwork for something his grandfather did as far as the patent is more than a lot of us can say. My grandfather....I never even had a chance to meet the person.