Here's another 'What is it?'

[7th Kahuna]

Well, we seem to be doing pretty well with these tonight so here's mine. My dad picked this up a couple weeks ago at the swapmeet. I have only been able to find one other and it was on eBay. The seller didn't seem to know anything about it either. Any thoughts? I'm thinking 1930's or earlier. Some sort of upholstery tool?

#8 "YOKE" MFD. BY IND. BIF. MACH. CO. BOSTON MASS

 

[jakemac]

It looks like some sort of hand stapler, but IDK how you would line up and support the staple while using it.

 

[Flatintoone]

It looks like some sort of hand stapler, but IDK how you would line up and support the staple while using it.

That's what I thought. I think the thin piece of metal screwed onto one of the jaws serves that purpose, but has been bent.

 

[3baygarage]

Simple, the outer piece hooks over one's lip while the pliers do the tooth pullin!

 

[7th Kahuna]

That's what I thought. I think the thin piece of metal screwed onto one of the jaws serves that purpose, but has been bent.

I'm with you on the staple part, as the lower face definitely looks like the anvil on a desk stapler. The metal spring however shows no sign of having been bent. I think maybe, it is a piece of spring steel designed to secure the 'staple' or post or whatever until it is attached into whatever it was used with.

It definitely appears to be a purpose built tool. I had at first thought maybe upholstery as it reminds me a bit of hog ring pliers as well. Whatever it was though looks to have been quite thin. When you bring the two jaws together, the first 1/4" has been ground with a separation of about 3/64th of an inch. The next 1/8" meets the lower jaw flush and the final 1/8" has a separation of 1/16" resulting from the casting.