identify these vintage pliers?

[Vintage Veloce]

I have these 6-inch vintage pliers that I inherited from my Dad. They are at least 40 years old, possibly much older.
I have never seen another pair quite like this, especially how the tip is shaped.
For detail work they are my favorite pliers and I'd love to try and find another pair.
They have no markings anywhere that I can see.
Details:

• narrow but very strong (deep) tip.
• just behind the tip is a slight gap that maximizes pressure at the tip.
• Wide flat area close to the pivot.
• Very tight pivot.

Even if I can't find the exact brand/model, I'd love a good description of what they are.
They do not seem to be the typical "short chain nose" pliers, as they have this narrower tip with the gap that helps apply pressure at the tip.

 

[steaks&anvils]

They look like telephone pliers. To work on old style switch boards and those huge banks of telephone lines for a whole building.

Utica calls them "insulation skinning pliers"

 

[jbtvt]

Aha, that makes sense! I got something similar last week in an estate auction lot, but one jaw was squared off, one was rounded like this. Lot had other phone tools as well. Good call!

 

[steaks&anvils]

The pair I have, the tips were mangled. I cut them off flush and made a "stubby" jaw out of them. I now have a stout, flat nosed, smooth jawed pliers. And a vintage pair of mangled pliers have been given a new job/life.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

They look like telephone pliers. To work on old style switch boards and those huge banks of telephone lines for a whole building.

Utica calls them "insulation skinning pliers"

Wow, that does look like it!
Using your info and a bit more googling, apparently Kein makes a similar item still:

Klein Tools Long-Nose Telephone Work Pliers - Stripping

These Short-Nose, Telephone Work Pliers cleanly strip 22-24 AWG telephone wire. Featuring a convenient insulation crushing tool and curved handles for greater tool control. The joint is hot-riveted for smooth action and no handle wobble. Forged of custom, US-made tool steel for maximum durability.

www.kleintools.com

I ordered one and will compare it.
Thank you!

 

[Vintage Veloce]

The "insulation skinning" think is interesting, because there is no cutting edge. Any stripping work must have been crude with these.

 

[steaks&anvils]

The "insulation skinning" think is interesting, because there is no cutting edge. Any stripping work must have been crude with these.

The catalog I took the picture from was 1963. BUT those go back a long ways in time. Not sure if telephone wires ever had cloth insulation?

I see that the modern description states: "Featuring a convenient insulation crushing tool". So you crush the insulation then pull it away. Makes sense as I know when I use side cutters, half the time I snip the wire or leave a ridge where the blades cut the metal.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

The catalog I took the picture from was 1963. BUT those go back a long ways in time. Not sure if telephone wires ever had cloth insulation?

I see that the modern description states: "Featuring a convenient insulation crushing tool". So you crush the insulation then pull it away. Makes sense as I know when I use side cutters, half the time I snip the wire or leave a ridge where the blades cut the metal.

I'll have to find some old telephone wire and try it...

 

[Provincial]

It is dependent on the gauge of the telephone wire. The wires in the central office switches had uniform wire gauge, do the pliers could be optimized to crush the insulation without reaching the copper wire.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Just received my new "Klein" replacement. I'll retire Dad's old ones and use the Klein for every day duty.
Frankly, the vintage one is a much nicer piece, but the Klein seems perfectly serviceable.

 

[c1504]

I’ve got a Bell System marked Crescent pair. I always wondered what they were for

 

[JjKk40]

I also have Bell Sytem Crescent and Utica pairs.

 

[Mikeske]

I got these Bell/Utica side cutters from a pawn shop last month and decided to add them to the discussion. Don't know much about them but they have the groove cut into them also. I only took them as one they are Utica and I focus mainly on Bonney. Utica and Herbrand were sister companies from the 1960's until about 1995 when all three were shut down by Cooper tools.

 

[oldpliers1]

They look like telephone pliers. To work on old style switch boards and those huge banks of telephone lines for a whole building.

Utica calls them "insulation skinning pliers"

I apologise if I have crashed your thread , I was looking for some bender Gardner info , and got directed here , that’s really informative ( insulation skinning) I have a pair but never knew the official name . Thank you for that .
( ps did Gardner bender make pliers in the USA?) I live 11000 mile away and have no idea .

 

[MisterEd]

Menz, Germany - 'Splain this, Lucy??

The SigO found this oddly or functionally designed Needlenose Pliers today.

Small, forged identification; MENZ and GERMANY. Have a quality feel and in find condition. The "off-set" cutter seems to be purpose-specific. The all-powerful internet hasn't been helpful.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Menz, Germany - 'Splain this, Lucy??

The SigO found this oddly or functionally designed Needlenose Pliers today.

Small, forged identification; MENZ and GERMANY. Have a quality feel and in find condition. The "off-set" cutter seems to be purpose-specific. The all-powerful internet hasn't been helpful.

Company name: f.e. menz

just another variation of needle nose pliers with side cutters?

 

[MisterEd]

Thanks for the name of the company.

My skill-set does not include a lot of wire cutting, but if I wanted to cut flush, or nearly so, as this pliers seems to be designed to do I'd use a diagonal cutter. Thus, my question, what was it designed to do (better)?

 

[steaks&anvils]

edit: might be rosary pliers. Although most I see are round tip combination. Attached example is an inexpensive pair (not flush cutting). Older styles could have been chain nosed like yours.

Old German made pliers are probably very good quality, good find.

Could be for opticians, watch or jewelry making. The examples I see on google seem to always be with other plier types that can be for those trades.

Are these smaller pliers? Like five inch or less?

I can see using them for chain making. Turn the wire with needle nose, clip the wire flush. Repeat for the next link.

The good sized inside recess might keep the link from springing away when cut.

This technique isn't the best though. It is way easier to wind a long spring from wire and then cut the links with a saw.

Opticians might use them to bend and trim ear piece wires.

The combination keeps you from having to use two pairs of pliers and continuously having to set a pair down and then pick up the other pair.

 

[MisterEd]

Slightly over 5 inches; see first image.

Have seen one identified as a "wire stripper." Seventh and eighth images show cutter area and there is a small hole through which a wire might pass, but . . .

It's interesting enough to keep around.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Slightly over 5 inches; see first image.

Have seen one identified as a "wire stripper." Seventh and eighth images show cutter area and there is a small hole through which a wire might pass, but . . .

It's interesting enough to keep around.

Ruler picture, I glazed right over that picture, sorry about that.

Yeah, I'm sure those could have been used for plenty of things over the years.

I like old pliers, I have around 100 pairs of them. All different small sizes and jaw shapes. There is nothing more satisfying than rescuing a vintage tool and then being able to use it for just the right task.

 

[egdede]

I think you can just grab phone wires and strip 'em. It's not thhn