Insulated Hand Tools

[oldpliers1]

Hi a thread for Insulated Hand tools New and Old what you like and what you don’t like about a hand tool , Going back to the early days of rubber and early plastics .
Ahrems Goodline. Made in Germany and sold in 1938 a real step up in plastics , an innovation that changed hand tools .

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is the oldest proprietary Insulated screwdriver I have found , I know their is stuff that dates back to 1930 made in the USA but this one has a 1000volt marking on the shaft maker unknown , but thought to be by the turner company of Melbourne early 50s

 

[KnurledNut]

Here is the oldest proprietary Insulated screwdriver I have found

Thats an oldie for sure! Nice find.

BTW,
Im using the same Knipex tool roll as you pictured in the other thread, but I bought it separately to store my insulated tools in. Thats a beautiful set you have. Mine is a mix of various brands i’ve picked up through the years. I hope to post pics here eventually.

 

[oldpliers1]

Thats an oldie for sure! Nice find.

BTW,
Im using the same Knipex tool roll as you pictured in the other thread, but I bought it separately to store my insulated tools in. Thats a beautiful set you have. Mine is a mix of various brands i’ve picked up through the years. I hope to post pics here eventually.

Hi I bought it on special for $275 Aud /usd $183 which I thought was very cheap I have added to it will be putting up a lot of stuff Knipex / Crescent / Sidchrome / Klein / Berg Bahco , Elliott Lucas and more . Australia is a lucky dip of tools regards Andy

 

[oldpliers1]

Utica were a very early maker of insulated tools the picture is circa 1930 Utica numbering system became crescents numbering system ( I was informed by the Utica expert on this site )

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is my first tool pouch purchased in 79 the pliers were all considered Insulated in 1980 prior to VDE ratings and were used extensively on Live 240 v/ 415 volt circuits in the day when working live was encouraged . ( tenite and acetate plastics were promoted as quality insulation)

 

[oldpliers1]

Insulated handles Crescent catalogue from 1957 and 2 pairs recently found

 

[neophyte]

“Insulated” pliers snd tools ho back to the early days of electrical wiring, although the “insulation” was usually just rubber sleeves slipped over the grips, that may have been available separately.
I’m not sure whether any of the original rubber grip insulated pliers still survive with grips 100+ years later though.
The Bernard pliers are from a catalog supposedly dating back to 1902.
The Klein items are from a 1915 catalog.

 

[oldpliers1]

“Insulated” pliers snd tools ho back to the early days of electrical wiring, although the “insulation” was usually just rubber sleeves slipped over the grips, that may have been available separately.
I’m not sure whether any of the original rubber grip insulated pliers still survive with grips 100+ years later though.
The Bernard pliers are from a catalog supposedly dating back to 1902.
The Klein items are from a 1915 catalog.

That’s Brilliant! I have been looking for 1930s stuff with little success but 1902 from Klein is just too good , I proudly wear my Klein t shirt but that just confirms how committed Klein was to the electricity industry. Thank you for the education. Respect Andy

 

[oldpliers1]

These knipex pliers are 50 years old owned by my older brother They have had a little restoration and bump caps added I plan to have them mounted in a retirement display later this year . They are 1000 volt rated and bulky but very comfortable to use cutting and stripping wires.

 

[oldpliers1]

Last of the real crescents 1000 volt ( pre Chinese ) when they cared about making quality tools for Electrical trades ( they made them in the United States initially)

 

[KnurledNut]

Last of the real crescents 1000 volt ( pre Chinese ) when they cared about making quality tools for Electrical trades ( they made them in the United States initially)

Which certification symbols are on those?
Does the back of the packaging say anything about Cooper Hand Tools?

 

[oldpliers1]

Great question? Here is the back

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is a pair from 1995 ( due to the drop in the dollar they were cheaper to produce or finish here ) this pair was USA manufactured and finished in Australia

 

[oldpliers1]

Which certification symbols are on those?
Does the back of the packaging say anything about Cooper Hand Tools?

Apex tool group 2015 manufacture see following post

 

[oldpliers1]

Here are some 1970s versions of Insulated hand tools , budget tools aimed at the apprentice market made in west Germany , ( they have been donated from former apprentices I knew ) They are not marked as insulated but the intent is their ,and were used on Alive circuits ( as it was the done thing, at the time )
Long nose are FHP ( Frank Herman Prager a local distributor)
the Angled nose plier and Side cutter are Bodman and all are likely to have been made in the same factory.
It’s all pre vde standards but very acceptable. As you were all aware Some German manufacturers were putting voltage ratings on their tools pre ww2 . Half a century later these tools survive .

 

[oldpliers1]

Stanley insulated tools ,
I understand that USA , UK ,& Australia produced a different pattern Insulated screwdrivers and each country is unique to the other . Non of them had a voltage rating but as a boy they were the only ones available until I came across a Xcelite insulated driver in 81 . Here is my Stanley collection made in Melbourne, when I started work they offered two sizes ( see photo with 3 screwdrivers) by 94 production had gone overseas and the Stanley forge closed . I managed to put away a few . Does anyone have the English or American Stanley’s to share ? Regards

 

[oldpliers1]

English made insulated hand tools Elliott Lucas was a big name they claimed the tools were rated at 10000 volts , they are quality tools but I would not like to put the 10000 volt claim to the test

 

[Nutria]

Do these count?

 

[oldpliers1]

very good

 

[oldpliers1]

Here re some more English tools made in the 90s by Eclipse ( they took over Elliott Lucas ) They only have a 5000 volt rating nice tools they do a White Handled Epoxy version of the tools for Electricity supply authorities that are real high voltage tools. ( I do not own a pair but would like a pair ) the linemans pliers were made offshore in South Africa not England

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is 3 different versions 2 English and 1 South African with the better quality grips that came in the late 60s

 

[oldpliers1]

A little set of West German ETC screwdrivers from the 70s pre VDE standards

 

[oldpliers1]

These arrived today after 12 weeks in the post
Utica 50-7 with Cementex Modifications, Looking at the cementex product it is first class. I gather it was done in the 80s by the colour and non vde markings. The tool itself has had little to no use .

 

[oldpliers1]

Here is something Interesting from 1922 Smith & Hemmenway RED DEVIL 4950 pliers ( check the date ) very impressive tool and check the rating test.

 

[Dave455]

Here re some more English tools made in the 90s by Eclipse ( they took over Elliott Lucas ) They only have a 5000 volt rating nice tools they do a White Handled Epoxy version of the tools for Electricity supply authorities that are real high voltage tools. ( I do not own a pair but would like a pair ) the linemans pliers were made offshore in South Africa not England

A minor correction - Eclipse never took over Elliott Lucas. Both original firms were bought by James Neill, and tools from either were available at the same time.

Although Elliott Lucas were the pliers manufacturers, some Elliott Lucas pliers did turn up under the Eclipse name, sometimes with a cheaper finish.

Some retailers (DIY shops) kept Eclipse, but not Elliott Lucas, which may partially explain the re branding, and I don’t know what happened in Australia. The South African tools were never seen in the U.K. to my recollection.

 

[oldpliers1]

A minor correction - Eclipse never took over Elliott Lucas. Both original firms were bought by James Neill, and tools from either were available at the same time.

Although Elliott Lucas were the pliers manufacturers, some Elliott Lucas pliers did turn up under the Eclipse name, sometimes with a cheaper finish.

Some retailers (DIY shops) kept Eclipse, but not Elliott Lucas, which may partially explain the re branding, and I don’t know what happened in Australia. The South African tools were never seen in the U.K. to my recollection.

Well they are a mash up Eclipse RSA made for Neil Australia with Lucas grips. I never saw these sold in Australian tool shops. The last time I saw and bought a pair of Elliot Lucas was in 83 and they were not cheap around $20. By the late 80s all the Elliott & Lucas tools had been replaced at the technical colleges around the state as they were out of fashion and costly and supply out of the UK became unreliable ( bigger cutting blades and crimper pliers were the new thing )I found a cache of Eclipse stuff in the outback During the Pandemic.The hacksaws were made in NZ . Foot print chisels , hand drills , a pile of various eclipse pliers at an excellent price it’s amazing where you find stuff. But Corporate takeovers seem to be the death of quality tools and their idea to take tools and turn them into TAT in China does not work for me. Money men do not understand tool making or engineering quality they don’t understand the ethos of craftsmen.Firms like knipex and channellock and Klein Do and keep the the bulk of their products onshore rather than offshore.

 

[oldpliers1]

I would like a pair of these I have coveted them since i was a boy but never found a pair for sale in good condition. Elliott Lucas supply authority tools

 

[oldpliers1]

Bahco / EA Berg insulated pliers from the 1940s until Now The ********* pair are 9 inch and made for the Argentine Government the grips are described as insulating stalks . See the RA mark for the special order .