KD Kulp-Dellinger Tools.

[woody 73]

Harry W. Kulp along with his business partner Martin C. Dellinger formed the foundation of K-D Mfg. Co. of Lancaster,Pa. in 1919. They began with making a valve spring lifter for the popular Model T Ford. The company has a very rich History and you can read more about them in the links provided below.

Harry Wolf Kulp was born in Bachmanville, Dauphin County in Pennsylvania on Jan. the 1st, 1889.( Date of death I think was in 1962 and I believe he had a wife named Dorothy ;not able to read their records because I do not belong to that search company).

His Father was John Hershey Kulp Sept. the 26th,1855 and his death was March the 23rd, 1936.
His Mother was Fianna (Fannie) Wolf November 1, 1850 Date of death unknown.

Harry had two sisters and one brother listed as follows:

Oct. 1883 Anna Wolf Kulp.
May 27th 1888 Daniel Wolf Kulp.
November 22nd, 1891 Myra Wolf kulp.

"Harry attended the public school of his locality, and when school was over, he learned the trade of machinist. With that trade he followed in the employment of others until 1910, when having acquired a high degree of skill and also having obtained a patent and accumulated the necessary capital he formed a partnership with M.C. Dellinger and they formed the firm of K-D in 1919".

His list of patents is very impressive, be sure and see the following links; it should be noted that on the AA web-site by taking the letters of the last name of both men you will get the K-D for the company name. Along the timeline in the 1920's he had lawsuit against the Bridgeport Hardware Mfg. Co. for Infringement rights; (see the following links).

Following links and pictures of one of his early patents, (Picture of a KD No.700 Valve Spring Lifter).

http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2064264&typeCode=0

http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2533121&typeCode=0

http://www.google.com/patents/US3010346

http://www.google.com/patents/US1330542

http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/xrefPerson.php?id=91703

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1776159.pdf

http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html

https://casetext.com/case/kulp-v-bridgeport-hardware-mfg-corp#!

https://books.google.com/books?id=1...=0ahUKEwjz2LLOx_LMAhVDkx4KHWYNBRc4ChDoAQg0MAY

https://www.geni.com/people/Harry-Kulp/6000000033046303641

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/...EATH&h=72467995&dbid=60525&indiv=1&ml_rpos=13

http://www.toolarchives.com/node/289

 

[Cope]

Thanks Woody. K-D certainly made some interesting tools. One I found out about too late was used to bend the ends of a cable (throttle, choke, etc.).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

K-D is a terribly underrated mfgr, in my opinion, and they have a small but special and ever-growing wing in the Lugzsonian for that reason. I've shared some photos from time to time, but I'll have to take a group shot one of these days.

In the meantime, here is a convertible hack saw frame I was excited to find today at the flea market. It has a 12-inch rule on the upper frame and unique adjustable mechanism, with that thumbscrew at the top providing tension on the rear frame member, which is a loose, solitary piece that engages the back end of the hack saw blade. Oddly, it's not a Kulp & Dellinger patent. I'm not sure if they bought him out or licensed it, but it was patented (1,382,448) on June 21, 1921, which is stamped on the upper frame, by G.H. Wilkins of Greenfield, Mass. The patent can be see on the USPTO site, linked here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

K-D is a terribly underrated mfgr, in my opinion, and they have a small but special and ever-growing wing in the Lugzsonian for that reason. I've shared some photos from time to time, but I'll have to take a group shot one of these days.

Keeping my promise with this slightly older group shot...

...so that I can post this early Christmas present from California! (Thanks, Don!)

K-D No. 2568 spark plug boot puller, No. 445X snap ring pliers, and No. 166 spark plug gage and points adjuster.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up a pair of vintage K-D No. 425 "Lamp Bulb" Pliers for the K-D drawer this morning at what will be very likely be my second last flea market visit of the year. Not a bad way to cap off 2018.

 

[d42jeep]

You are very welcome, Lugz. Around the end of November, I decided to pull out my K-D tools for a photo. Most of these were accumulated during my wrenching days, one at a time as the need arose. In reviewing the picture I realized that I had left out the ring compressor rings and the various screw starters. I imagine that I missed a few others as well. Seems like I had a flathead valve spring compressor somewhere in the mess that is my garage.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the jog to my memory with the hex keys. Here are some of the K-D tools I left out of the picture above.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to add this early ratcheting reversible 6-point box end set in original leatherette roll-up to my K-D collection this week. I haven't been able to track down the patent to which that "PAT. APPL'D FOR" refers. That would help date it. But I am pretty sure it's early. I know it's before 1946, because K-D always consistently used a Registered Trademark symbol (R) next to their "K-D" after that. Estimating 1930's.

I admire the way they spelled out the COO in full.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up another very early K-D valve lifter this morning at the flea market. This one also has the old branding (See Pic 3) and their first KAY-DEE trademark (See Pic 4), but it has an older (their very first) patent: verbatim marking reads PAT. FEB. 10, '20 (See Pic 5), which correlates to Kulp 1,334,542. The other itty bitty "SPECIAL" valve lifter I have is patent 1,359,814 from later that year (November 23, 1920). See Pic 6 for the two of them together.

 

[twertsy]

I was elated to add this early ratcheting reversible 6-point box end set in original leatherette roll-up to my K-D collection this week. I haven't been able to track down the patent to which that "PAT. APPL'D FOR" refers. That would help date it. But I am pretty sure it's early. I know it's before 1946, because K-D always consistently used a Registered Trademark symbol (R) next to their "K-D" after that. Estimating 1930's.

I admire the way they spelled out the COO in full.

I have a couple of those kits somewhere..........I'll see if mine have a patent noted.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As I first reported on the 2019 Garage Sale thread, I picked up this very early valve lifter at one of my regular flea markets this morning.

It has no markings other than a branding "LANCASTER LIFTER" (with the "L" and "R" shared by both words)...

...and "PAT APPD FOR."

The name is just too much of a coincidence for it to be anything but K-D Mfg, which made its first famous valve lifter in 1919 and called Lancaster, PA, home, and the styling of the brand name marking is reminiscent of the look they used for their early "KAY-DEE" marking, as is the patent notice.

The interesting part is that this is not the first known design they patented (1,330,542), and I haven't yet found a patent for this design on DATAMP or anywhere else, or any other references to the brand name "Lancaster Lifter". On top of all that, I have never seen an early K-D tool that wasn't marked with their name.

Could this be one of a handful of initial prototypes they made in 1919 on "the $40 investment" this ad boasts about...

...before the patent was granted (Feb 10, 1920) and before they improved the design?

This could be a FOAK. If anyone has any info, please post it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I figured it out. I found the applicable patent on DATAMP.

It is a K-D lifter, as I suspected. I was wrong about it being the earliest though. They patented that hinged “collapsible lock” mechanism on May 21, 1929. But they filed the application on June 18, 1924. So my example had to have been made sometime between mid to late 1924 and early 1929.

DATAMP says it was never produced, so I am going to send them some photos so they can update their site.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have always wondered why my earliest “Universal” lifter (Patent 1,330,542/Feb. 10, 1920) doesn’t look like the patent drawing. Going through DATAMP with a little closer lens revealed that the “lock” mechanism was patented on July 10, 1923 (1,461,275), but applied for on March 6, 1921...

...and lo and behold, as this May 1922 Motor Age ad proves...

...they were producing a version of their earliest lifter with the “lock” on it, with only the first patent date marked on it, well before the "lock" patent was granted.

All three early K-D lifters.

Close-ups of the top one can be seen in post #10.

Close-ups of the “SPECIAL” (on the bottom) are linked in an earlier flat head thread, here.

 

[Tylermorris]

Some K-D stuff, i feel like there’s more somewhere. Pic 4 and 5 is a carburetor adjust tool for General Motors

 

[humber2]

My Lancaster Lifter is from after the patent was granted.

Apart from the LL title the only text reads PAT173361 with No340 appearing on top and bottom pressings.

As I see it the jaws encompass the spring to compress it so it is a "valve Spring compressor"

The No700 I'd describe as a "valve Spring lifter" as it expands between the valve base and the base of the tappet chest.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for posting, humber. Good to know. Post a photo when you get a chance.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

GJ member humber2 kindly emailed me a couple photos of his later example of a K-D "Lancaster Lifter", his having a model number (as opposed to nothing) and the patent (as opposed to PAT. APPD. FOR). I have sent his photos and mine to DATAMP so they can update their site.

 

[Leviton]

Harry W. Kulp along with his business partner Martin C. Dellinger formed the foundation of K-D Mfg. Co. of Lancaster,Pa. in 1919. They began with making a valve spring lifter for the popular Model T Ford. The company has a very rich History and you can read more about them in the links provided below.
<<'snip'>>
His list of patents is very impressive, be sure and see the following links; it should be noted that on the AA web-site by taking the letters of the last name of both men you will get the K-D for the company name. Along the timeline in the 1920's he had lawsuit against the Bridgeport Hardware Mfg. Co. for Infringement rights; (see the following links).

Following links and pictures of one of his early patents, (Picture of a KD No.700 Valve Spring Lifter).
<<'snip'>>
http://www.google.com/patents/US1330542
<<'snip'>>

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added another trinket to the K-D drawer from the flea market this morning. A No. 610 Receiver. I am not familiar with that terminology, but it looks like a valve keeper to me, or something to use associated with a lifter and an inserter. It's early. Haven't tracked down the patent that the "PAT. APLD FOR" marking refers to yet.

 

[outofbounds]

May I present the K-D No 618 Piston Pin Inserter for V8 Fords.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find. Is that brass/bronze hue coming from artificial light? Or is it not steel?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added these ignition pliers to the K-D collection recently. Doubleminting my fun, they were supplied to Sears, Roebuck & Co and re-branded in a Fulton No. P-4671 ignition set pouch!

 

[four.cycle]

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Added this No. 875 Piston Ringer (installer/remover) to the K-D collection this morning. Flea market find. Made between 1937 when the patent (2.195,216) was applied for and May 26, 1940, when it was granted. Pics 4 & 5 show the action on the opposing but complementary clamps.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This No. 2105 disc brake caliper retractor had me fooled. Crudely marked (see Pics 3, 4, & 5) and without the registered TM symbol next to the K-D name found on most tools after 1950, I thought it may have been older than it really is. It was patented (3,593,601) in 1971. This one, marked PAT. APPLD. FOR, had to have been made in 1970. Marketed later at automotive stores as the "Piston Popper", it is officially 'vintage' (50 years old...) for the first time this year. Thanks to fellow NJ resident ChefRex for the ID tip on the Garage Sale thread before I even had a chance to look up the part number. It appeared to be a spreader of some kind to me, but I have to admit the threaded piece through the dynamic jaw had me fooled. It seemed contradictory to the spring action, but once I pried the jaw open and saw that it moves with the jaw, not the jaw opening and/or closing around it, the function became apparent.

 

[d42jeep]

I found my valve spring compressor in the back of the garage and pulled it out for a picture. I got it back in the 70s.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

I’ve been poking around in my dimmest corners, looking for the couple of K-D tools I’m sure I have somewhere, to post here. No luck yet, but I did spot this nifty and seemingly affordable trio of pliers in a leatherette roll on eBay. Not going for it myself, if anyone is interested.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's the same set as the Fulton set they made for Sears, Roebuck & Co, but it's missing the fourth plier, a flat-nose, No. 9. See post #24.

 

[d42jeep]

I grabbed these snap ring pliers on Saturday at a garage sale. After they came out of the evaporust I noticed that there was no K-D brand markings. I checked the patent number and sure enough it was issued to Harry Kulp.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

I picked up a couple of K-D items this weekend, so I put together a family photo of the K-D engine valve tools that I remember having. I didn't dig out the snap ring pliers and similar items.

Starting from the left, a K-D No. 260 valve spring tool for Flathead Ford V-8 engines. This tool is for installing the valve/guide unit after it is preassembled with the guide, spring washer, and spring retainer already assembled. The unit is installed from the top of the block, and pried down with this tool enough to insert a "horseshoe" clip to hold it in place. I found this at the flea market Saturday.

The center column of tools includes, starting from the top:

K-D No. 915 valve spring compressor for Y-Block Ford V-8. You hook this tool under the rocker shaft, apply compressed air into the cylinder, and compress the valve. You then can remove the retainers, washer, and spring, giving access to the rubber valve stem seals, which can then be replaced. I bought this in 1974 to replace the valve stem seals on my brother's 1957 Thunderbird.

K-D No. 70 valve spring compressor. I bought this one in 1965 to do a valve job on my Model A Ford. It works on many older flathead (valve-in-block) engines. This is one of K-D's bread-and-butter designs.

K-D No. 345 for A and B Fords. I like the No. 70 better because it frees up both hands. This was the simpler version of this tool. K-D made another with a parallel-jaw action.

K-D 918 Valve Guide Remover for V-8 Fords (85 HP and later versions, the 60 HP used a different tool) that pulls the valve and guide assembly out as a unit. The guides were famous for sticking into the heads with carbon deposits, and this tool was very popular for getting them apart. The cup straddles the head of the valve so it can push directly on the top of the engine block. The lower leg has a steel insert "shelf" that slips in between the coils of the spring to push on the bottom of the guide. I found this at the flea market Saturday.

Not K-D, but very similar to their No. 245:

Unmarked bar-type valve spring compressor for Ford 85 HP and later Flathead V-8's.

Lectrolite bar-type valve spring compressor for Ford 85 HP and later Flathead V-8's.



archive.org has the K-D Tools Catalog 24, among others. This one shows all but the No. 915 tool, and has illustrations of their use.

https://archive.org/details/k-d-tools-cat-no-24-1948

 

[Provincial]

Close up shots of the K-D 918 Valve Guide Puller




Edit to add:
One reason I bought this is that it also works on Ford 9N, 2N, and 8N tractor engines. I have three of these tractors.

 

[four.cycle]

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find, Jock.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up another "K-D Universal" valve lifter this morning. This one is a little newer. That second patent date ("7.10.23", see Pic 2) refers to 1,461,275, which was for the lock/release. But it also has a "1927" date stamp on it (see Pic 5), helpfully! The other one I have, shown below (see Pic 3) with additional photos posted earlier in post #10 above, is older. It only has the original patent date ("FEB 10, '20", referring to 1,330,542). Note that one also has the lock/release collar, so it was probably made in 1921, 1922, or 1923, but before the second patent was granted.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this very early No. 24 (9/16") hex ratcheting wrench this morning at the flea. Never cease to get an admiration kick out of the way they spelled out the COO in its entirety (see Pic 2) instead of abbreviating it, almost like they considered an abbreviation to be dishonorable. I have a complete set in a pouch, and two orphans. Not the purdiest of specimens, but all I need to find is another No. 21 (3/8") for a complete second kit, which I will probably put in any period-suitable leatherette or canvas pouch. See Pic 3 for group shot of all my early K-D wrenches of this type.

 

[d42jeep]

A little newer but the only one I’ve seen, this was hiding in my tool cleaning utensil toolbox although I’m not sure why.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

"...Never cease to get an admiration kick out of the way they spelled out the COO in its entirety (see Pic 2) instead of abbreviating it..."

I just got something with that stamped on it! I was really surprised to see it spelled out. (can't remember what it was now...!)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I just got something with that stamped on it! I was really surprised to see it spelled out. (can't remember what it was now...!)

Report back when it hits you. I'm curious now. The only tools I have ever seen it on are K-D.