KD Kulp-Dellinger Tools.

[four.cycle]

Took me a couple hours to figure out which piece it was:

Keystone / Keystone Mfg., 41-63 Chandler St., Buffalo, NY / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html#keystone / "Westcott" "Keyco" / patent 1696444 / https://toolarchives.com/node/192 /

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Keystone! Love it!

 

[four.cycle]

When I unwrapped that thing and saw that stamped on the bottom I was like "WOW!"
Something we don't see enough of, for sure!
BK

 

[Username already in use]

I brought these K-D snap ring pliers home last weekend. The Patent (3040420) dates them to the mid 60s.

 

[d42jeep]

I went through my brake tools today and found two bleeder wrenches and a brake spoon.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I snagged this catalytic converter burglar tool at the flea this morning. I like to try to stick to the pre-Registered Trademark symbol (R) tools (pre-1946), but this was too good to pass up. Spent a good 20 minutes looking for it in the '48, '51 and '55 catalogs, but no dice.

 

[Username already in use]

Spent a good 20 minutes looking for it in the '48, '51 and '55 catalogs, but no dice.

The handles look similar to the snap ring pliers that I just posted. The patent dates them to no earlier than 1962.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They moved to those pressed steel handles with crimped grips as standard on multiple tools sometime between 1951 and 1955. The cutter has a PAT APLD FOR marking, so I will try to find it at some point. It's on the 'To Do' list.

 

[Mintgrun]

I picked this tool up yesterday and had to look it up when I got home. I bought it in spite of it being a "what's it?" since it was only a buck. I'm glad it is something I might actually use someday. K-D 2145 (I'll put the purpose at the bottom of the post, in case someone wants to try to figure out what it is for).

Here it is in as-found condition, before the parts/pieces were properly arranged and I wiped it off with a little oil on a rag.









I found the patent using Google Patents (Canadian), but couldn't upload the drawing other than a tiny thumbnail.

Here is a link to that page.

US4086828A - Disc brake pad spreader - Google Patents

A manually-operable tool is provided for insertion between the inboard and outboard caliper-mounted disc brake pads for the purpose of spreading the pads to facilitate placement over the rotor. The tool employs a screw having an elongated partially-threaded shank and a handle at the rearward end...

patents.google.com

(Disc brake pad spreader)

Tom

 

[Provincial]

Sunday at the local flea market I found a K-D valve spring compressor. It is a #307, and is marked for "MODELS A-B FORD". It is marked for patents 1,359,814 and 1,815,980. Squeeze the handles and the parallel jaws move apart. The tab on the bottom jaw contacts the floor of the valve chamber, providing clearance for the lower jaw of the tool to clear the lip of the valve chamber access cover mounting flange.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It is marked for patents 1,359,814 and 1,815,980.

Nice find, Jock. I have the earlier similar "SPECIAL" which was made for the Ford Model "T" - and catalogs later assigned it No. 303 and advertised it as also appropriate for other makes. That one is stamped with the patent date (PAT'D 11. 23.20) that corresponds to the 1,359,814 patent stamped on yours. The second patent stamped on yours is the mods they made to the same basic lifter for the Model "A" and "B". Does it lock? That little latch on mine allows it lock in place.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cat excerpts (C/O the wonderful, indispensable IA/ITCL)...

 

[Provincial]

The #307 does not lock. Because of the design, the handle pressure is very low at full extension, but it will collapse if you apply pressure to the lifting points. It would be a very fast tool if you had a helper to handle the retainers while you compressed the spring.

 

[6 & 7/8]

Here you go Private Lugnutz

K-D set in a metal case.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a recent K-D 2281 pick up I’ve been meaning to post. I have a few of these that I use for pulling tools out of the evaporust.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here you go Private Lugnutz... [ ]...K-D set in a metal case.

Awesome! Thanks, 6&7/8! (Best username and avatar combination on GJ. HAHA)

I am EXTREMELY jealous of that kit, which tells an interesting tale.

There is no miniature pliers set listed in K-D catalog No. 17 (dated January 1935), so they must have introduced them some time after that.

In K-D catalog No. 21 (dated January 1942), the miniature pliers set is offered in a metal case and a leatherette pouch. However, when WPB Limitation Order L-219 hit the nation in April, K-D discontinued the metal case kit, and only offered it in the leatherette pouch, which is what someone's handwritten pencil note is referring to.

In K-D catalog No. 24 (dated January 1948), the miniature pliers are only offered in the leatherette pouch. WPB Limitation Order No. L-219 was lifted in 1945, so this was a discretionary decision on K-D's part, influenced no doubt by the war, though.

See K-D catalog No. 21 excerpt and my leatherette pouch set (in this case, made for Sears, Roebuck & Co) in photos below.

 

[Username already in use]

K-D #605 Valve Keeper Inserter.
patents 1850268 and 1869001







Interesting tool. A quick search led me to a corvette forum.

 

[CHRIII]

Here is a recent K-D 2281 pick up I’ve been meaning to post. I have a few of these that I use for pulling tools out of the evaporust.
-Don

I have its twin, except it's marked Craftsman. I bought it in the'80s. Good magnetic pickup.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked these up on ebay after seller offered a discount

 

[four.cycle]

those are nice!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I posted some catalog excerpts and info on that set a month or so ago (see 56) in reply to a set that username 6-7/8 posted (see 55) if interested, Otg.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks guys. Thought the metal case looked cool!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this Model No. 600 at the flea on Saturday. It is the sixth unique K-D valve lifter I have, and the latest production model that I own, from 1,330,542 in 1920 through this one, 1.879,330, in 1932, for the adjustable jaws. It has the old "(KAYDEE)" logo on it. Per DATAMP's page on this one, linked here, it was the subject of a 1936 infringement suit (13 F.Supp. 811) against Waterloo Valve Compressor Co, which K-D won. I borrowed their patent composite for Pic 6.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I spotted this convertible hacksaw frame hanging on the wall from across the room at Kent's in Tucson yesterday and it was coming home with me no matter who made it. That dynamic arm slides back and forth and settles in one of several notches. After you fit the blade, you flip that lever up, which toggles the arm against the frame. Then you turn the knurled piece to lock it in. Probably overly complicated, but neat. See Pics 1, 4, & 5.

When I discovered it was K-D (see Pics 2 & 3), it immediately went to the proverbial top of the heap as the best thing I found. Patented in 1950 by Harry Kulp (See Pic 7), and the K-D catalog excerpt (see Pic 8) is from 1955.

I posted a much earlier K-D convertible hacksaw frame on page 1, post #3 and you can see the resemblance in the handles (see Pic 6), but that mechanism (patent 1,382,448 - see Pic 9), granted "June 21, 1921", which is stamped on the upper frame, is totally different.

 

[Username already in use]

Well, the brake spoon is probably vintage. And the combos were too cheap to leave behind!

 

[LesserSon]

Back on post50, Prov showed a No307 v.s.c.
I recently spotted this one on display in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's cool, but I'm wondering if they're having an issue with their cases.

 

[d42jeep]

If the red #3 identifier was replaced by one red die, the Smithsonian example could be elevated to being displayed in the Lugzonian.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha. I can see the resemblance!

Seriously, though, do my eyes deceive me, or is there some form of white fuzz forming on that No. 307?

 

[RTM]

Looks like a normal tool I see here near the great Pacific Rust Generator.

The Lugzonian could rotate his die, or get more, to line up with the exhibit ID cards, and really show them up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Different purposes. I forget exactly when I started inserting a die into my photos, several years ago, certainly, but it was to give some dimensional context and also at the same time become a sort of instantly recognizable identifier over time, like an object left behind by a criminal to taunt police.

I'm assuming the number corresponds to a nearby placard. I've seen people do the string and tag thing to their collections, which seems laborious, and also unsightly. But organizationally, I like the idea of walking around plopping little numbered disks near or inside things that correspond to a postmortem list I leave my kids. That pesky value column though!

 

[LesserSon]

Yes, there is white crystaline material on the lifter. I see it on some zinc or cadmium plated steel at flea markets. Dunno if moisture or something else stimulates it.

You can see in the uncropped photo that the nonplated tools don’t have it. And other numbered tags. I didn’t take a pic of the list of whatsits.

 

[LesserSon]

No room for verbosity on a No6, I guess! (Edit: somehow I missed seeing those kits posted. Ho-hum, another No6.)

 

[LesserSon]

Spotted but not purchased: No501 valve bushing removal tool for Model A Fords, circa 1928-1933.
Patent # 1902711.

I don’t see this detail in the patent drawing, but the cap or grip has slots, allowing it to slide over the rivet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

With that faint trace of a Registered TM symbol stamped next to the name on the handle, I suspect this is later than I normally like to collect, but I didn't have one in my K-D collection. Door spring tool. (EDIT: No. 430) One of this morning's flea finds.

 

[d42jeep]

I showed mine in post #6.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found quite a few K-D tools at a S. Lake Tahoe garage sale today.
-Don
Temp gauge
Top is a Chevy valve spring compressor and the items on the right and left are used to clamp off rubber hose
Chevy valve spring compressor
Rubber hose clamp
Overhead valve spring compressor

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up these snap ring pliers at a garage sale recently because I remembered that sometime back I found an unopened box of replacement tips. I redid the pliers today.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Model A valve tool I got in a box of stuff

 

[four.cycle]

K-D / K-D Mfg. Co., Lancaster PA / est. 1919 / acquired by Apex Tool Group 2014 / patent 1330542 Feb 10 1920 Harry W. Kulp & 1359814 Nov 23 1920 H.W. Kulp and M.C. Dellinger & 1382448 Jun 21 1921 George H. Wilkins & patent 1461275 Jul 10 1923 & 1713761 May 21 1929 & 1713762 May 21 1929 & 1776159 Sep 16 1930 & 1815980 Jul 28 1931 & patent 1850268 Mar 22 1932 & 1879330 Sep 27 1932 Harry W. Kulp et al & 2064264 Dec 15 1936 & 2167897 Aug 1 1939 & 2195216 Mar 26 1940 & 2531135 Nov 21 1950 & 304020 Jun 26 1962 & 3010346 Nov 28 1961 & 3040420 Jun 26 1962 Harry W. Kulp & 3593601 Jul 20 1971 Frederick R. McFarland & patent 4086828 May 2 1978 William G. Mader & 4951373 Aug 28 1990 William E. Shultz/ http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html#k-d / https://wrenchwiki.com/k-d-manufacturing/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/harry-wolf-kulp-pat-s-2-064-264-2-533-121.352694/ / see also George H. Wilkins /

Wilkins / Geo. H. Wilkins, 141 Federal, Greenfield, MA / patent 996385 Jun 27 1911 & 1382448 Jun 21 1921 George H. Wilkins / hacksaw frame / see also K-D Mfg Co. / see also https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/harry-wolf-kulp-pat-s-2-064-264-2-533-121.352694/ /


Kulp patents:

? – model 425 “Lamp Bulb Plier” – sample stamped “PAT. APL’D FOR” – have not found a patent number for this item.

1330542 Feb 10 1920 – valve spring lifter – examples posted above

1359814 Nov 23 1920 - H.W. Kulp and M.C. Dellinger – valve spring lifter IS shown at datamp.org

1461275 Jul 10 1923 H.W. Kulp et al – valve lifter examples posted above

“I have always wondered why my earliest “Universal” lifter (Patent 1330542/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 (1461275), 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.” (see attachment: 1922 Motor Age Kay-Dee advertisement.)(edited for clarity BK)

1713761 May 21 1929 H.W. Kulp et al – “Lancaster Lifter” examples posted above (Private Lugnutz)(humber2)

1776159 Sep 16 1930 Harry W. Kulp et al – not known to have been produced - ?

1815980 Jul 28 1931 H.W. Kulp et al – THIS ONE is listed at datamp.org

1850268 Mar 22 1932 H.W. Kulp et al – example posted above (Provincial) not listed at datamp.org

1869001 Jul 26 1932 John W. Allen, Los Angeles, CA – coffee table. – a sample of a K-D model 605 Valve Keeper Tool has this patent number clearly stamped on it below patent number 1850268 *

1879330 Sep 27 1932 H.W. Kulp et al - patent number(s) stamped on example posted above

1902711 Mar 21 1933 H.W. Kulp et al – Valve Guide Bushing Removal Tool model 501 – example posted above (LesserSon) – patent is listed at datamp.org but notes at bottom apply it only to K-D model 502

2167897 Aug 1 1939 H.W. Kulp – Valve Guide puller – “Not known to have been produced” – example posted above (Provincial)

2195216 Mar 26 1940 H.W. Kulp – piston tool – “not known to have been produced” – example posted above (Private Lugnutz)

2531135 Nov 21 1950 hacksaw frame patent number stamped on sample - example posted above

3010346 Nov 28 1961 – petcock drain tool – ? was this item actually produced? need to see example

3040420 Jun 26 1962 – H.W. Kulp – snap-ring pliers – patent number stamped on example posted above

3593601 Jul 20 1971 F.R. McFarland – disc brake caliper tool – example posted above (Private Lugnutz)

4086828 May 2 1978 W.G. Mader – disc brake tool – example posted above (Mintgrun) (not shown at datamp.org)

4951373 Aug 28 1990 W.E. Shultz – Valve Spring Tool (example posted above d42jeep) (not shown at datamp.org)

=======

* Currently these are all of the patents I have in my “K-D patent” folder. Obviously the COFFEE TABLE one doesn’t belong:

patent 1330542 Feb 10 1920 H.W. Kulp (Kay Dee).pdf
patent 1359814 Nov 23 1920 H.W. Kulp and M.C. Dellinger.pdf
patent 1382448 Jun 21 1921 G.H. Wilkins.pdf
patent 1461275 Jul 10 1923 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1461275 July 10 1923 H.W. Kulp (Kay Dee).pdf
patent 1713761 May 21 1929 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1713762 May 21 1929 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1776159 Sep 16 1930 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1815980 Jul 28 1931 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1850268 Mar 22 1932 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1869001 Jul 26 1932 J.W. Allen COFFEE TABLE.pdf
patent 1879330 Sep 27 1932 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 1879330 Sept 27 1932 H.W. Kulp (Kay Dee).pdf
patent 1902711 Mar 21 1933 H.W. Kulp et al.pdf
patent 2167897 Aug 1 1939 H.W. Kulp.pdf
patent 2195216 Mar 26 1940 H.W. Kulp.pdf
patent 2531135 Nov 21 1950 H.W. Kulp.pdf
patent 3010346 Nov 28 1961 H.W. Kulp.pdf
patent 3040420 Jun 26 1962 H.W. Kulp.pdf
patent 3593601 Jul 20 1971 F.R. McFarland.pdf
patent 4086828 May 2 1978 W.G. Mader.pdf
patent 4951373 Aug 28 1990 W.E. Shultz.pdf

======

Wilkins patents:

996385 Jun 27 1911 – manufacturer unknown (per datamp.org ) - note that F.W. Wells is signed as a witness on this one

1382448 Jun 21 1921 – hacksaw frame manufactured by K-D Tool, but ALSO manufactured by Wilkins (?) – apparently Wilkins was running his own operation, but I have not yet been able to pin down date/place.

12/04/22 12:40 PST BK

* This material has been forwarded to datamp.org for their review and approval - you should be seeing some corrections in short order. I have no idea as to whether these are all the patents that were granted to Harry W. Kulp, or all of the patents that apply to K-D Tools. I am inclined to think there are probably many more that we haven't seen here yet. *