Mystery multi-tool, Eklind?

[nz44tool]

Hello, mystery-lovers - here's an odd little item. It looks like an Eklind folding multitool.
It has a slot-head screwdriver blade and a #2 Phillips blade.
But it also has an awl(?) and a strange hook shaped blade.
On the body of the tool is the General Electric logo, the words "Push Pull", and also the words "Makes friends, makes sales".
So it's likely a marketing give-away tool from GE. But who was the target?
What does push pull mean? And who would have used the hook and the awl? An electrician?
Thanks for any info you can supply.

 

[Beerhippie]

That's a puzzler.

The "awl" is shaped more like a fid for splicing rope--but skinny and a bit pointier. Awls for leather or wood work would be faceted, with between two and four cutting edges. The hook... if it were a little more closed, I'd say lacing hook for getting bootlaces good and tight--but I'll bet that's the "PULL" part.

Hmm... maybe the "awl" and hook have something to do with lacing wiring harnesses?

 

[Rusted Nut]

Looks like one of those all-in-one promotional thingies.

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Rusted Nut, I think you're right about it being a promotional tool - "makes friends, makes sales" is a giveaway for that.
Beerhippie, you might be right about it being used to lace wiring harnesses. That's what I did while in the Army (comm center construction and repair), though with rather different tools.

 

[HalfTonTom]

It might be a handout at internal GE training sessions. Swag, so to speak.

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks, HTT - I agree, very likely swag. What puzzles me is its intended use!

 

[Beerhippie]

Thanks, HTT - I agree, very likely swag. What puzzles me is its intended use!

Obviously, to PUSH and to PULL.

 

[nz44tool]

Yep, I guess you can push with the awl and pull with the hook...

 

[RoninB4]

-I was a tool and die maker for Eklind in the 90's. The fold-up handle looks very similar to the dies we used at Eklind. There were also quite a few fold-up sets we made for other companies (Snap-On, Blue Point, Park Tool, etc.) where I simply changed the logo stamps. GE also had a large manufacturing presence in Chicago so I can see where GE may have contracted with Eklind (also in Chicago) to make a batch of promotional sets like this once may be. Can't put a definitive date on it but it was probably made well before the 80's.

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks, RoninB4 - yeah, I was pretty sure it was an Eklind promotional piece. It does have some years of use on it, too.
Maybe one of your co-workers who made this will chime in and solve the mystery of what it was used for.

 

[RoninB4]

Thanks, RoninB4 - yeah, I was pretty sure it was an Eklind promotional piece. It does have some years of use on it, too.
Maybe one of your co-workers who made this will chime in and solve the mystery of what it was used for.

-Not likely one of my former co-workers will chime in. There were only 4 of us, including the foreman that handled all the stamping dies. They have either retired, died, or weren't involved with the stamping dies from back then. Even the dies that probably made yours were worn out by the time I got there, we re-designed and replaced a few of them during my time there. Interesting piece, glad you posted it.

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks for your input, RoninB4. Maybe someone who actually used one of these will show up.

 

[Beerhippie]

Thanks for your input, RoninB4. Maybe someone who actually used one of these will show up.

Like most promotional "swag", I'll bet 99% went into the "junk drawer".

I can already hear myself swearing as one of the non-locking tools folds up on my fingers....

 

[nz44tool]

Yep, I was in a business where swag came my way, and most of it did get tossed in a drawer and forgotten about.
This one got used, though...
The damaged fingers, the swearing...definitely an issue with folding tools.

 

[bobg03]

Like most promotional "swag", I'll bet 99% went into the "junk drawer".

I can already hear myself swearing as one of the non-locking tools folds up on my fingers....

Would that be while working on "live" electrical equipment? That would be a real shocker...

 

[nz44tool]

bobg03 - like the song says - cain't touch this!

 

[RTM]

Family to this last one from 72, Near the end of '89?

Eklind Hand Tools : Catalog No. 272 : Eklind Tool & Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

4 p., illus. 28.1 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Eklind Hex Keys : Catalog 189 : Eklind Tool & Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

4 p., illus. 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Provincial]

Thanks for posting those RTM. I am making copies of the size charts to keep with my hex and Torx drivers.

 

[Debcrow]

On the body of the tool is the General Electric logo, the words "Push Pull", and also the words "Makes friends, makes sales".

Obviously a give away. I really have no clue as true purpose. I have worked at lacing cables in the power plant, that is a good suggestion for some of the fold outs.

As far as Push and Pull. In my career those two words have opened more doors for me than anything else!!!

 

[Provincial]

Obviously a give away. I really have no clue as true purpose. I have worked at lacing cables in the power plant, that is a good suggestion for some of the fold outs.

As far as Push and Pull. In my career those two words have opened more doors for me than anything else!!!

 

[nz44tool]

Obviously a give away. I really have no clue as true purpose. I have worked at lacing cables in the power plant, that is a good suggestion for some of the fold outs.

As far as Push and Pull. In my career those two words have opened more doors for me than anything else!!!

Obviously a give away. I really have no clue as true purpose. I have worked at lacing cables in the power plant, that is a good suggestion for some of the fold outs.

As far as Push and Pull. In my career those two words have opened more doors for me than anything else!!!

 

[nz44tool]

Family to this last one from 72, Near the end of '89?

Eklind Hand Tools : Catalog No. 272 : Eklind Tool & Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

4 p., illus. 28.1 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Eklind Hex Keys : Catalog 189 : Eklind Tool & Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

4 p., illus. 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks for this posting, RTM. So there's the scratch awl. The hook is still a mystery.

 

[Provincial]

Perhaps for fishing the ends of wires from splice boxes? How big a wire could the hook grab?

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks, Provincial - that crossed my mind too The hook opening is about 1/4", so it would grab a single #12 or #10 wire easily, or possibly two smaller twisted wires.