Ritter-Carlton Pliers?

[wilbilt]

A few weeks ago, I was prowling my favorite perpetual yard sale and picked up some interesting pliers.

They are long-nose pliers about 6", and are of slip-joint design. They are pretty beat up, but I bought them for 25¢ because I can't recall ever seeing slip-joint pliers in this design.

The name on them is pretty small, but it looks like it says "Ritter-Carlton De - Germany"

Does anyone know anything about this company?

 

[garfunkle24]

Sorry, just wanted to try that

 

[wilbilt]

My 10 year old used the camera, batteries are dead, I'll post some pics when it charges up.

 

[wilbilt]

I really need to get a better camera...
Here they are. Very difficult to read the name for me. The slip-joint function has already proven very useful.

 

[vssjim]

That was a popular design until about the seventies but I haven't seen anybody make that style in a long time .

 

[wilbilt]

I have found references to the Ritter-Carlton Company dating to 1939, but not any more info.

 

[eschoendorff]

East or West Germany????

 

[wilbilt]

East or West Germany????

Actually, the info I found showed them in NYC. Ritter-Carlton seems to be a strange name for German company anyway...

 

[MAD]

I have some slip joint pliers that are very similar to those except mine are shaped more like linesman's pliers. They do not have a manufacturer's name on them. They are only marked "FORGED" and "GERMANY".

I think mine came from a yard sale as well. I will try to post some pictures.

 

[eschoendorff]

Actually, the info I found showed them in NYC. Ritter-Carlton seems to be a strange name for German company anyway...

I was just going on your "Ritter-Carlton De - Germany" inscription. I just find it odd that a tool of this vintage is marked Germany without either an E or a W in front of it... unless they are actually from an earlier, less Nazi-ish time.

Or, of course, Germany is not an indication of country of origin... which, in turn, would go against the established practice of putting country of origin on a tool.

I dunno... you got me.

 

[wilbilt]

I was just going on your "Ritter-Carlton De - Germany" inscription. I just find it odd that a tool of this vintage is marked Germany without either an E or a W in front of it... unless they are actually from an earlier, less Nazi-ish time.

Or, of course, Germany is not an indication of country of origin... which, in turn, would go against the established practice of putting country of origin on a tool.

I dunno... you got me.

Looking at the photos, it appears to be "Ritter-Carlton Co", but it definitely says "Germany". The only thing I can find are some references to correspondence with the Albany Billiard Ball Co, and one site that indicates Ritter-Carlton were NYC vendors of art glass.

It's a mystery...

 

[eschoendorff]

Looking at the photos, it appears to be "Ritter-Carlton Co", but it definitely says "Germany". The only thing I can find are some references to correspondence with the Albany Billiard Ball Co, and one site that indicates Ritter-Carlton were NYC vendors of art glass.

It's a mystery...

Maybe they were from the Ritter-Carlton factory floor (thus labeled Ritter-Carlton) and simply sourced from some outfit in Germany???

Just grasping at straws now...

 

[MAD]

Here are the pictures of my similar pliers.

 

[wilbilt]

Maybe they were from the Ritter-Carlton factory floor (thus labeled Ritter-Carlton) and simply sourced from some outfit in Germany???

Just grasping at straws now...

Quite possible, but how old are they? The dipped handles certainly would not suggest 1939. The dipping is kind of brittle, though. 1970s, maybe?

 

[wilbilt]

Here are the pictures of my similar pliers.

The construction of the joint is very similar. Do you have any idea who made them?

 

[MAD]

The construction of the joint is very similar. Do you have any idea who made them?

It looks like my pliers were sold under the Oxwall brand.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Oxwall-Tool-Germany-British-Zone-Wire-Cutters-Plier_W0QQitemZ370077733875QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116#ebayphotohosting


There are a mix of U.S. and German Oxwall tools listed on eBay.
http://shop.ebay.com/items/__oxwall_W0QQLHQ5fSellerWithStoreZ1QQ_nkwZoxwallQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em301?_trksid=p3286.c0.m301

A quick search turned up several news reports of a former Oxwall tool factory in Oxford NJ burning down about a year ago and also a stock earnings report that states that Oxwall tool was acquired by Easco in 1984.

So I guess we have got ourselves some old school Gearwrench pliers.

 

[wilbilt]

It looks like my pliers were sold under the Oxwall brand.

A quick search turned up several news reports of a former Oxwall tool factory in Oxford NJ burning down about a year ago and also a stock earnings report that states that Oxwall tool was acquired by Easco in 1984.

So I guess we have got ourselves some old school Gearwrench pliers.

Thanks for that!

 

[American Iron]

Hey, I know this is an ancient thread but I found more info on the Ritter Carlton tools that we sometimes find. its not a lot but it may explain their age and back round. In a US Customs Court ruling (1942) a Herbert Francis Ritter brought suit against the US Government disputing the duty that was charged on his imported slip joint pliers. His dispute was over the definition between pliers and what he called a "multi grip wrench". The duty was different for wrenches vs pliers.

Looks like he or his company was an importer of tools made in Europe for sale in the US. (Similar to today's off brand renamed tools) I would imagine that the basic tools were made in Germany and then stamped as the Ritter Carlton brand once in the US. Possibly they were made already stamped but I don't know. Being that this case was decided in 1942 I would think that these tools would date to the 1930's to early 1940's. Nazi era German made imported tools to the US? Who knows but it would be a shame if true. I was researching this as I just came across a 6 inch pair of (pliers) marked Ritter Carlton Integrity Germany. Being not being marked East or West Germany would certainly match my estimate of being from prior to WW2.

 

[four.cycle]

Nazi era German made imported tools to the US?

^ Small potatoes when you consider that the grandfather of a future U.S. President was doing business with the Reich until his assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading With the Enemies Act.

 

[Rkcubed]

^ Small potatoes when you consider that the grandfather of a future U.S. President was doing business with the Reich until his assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading With the Enemies Act.

Don’t forget Henry Ford and GM was doing business with he Nazis.

 

[RTM]

Here is a pair of Ritter Carlton Pliers I pulled out of an estate sale in Portland. Don't yet know what's hiding under the tape. May choose not to find out right now. Love the slip joint feature, get a more parallel grip when you need it.

Much better quality than the Oxwall I tossed a few weeks back.