Scored Some cool old & homemade tools

[Syntax_Error]

So I have been meaning to post these pics up for a couple months now. Quite awhile ago Quest communications around here switched to CenturyLink and so I was givin an opportunity to pick through some of the tools that had been left by old techs from long ago in some of the more remote hub stations. There were many items for the picking some large toolbox's, lots of old switching station hardware and terminals, Lots of things that I really didn't know what I was looking at. I was really hesitant about taking anything as it all looked like it was loved by one tech or another at some point in its life. Everything was maticulously put were it was and all the tools looked well used but very clean and handled with care. So I left 99% of it were it laid, it was like looking back into the past and it felt wrong to disturb it to much. I did grab a few unique items though and they are very cool.

First up is some kind of old scale. Ill be damned if i know how its used or what its used for, but I thought it was cool.

Next up is a GMP Co. Box wrench

This little guy I believe is a terminal puller.

I have no idea what this one was either. It has a magnetic tip on the back side of the funky screwdriver end.

This item I think is used for de-threading wires from terminal.

These next two guys are what I believe to be home made.They have cork handles and the stamping is pretty crude looking. I don't know what they are used for but I would assume it is a potentiometer wrench. What ever the case maybe they are cool.

This is another de-threading tool, I believe.

This next one is definitely homemade. It is a crowsfoot screw driver made out of an X1010 Xcelite phillips screwdriver. This one is my favorite tool. I think this is also a potentiometer wrench.

These are also what I believe to be home made tools. There are no markings on these bad boys what so ever. I don't know what size they are but the joint of the swivel head looks ever so fragile. There are two more of these in a 2" and a 1". they all have the same size drive end. While the crows foot screwdriver is my favorite, I cherish the set of these the most. they are such delitcate tools. Even if they are manufactured and not homemade they fill a special hole in my soul.

This is a cool old in-a-grip ive never seen one before, I'm sure they are common but it was part of the haul so I'll include the pic.

Lastly is a cool torque wrench that I know nothing about but it looks like it was probably used in some manufacturing process.

 

[nine4gmc]

The magnetic tip silver thingy is a flat head screw starter

 

[drivesitfar]

interesting group of tools you have. i don't know what they most are and are curious to find out. the one that looks like a pen with the magnet on the one end is a flat head screw starter and been a lot of years since i used one, but i think i still have one in my tool box.

I only have quesses on some of the others so will watch and see what others think.

Nine: you type faster than i do. Nice call.

 

[Zeke]

The fragile swivel tools remind me of fuel injection adjusting tools.

 

[nelstomlinson]

The OK Industries item looks like something for wire-wrap work; either wrapping or unwrapping. I probably still have some like it in my old electronics kit.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Several of these items are for telephone work.
The orange wrench is a 216C tool or can wrench, for phone terminals, binding posts, etc.
The next item is a switchboard lamp puller
Yellow handled Bell System KS-20827L1 is for wire wrapping
219 and 220 tools are for flat-type relays
OK Industries tool is for wire wrapping

 

[HORDERofTOOLS]

First picture is a tension gauge.

 

[3baygarage]

Several of these items are for telephone work.
The orange wrench is a 216C tool or can wrench, for phone terminals, binding posts, etc.
The next item is a switchboard lamp puller
Yellow handled Bell System KS-20827L1 is for wire wrapping
219 and 220 tools are for flat-type relays
OK Industries tool is for wire wrapping

^^^This guy's good. ^^^ Now I know who is the resident expert on tele-com tools!

 

[larry4406]

I have this one by Craftsman. Rotate the black barrel and it spring loads against the slot of a slot head screw. Great for starting the screw in a deep blind hole. If it does not go well, flip it end for end and use the magnet to retrieve.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I fancy myself the resident Bell System tool expert. I have at least one of those items except the 219 and 220 tools which I had to research

 

[ggoss]

I have this one by Craftsman. Rotate the black barrel and it spring loads against the slot of a slot head screw. Great for starting the screw in a deep blind hole. If it does not go well, flip it end for end and use the magnet to retrieve.

Just found 3 of these in a large lot of tools I purchased. This is exactly right. I tried one out yesterday, and wished that it turned the screw a bit more each time; should have its place though. Also, that use of the magnet makes perfect sense.

 

[Vvmvbb]

The OK Industries item looks like something for wire-wrap work; either wrapping or unwrapping. I probably still have some like it in my old electronics kit.

Yep. Unwrapper.

 

[bareass172]

^^^This guy's good. ^^^ Now I know who is the resident expert on tele-com tools!

I had the same thought when I read Jeff's post. My dad works for Ma Bell and has his entire life. I grew up with most of those tools and between my dad and I we still have several of them. I have the flathead screw starter and yellow bell wire wrap tool in my box right now. My dad has the orange GMP tool, it was used to access old network interfaces. Thanks for posting, it brings back memories of growing up doing this stuff with my dad (he's not dead yet even if I make it sound that way, lol).

 

[jeffmoss26]

The orange GMP tools are still used, just a more modern version.

 

[Syntax_Error]

The magnetic tip silver thingy is a flat head screw starter

Ha you are right tried it out my self.

The OK Industries item looks like something for wire-wrap work; either wrapping or unwrapping. I probably still have some like it in my old electronics kit.

Yes that was the terminology that I was looking for. Thank you for correcting me.

Several of these items are for telephone work.
The orange wrench is a 216C tool or can wrench, for phone terminals, binding posts, etc.
The next item is a switchboard lamp puller
Yellow handled Bell System KS-20827L1 is for wire wrapping
219 and 220 tools are for flat-type relays
OK Industries tool is for wire wrapping

Right on the money some of these tools I was givin names for by my cousin who works at Quest/CenturyLink when we were picking through the items, I couldn't for the life of me remember them through the excitement of finally posting these pics.

First picture is a tension gauge.

I think your right on this. My father told me he thought it was a tension gauge but wasn't sure. He couldn't tell me what you would messure tension on with it. That I would still like to know. ?.

I have this one by Craftsman. Rotate the black barrel and it spring loads against the slot of a slot head screw. Great for starting the screw in a deep blind hole. If it does not go well, flip it end for end and use the magnet to retrieve.

This is an awesome explanation for the tool. I don't know why but the sentence "if it does not go well" made me chuckle, like its going to go well. hahaha

I fancy myself the resident Bell System tool expert. I have at least one of those items except the 219 and 220 tools which I had to research

Do you have any of the swivel head pot wrench's by chance? Are they pot wrench's? Could you find a reason why someone in the telecom field might need to make a crows foot screwdriver? These are all questions that may or may not keep me up on any given night and would love insight on it.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have no idea about the pot wrenches. The only thing I could think of that is similar to that crows foot wrench would be a tool for installing BNC connectors in the back of an equipment rack.

http://www.all-spec.com/products/PA1907.html?gclid=CMjNtqGCwr0CFcU-Mgod2XYAlg

Some of the old Bell System kits for adjusting relays (I see them on ebay) have all kinds of specialized gadgetry.

Edit, doing a search for KYOEI wrench brings up information about torque wrenches. Perhaps it's for 7/16 cable connectors?

 

[Richard Cranium]

I knew that if any one would know it would be Jeff....

 

[ArkTinkerer]

The OK Industries item looks like something for wire-wrap work; either wrapping or unwrapping. I probably still have some like it in my old electronics kit.

Correct. That is an unwrap tool for removing connections from a ww terminal. Was used for telephone and then became a common means of building circuits for electronics without having to do a PCB.

 

[bareass172]

I sent this thread to my dad to check out. He's in his 60's and has been working for Bell since he was in college. He's worn a lot of hats in those years and spent some of them traveling to different offices doing site surveys and working with the field technicians. Perhaps he can shed some light on this for us. If he can, I'll post what he says.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

On phone tools...when I walk my dog, we stop and check out every utility pole that has a service box and those climbing pegs on it. Over the years I have found a LOT of neat stuff like the above, linesman's scissors, pliers and screwdrivers, and a lifetime supply on tiny gauge wire.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I often find tools abandoned in phone rooms, along with rolls of cross connect wire, splice connectors, etc.

 

[Flatintoone]

The torque wrench looks a lot like some I saw at a tractor manufacturer's plant last fall. I didn't see what brand they were, but the most common hand tool brand seemed to be Armstrong. I assume they were for torquing hydraulic lines.

 

[bonneyman]

You'll cherish that screw starter, too. Probably start collecting them. Come in real handy on those once-in-a-while jobs.