Show us your Shears, Scissors, and Secateurs!

[Private Lugnutz]

By the way, browsing through the Wiss catalogs shelf on IA/ITCL was a very entertaining and informative escape this morning.

This artwork...



...excerpted from an 1898 advertisement linked here, gave me a chuckle.

But I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading this...



....linked here.

In the same genre as Nicholson's various "File FiIosophy" editions, but even better. Much, much better.

Chapter 1 is the early history of Wiss, but in Chapter 2 they present the ancient history of shears "as a servant of mankind." And in the back, in the glorious manifold bibliographies, they include lists of famous paintings featuring scissors and shears as well as famous books that mention them. This is not a marketing booklet gussied up as corporate history. This is a work of art and literature by a company passionately committed to the tools that are in their family's lifeblood.

 

[four.cycle]

"...the notch for lifting pressed and crimped metal beverage bottle caps....

So THAT is what that funny hookie-thingie is on the outboard side of the finger hole?

 

[ecotec]

Those 3 look like paper scissors

Hairdressers pay a lot more than $2 a pair
And I certainly would for a decent pair for Upholstery and Trimming [I would rather but old scissors and sharpen them myself on an oil stone [by hand]


Here is my Grandfather's old scissors ,he was a Wallpaper hanger for sometime in his working career [as a drifter / laborer according to my mom]
He passed away in 1957 before I was born.

My Grandmother gave them to me in 1977 when I just started out doing upholstery [she confirmed these were his]
So they must be at least 65 years old , that I know of, Probably a lot older

But I have never used them because they are paper scissors and I needed heavy scissors for Canvas / Upholstery





My Grandparents in the past
View attachment 1956027

I am not saying that you should not pay more than $2 for scissors…

I am saying that I find so many pairs of scissors,at estate sales, that I don’t need to pay more.

I have about 30 pairs right now, and my wife probably has another 20 pairs.

 

[genog]

These Wiss Inlaids were my Mom's
They go back to the early 1960's or so

 

[mritchie77]

But I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading this...



....linked here.

In the same genre as Nicholson's various "File FiIosophy" editions, but even better. Much, much better.

Chapter 1 is the early history of Wiss, but in Chapter 2 they present the ancient history of shears "as a servant of mankind." And in the back, in the glorious manifold bibliographies, they include lists of famous paintings featuring scissors and shears as well as famous books that mention them. This is not a marketing booklet gussied up as corporate history. This is a work of art and literature by a company passionately committed to the tools that are in their family's lifeblood.

Thanks for recommending that. It was a good read. Scissors/shears are certainly something I am learning about. My whole life scissors were scissors and I didn't know any different. I bought a nice pair of Wiss sewing scissors recently and found out the hard way that they were jack **** cutting paper apparently, had to dig out my china scissors to cut out the shipping label I needed. This has sent me a learning adventure on what the different types are and how they are different.

 

[four.cycle]

1902 Universal Scissor Tool & Novelty Co. ad pp

1907 Wm. C. Hocking scissors ad pp

 

[Cabbagepulley]

Here’s my Millers Falls 3913 snips resto attempt…

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Looks great. I don't know if that color combo is period correct, or if you were even going for that, not being a big MF collector myself, but it's sharp. I might take the gloss down with some steel wool, but that's just a totally subjective, personal preference, and I am probably in the minority. You'll find lots of high gloss lovers here.

Nice work.

And welcome to GJ!

 

[Farmer J.]

....linked here.

The link didn't work for me for some reason, but i found a PDF version :

http://jwissandsons.com/1940s/Story-of-Shears/shears-scissors.pdf

 

[Cabbagepulley]

Looks great. I don't know if that color combo is period correct, or if you were even going for that, not being a big MF collector myself, but it's sharp. I might take the gloss down with some steel wool, but that's just a totally subjective, personal preference, and I am probably in the minority. You'll find lots of high gloss lovers here.

Nice work.

And welcome to GJ!

Thanks! I saw some of the same on eBay but should have used Brick Red instead of Apple Red (Rustoleum) and that’s satin but should have gotten matte. I’ll try that steel wool lightly on the handles.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I didn't mean that as a critique, just getting some resto banter going. Nice work.

 

[Cabbagepulley]

I didn't mean that as a critique, just getting some resto banter going. Nice work.

Yer good Bro! That’s my second resto…first was this…

 

[four.cycle]

sorry about poor lighting. I might try again when I have better light...

Indestro 5410 10-in. tin snip (ca. 1970s)

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Hey Guys! I haven't been on GJ much the last almost 2 years. My 80 year old neighbor (we share the same hometown - Fort Worth) was telling me recently that when his wife was much younger her father had a clothing company in Ft. Worth called Patty's of Texas. Just so happens Patty is his daughter's name. Well, the husband, John said his wife Patty has some old scissors that were her dad's and they'd like to find out something about them. I mentioned I might be able to find something out posting here in GJ. He sent me pics (not the best) of the 4 pairs of scissors (2 pics per pair). The business was owned by Patty's dad from about 1944-1964. They believe he worked for the state prison making clothes before the business started. He also worked for a well-known clothier in Dallas by the name of Higginbotham's. And that's about all I know. Here are the pics 4 pairs of scissors, the last pic is maker and additional details. The pics are in order of the handwritten note from my neighbor. I suspect there's not much to learn here but I said I'd ask so...I appreciate any info.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

The other two pairs of scissors...

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I'm headed out of town to see two of our grandsons' soccer game tomorrow. Will be back late Saturday and will check the thread then or Sunday. Again, I appreciate any feedback or thoughts.

 

[four.cycle]

Heinisch / R. Heinisch Sons Works, 109-121 Bruce St., Newark, NJ / est. 1825 acquired by J. Wiss & Sons 1916 / shears, scissors, button hole cutter / patent 129309 Jul 16 1872 Peter Bauer / see also J. Wiss & Sons Co. / http://jwissandsons.com/ /

Wiss / J. Wiss & Sons Co., Newark, NJ / http://www.wisstool.eu/ / shears, scissors / acquired by Cooper 1976, Apex Tool Group 2010 / patent 129309 Jul 16 1872 Peter Bauer & 1959190 May 15 1934 Felix Wyner and Edward Schulz / http://jwissandsons.com/ / http://jwissandsons.com/patents/ /

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hey Guys! I haven't been on GJ much the last almost 2 years.

Yeah, we know. He don't call. He don't write. What the heck are a buncha ex Garage Sale thread hosts sposeta think. He don't love us no more? Lol. Thanks for checking in, Tex.

 

[Outlawmws]

He don't call. He don't write.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I snagged these at the flea this morning, captivated by the name and the matching logo. They are extremely clean and unmarred. No mention in Pankiewicz, but I did turn up some interesting finds on Google Books. While the name is antique, I am not convinced the scissors are, despite what all the sellers on fleaBay and etsy etc claim. I'll have to study it harder.

 

[Macduf]

Interesting pair seems like they are missing a piece

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Heinisch / R. Heinisch Sons Works, 109-121 Bruce St., Newark, NJ / est. 1825 acquired by J. Wiss & Sons 1916 / shears, scissors, button hole cutter / patent 129309 Jul 16 1872 Peter Bauer / see also J. Wiss & Sons Co. / http://jwissandsons.com/ /

Wiss / J. Wiss & Sons Co., Newark, NJ / http://www.wisstool.eu/ / shears, scissors / acquired by Cooper 1976, Apex Tool Group 2010 / patent 129309 Jul 16 1872 Peter Bauer & 1959190 May 15 1934 Felix Wyner and Edward Schulz / http://jwissandsons.com/ / http://jwissandsons.com/patents/ /

Thanks four.cycle! Do you know if Wiss eventually stopped selling Heinish branded scissors and when?

Anyone, are the numbers (I assume these are model #s) on them meaningful? Are they of any value beyond the obvious sentimental value to Patty whose father owned them and used them?

 

[RTM]

. No mention in Pankiewicz,

Do you find this a worthy research purchase at ~$60?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Do you find this a worthy research purchase at ~$60?

I don't own it. I'm only using the free online preview. I should probably clarify that statement now that I think about it. No mention in the preview doesn't mean it's not covered.

 

[four.cycle]

@txlonghorn1989 -
I'm sorry, I really don't know much about either company other than what is on Wiss' website - there's quite a volume on shears and scissors available online. > link to d/l should be way up in the front of this thread if I recall.

 

[four.cycle]

here:

American Scissors and Shears - Google Play

play.google.com

 

[RTM]

here:

American Scissors and Shears - Google Play

play.google.com

Thanks, much better preview than seen elsewhere.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up these barbers' shears at the flea this morning. Nice action. Branded with a cool logo, but I haven't been able to find a mfgr yet, and the flip side marking ("razor steel") is not a distinguisher.

 

[Chefjpd]

Old thread, but why not.
These are my original knife, shears and sheath when I started as a splicer for the Phone Company.( NY Tel, Nynex, bell atlantic, verizon, in my tenure)
From 1991.
20240211_173849 by chefjpd, on Flickr

20240211_173857 by chefjpd, on Flickr

20240211_173910 by chefjpd, on Flickr

 

[d42jeep]

While going through my miscellaneous drawer today, I pulled out my Wiss snips for a group shot. I’ve found some of these at sales recently.
Here are a pair of Pexto snips.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice assortment of snips Don! On the aviation snips you have the greens, and yellow straight, you needs the regular reds and red bullnose to complete the selection! Then there are the semi vertical offsets... - Before Wiss started making them I knew a guy in the local sheet metal union that would heat and bend the standards into the offests. Pretty impressive move and I think Wiss picked up on his idea.

 

[Plombob]

I have a few scissors in my office. Nothing outstanding, except perhaps the Keen Kutter and the left-handed Italian made pair. That's the shiny ones to the right of the Keen Kutter.

I got tired of the scissors battering up the drawer of my grandfather's desk, so I made a rack to hold them all.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice scissors and very nice scissors rack!

 

[Outlawmws]

New to me Clauss scissors: - Pic color is off, the handles are actually blue?

 

[Beerhippie]

Here are a few I use regularly:



Felco #7 rotating handle pruning shears. The point of the rotating handles is long-term comfort. If you're spending eight to ten hours a day pruning, these take a LOT of wear and tear off of hands and wrists. The blade and hook are replaceable and still available. I sharpen them regularly and so have replaced the blade several times and the hook a couple.

I bought these new around '84-85 and I've used them heavily every year since. I worked for a landscaping company for a few years back then and was the main tree guy. I've spent a while every spring pruning trees and shrubs since, mostly specializing in "specimen trees", but I've done my share of orchards and recovery jobs. Nowadays, I have about a half-dozen trees I prune every year and have for the last twenty years, so they look great.

Best pruning shears made. They weren't cheap when new and still aren't.

My other favorite "pruning shears":



ARS Long-Reach Pruners. Very good quality by-pass shears with six-foot extension. I've also gone through a good number of blades on those. Purchased about the same time as the Felcos above.

The reach pruners allow me to get a lot of work done from one ladder set or spot in the trees. I'm not as young as I was (that picture was my on sixtieth birthday) and moving ladders and climbing around in trees just ain't as easy as it once was.

No idea how old these are, but they're my "shop shears":



I also keep those very sharp--use them to cut sandpaper and feel my wrath!



Maybe German?

Edit: Nope. Made in the US of A. Still made today, and while respected, not terribly expensive.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have the Fiskars version of those Felco rotating handle pruning shears Timm, and I totally agree with your assessment. Game changers. I also have them in left handed; I'm not sure off he top of my head which brand. The lefts may be Felcos.

I need to get a decent pole saw; a lot of what I need pruned is too big for any pruner

 

[Beerhippie]

I have the Fiskars version of those Felco rotating handle pruning shears Timm, and I totally agree with your assessment. Game changers. I also have them in left handed; I'm not sure off he top of my head which brand. The lefts may be Felcos.

I need to get a decent pole saw; a lot of what I need pruned is too big for any pruner

When you get too big for the handtools I use (two-handed loppers are handtools and I use them), you get a manlift and a chainsaw--or call someone who has them and the training to use them.

I hate polesaws for anything but just hacking limbs off that are a problem on trees I don't care about. When I do use one, I borrow a power polesaw.

 

[Outlawmws]

I actually have 2 manual pole saws; (with crappy blade and anvil lopers) I wasn't clear; I need a decent power pole saw..

Two big oaks, a big alder, 4 big poplars (my biggest poplar is the tallest tree in the area) and one silver maple that is slowly dying. (Already removed about 1/3 tying to keep it going; I need to do about half of what remains)

 

[Beerhippie]

I have the Fiskars version of those Felco rotating handle pruning shears Timm, and I totally agree with your assessment. Game changers. I also have them in left handed; I'm not sure off he top of my head which brand. The lefts may be Felcos.

I need to get a decent pole saw; a lot of what I need pruned is too big for any pruner

Probably the only pruning shears more copied than Felco are Coronas. Some good copies, some junk. A friend has a pair of Felco #2 knock-offs--no brand--that are so good a copy that all the parts are interchangeable. Not easy, as Felco has very tight tolerances for things like the blade and hook fit.

Felco makes lefty versions of all their pruners. Another reason for their popularity and high regard.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When I snagged these handsome brass anvil type pruning shears at the flea market this morning...



....they didn't look quite as nice...



...and after a little copious rubbing, I was surprised to see this geometric outline style 'CRAFTSMAN' logo staring back at me on the flip side.



I don't know much about Craftsman after the beginning of the =Heritage logo= era in the early 50's, so no clue on when they were made. They are well built, very beefy, with an interesting shape, and a simple but effective leaf spring design.