Show Your Vintage Utica Tools!

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a couple of early Utica pliers with early marks. I've never seen another pair of Utica 5" button pliers...?

 

[NMCycleNut]

OK Guys and Gals, I have had these for decades and have never found anyone who could tell me what they are for. They were my Fathers and he was a WWII Vet and would be 101 now. It appears they are stamped 38-Y-1605. He was in the Army Air Corp (P38's) and after that he worked for over 40+ years in a Chemical Plant as a Master Electrician.

I "found" them again today and thought someone here may have an answer to what they were used for. I am stumped.

They do not look "ground down" but more purpose built.

I'm getting older and would like a little clarity.

They are 4 5/8" from top to bottom.

I hate to join a forum and make an ask in my first post but here I am.

Thanks in advance.

 

[four.cycle]

Welcome to the site, @NMCycleNut!

keep this link handy

and this one too

the resident Utica expert(s) will most likely respond in the morning.

 

[LesserSon]

OK Guys and Gals, I have had these for decades and have never found anyone who could tell me what they are for. They were my Fathers and he was a WWII Vet and would be 101 now. It appears they are stamped 38-Y-1605. He was in the Army Air Corp (P38's) and after that he worked for over 40+ years in a Chemical Plant as a Master Electrician.

I "found" them again today and thought someone here may have an answer to what they were used for. I am stumped.

They do not look "ground down" but more purpose built.

I'm getting older and would like a little clarity.

They are 4 5/8" from top to bottom.

I hate to join a forum and make an ask in my first post but here I am.

Thanks in advance.

I do not see that model number in Utica catalogs from the 1910s, 1920s or 1930s (suggested by the forged-in 3-diamonds logo inside the handles). Neither “38” nor “1605” fit into any families of pliers I see there. I suspect the model number may indicate custom work for a particular entity (industry, utility or government, which is hopefully how we might learn more). I see two similar model numbers on the internet, one for a pin for heavy equipment and one for a crimping die - neither seems related to your father’s pliers.
I would say I don’t see the shape of those, but I actually cannot say for sure what the profile is, based on the three images of a single view. Could you post an image of the other face, and one from the side?
Despite not looking “ground down” to you, that is probably how they were made, even if at the factory. Those look ground down from a needle-nose type pliers, probably the type without side cutter, but I’d like to see the two other views I mentioned.
What do they measure from pivot to handle tip, and across the handles?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Just to complement LS's analysis of the number marking, while it may look like one in format, that is not a Federal Stock Number. Class code "38" was for brooms and brushes, and the letter designators were matching (i.e., pliers were stocked in "P").

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was going to say, 'That's all I got,' but...

He was in the Army Air Corp (P38's)

 

[four.cycle]

I do not see that model number

^ I went through everything I have here (all of which I believe has been posted in this thread) and I didn't find anything even close.
Specialty order for some specific purpose is all that makes sense.

 

[NMCycleNut]

Pivot to handle tip is 3 3/4". Across the handles at the widest point is 2" (outside).

I appreciate all your input.

 

[RTM]

he worked for over 40+ years in a Chemical Plant as a Master Electrician

I have a Nicopress tool for crimping tiny beads on thin wire, # 17-2. these jaws look like a taller skinnier version. Not sure this helps.

 

[LesserSon]

Here’s all I meant about getting your pliers by grinding from a basic form: just cut off the parts in the red.
In fact two of these wouldn’t work because they have side cutters, but the other two would work. Sorry I didn’t get the pivots lined up.
It does nothing to explain their function or trace the number to purchasing entity.

 

[NMCycleNut]

Thanks. It appears it will remain a mystery then. That's probably the way my Dad would want it anyway.

 

[LuckeyLoser]

I have some nos Utica tools. And some are Bell System. And some other bell system tools.

 

[apg7]

Hi all - I was looking for some info on Utica Tools and stumbled across this gold mine! Based on what I've read here the TL-126 is a Signal Corps designation. However, my googling failed me on finding this exact shape? Are the standard needle nose that have been ground to a custom shape? I was going to give them to someone who works on tiny jewelry and crafts since the point is so fine and clean, but it's nice to be able to tell them exactly what it is. Thanks in advance.
Edit: apologies for the gross hands, the paint/oil cabinet in my garage had a bit of a disaster this week.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Those have been significantly modified. The TL-126 specified long chain-nose pliers, and that's what standard Utica 1033-6 pliers are.

 

[apg7]

Ok, that's what I thought. Busted out the magnifying glass and saw grinder marks. Any idea what the modifications would have been done for?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The possibilities are endless. Something very fine. Tiny snap rings. Some old tiny fastener that needed a tiny face spanner action. Jewelry. Crafting. Etc.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Signal Corps pliers. The longnoses are unmodified TL-126.
-Don

 

[nz44tool]

I found this old beast a couple of days ago; can't figure out when it was made.
It's in great shape - no damage or modifications.
Not many mentions of this model number to be found, and no mentions from the readily-viewed catalogs.
It doesn't have any three-diamonds or three chain links or any other logo - just the U.D.F. & T. Corp. stamp and the model number.
I'm thinking it's either pretty early, or more likely 1930s or so.
Any Utica experts out there with some help?
Thanks for looking.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I'm not finding a model 1002 in anything that I have or anything at ITCL.

 

[nz44tool]

^ I'm not finding a model 1002 in anything that I have or anything at ITCL.

Thanks, four.cycle. They are mentioned on Alloy Artifacts. In the section devoted to Utica's production for other retailers, there's an image of a Ward's Lakeside version of this one. They say the model 1002s were made in the '30s and '40s. Mine appears older - no 3-diamonds stamp and a simple checkered handle pattern.

 

[four.cycle]

^ GJ member @LesserSon is the resident expert on those pliers.

I found lots of a model 1000 - marketed as the "Giant Buttons Pliers" - and they're almost identical to yours with the exception of that tapered nose yours has.

 

[nz44tool]

^ GJ member @LesserSon is the resident expert on those pliers.

I found lots of a model 1000 - marketed as the "Giant Buttons Pliers" - and they're almost identical to yours with the exception of that tapered nose yours has.

Yes - there are several 1000-10s for sale on eBay. There's even a 1002-10 that appears identical to mine, though the pics are few and not good quality.
Odd that the 1002 doesn't show up in the available catalogs...

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up this pair of 1002-8 UDF&T streamlined wire mill special Button’s pliers this weekend. Introduced as “new” in the 1939 catalog. Would have been “Utica Tools” starting around 1943, and not listed in 1947 catalog.

@nz44tool
The three diamonds logo is absent from many pliers models for decades after the late ‘thirties before coming back with laser etching.
page9 of the No50 (1939) catalog:

 

[nz44tool]

The three diamonds logo is absent from many pliers models for decade after the late ‘thirties before coming back with laser etching.

I saw this catalog page, and thought it not relevant because of the number "2001" but failed to notice the "1002" further down on the page. A typo?
It does appear this is the pair I have, and as I suspected, 1930s or early '40s.
Thanks, LesserSon!

 

[LesserSon]

The 2001 is a different model with a different cutter on the same page.

 

[nz44tool]

The 2001 is a different model with a different cutter on the same page.

Ah yes, so it is. I'm very easily confused.
Thanks for unconfusing me.

 

[four.cycle]

Thanks @LesserSon - can't believe I missed that!

The 2001 is a different model with a different cutter on the same page.

Looks like @nz44tool and I both made the same blunder and glanced right over that one

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks @LesserSon - can't believe I missed that!



Looks like @nz44tool and I both made the same blunder and glanced right over that one

At least I'm in good company...

 

[four.cycle]

the error I made was flipping through page after page looking for a number (which I'm actually pretty good at.)
SHOULD HAVE simply opened the catalog, used the "search" function (Microsoft "Edge") and searched for the part number.
old habits are hard to break... I'm still doing it the same way I did 50 years ago.