Some old pliers.

[CTyankee]

Been going thru some boxes of old tools I've accumulated and can across these pliers. Marking apparently is Moore Drop Forging Co?? If so date to around early 1910's to early 1930's. Claws are quite "chunky". In surprisingly un-abused condition.

Anyone ever see any other tools from this Co.?

 

[d42jeep]

A Moore Drop Forging 12" auto wrench is considered correct for WW2 Ford Jeeps. They made the early Craftsman =V= wrenches as well.
-Don

 

[notlob]

Moore DF was around for a long time; was acquired by the Eastern Stainless Steel Corp in 1967, which became Easco 1969.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/moore-drop-forging.html

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2017/03/vanished-tool-makers-moore-drop-forging.html

 

[CTyankee]

Moore DF was around for a long time; was acquired by the Eastern Stainless Steel Corp in 1967, which became Easco 1969.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/moore-drop-forging.html

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2017/03/vanished-tool-makers-moore-drop-forging.html

Thanks for the info/links. Didn't realize the company evolved into what it did. Gives some added pleasure to have something from an early time in the companies history.

 

[woody 73]

Just in case you need any more information:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335435&highlight=moore+drop+forge

 

[Gmonkee]

Your pliers could be 1925 to about 193? period with any given Ford vehicle. Those went in all the kits.

Later on the military kits had pliers with a screwdriver end on the handles but I suspect the head was slimmer on later versions.

Nice find, I haven't been lucky yet.

 

[d42jeep]

Perhaps Lugz can verify this, but collectors of WW2 tool sets avoid any pliers with screwdriver ends on the handles, at least from 1938 until the end of the war. Here are some Vlchek pliers along with a WW2 military image
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Don is correct. Slip-joint pliers with a screwdriver tip are strictly interwar. And, it looks like the Moore Drop Forge pliers in post #1 have a crudely formed screwdriver blade handle to me. The one tip is visibly sharper than the other. Whether it was forged that way or grinded/filed, I don't know.

 

[Gmonkee]

The nickeled CeeTee ones I have are forged with the modern profile jaws. even the flat screwdriver blade end is a forged form. Quite crude.

I have been hunting a Ford original but only found two thick profile other brands to make convincing fakes, kinda like my lookalike Ford screwdriver. A little heat and beat gets them very close. (most of my '14 T tool kit is stand ins!)

 

[lauver]

CTy,

Moore Drop Forge was a major tool supplier to Sears under the Craftsman brand. If the tools were stamped with a V, -V-, or =V=, they were made by MDF. I also suspect that Craftsman tools stamped with a VV or ^^ (upside down V's) were made by MDF/Easco. MDF began making Sears Craftsman tools about 1940 and continued until about 2005 when the MDF plant was finally closed down for good (under Danaher ownership).

God only knows how many Craftsman sockets, extensions, breaker bars, ratchets, spinner handles, and flat wrenches were made by MDF over its 65 year run with Sears. It's gotta be a large number

 

[alton1911]

Perhaps Lugz can verify this, but collectors of WW2 tool sets avoid any pliers with screwdriver ends on the handles, at least from 1938 until the end of the war. Here are some Vlchek pliers along with a WW2 military image
-Don

I can’t get a very close look at the markings on these pliers... I have some with just a badge looking logo with a V in the center. They also say forged in USA


Are these Vlcheck?
Thanks again,
alton1911

 

[CTyankee]

Don is correct. Slip-joint pliers with a screwdriver tip are strictly interwar. And, it looks like the Moore Drop Forge pliers in post #1 have a crudely formed screwdriver blade handle to me. The one tip is visibly sharper than the other. Whether it was forged that way or grinded/filed, I don't know.

The nickeled CeeTee ones I have are forged with the modern profile jaws. even the flat screwdriver blade end is a forged form. Quite crude.

I have been hunting a Ford original but only found two thick profile other brands to make convincing fakes, kinda like my lookalike Ford screwdriver. A little heat and beat gets them very close. (most of my '14 T tool kit is stand ins!)

These pliers definitely have one handle that could be considered a screw driver blade. When I first examined them it is so crude that I dismissed it as actually being one. But based on what you guys are saying, it is. I also didn't realize that the m-circle logo was used for such a long time. Guess they are not as old as I assumed. Appreciatel the education you've all provided though.

 

[d42jeep]

I can’t get a very close look at the markings on these pliers... I have some with just a badge looking logo with a V in the center. They also say forged in USA


Are these Vlcheck?
Thanks again,
alton1911

Alton,
It's a little hard to tell without seeing if they have the gull wing shape, but many of mine have the barely visible Vlchek shield with the V in the middle where yours are marked.
-Don

 

[Cf mtn]

hi all, i stopped in at thrift store this afternoon and found what i thought were old pliers. weird shape and frozen shut (rust). shot some pb blaster on them and worked them free, wire brushed the markings. they're marked "wirebound box mfrs. assn." chicago. used to either tighten or loosen wire bound crates? no idea of age?

 

[tym]

Alton,
It's a little hard to tell without seeing if they have the gull wing shape, but many of mine have the barely visible Vlchek shield with the V in the middle where yours are marked.
-Don

That would be my thought as well, after Lugz educated me about the Vlchek slip joint pliers a little while back.

I have a pair (that I paid about $0.20 for at a swap meet) that are almost certainly Vlchek but there is no V logo to be found (the other forged-in markings are very weak, so I suspect the V mark didn't quite make it).

 

[Gmonkee]

Outside of the military collection guys is Vlchek branded stuff much in demand?

I tend to pass on it just because, but older Armstrong or Billings get my attention for the quality.