What Is It? Wire Stripper?

[Provincial]

A friend gave this to me today. As you squeeze the handles, the two jaws grip the work and at the end, separate from one another. I put a piece of wire in it, bent into a loop, and it pulled the loop apart a little.

The handle is stamped "PEERLESS TOOL CO." "LODI, CAL." and "PAT. 6-14-24"
I don't trust the patent date because June 14, 1924 was a Saturday. Perhaps it was a bluff!

It kind of acts like a wire stripper, but coming from Lodi, it could be a tool for making cheap wine.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks like a lite duty tool , maybe for some sort of crimp on tamper-proof seal ?

 

[Ecosta777]

perhaps for stretching loop end springs to be able to clip them on to something?

 

[Modern Garage]

I can't see very well on my tiny phone screen but I wonder if its a " third hand" pliers for adjusting cables on bicycles or motorcycles. Holds tension on the cable and housing while you snug up the barrel nut against the brake or clutch lever.
Joe

 

[RTM]

Looking at the date, this might be a clue. Maybe rope making?

From a Sacramento paper of 1918

RANCHER'S—Attention: Do you use rope? We have the machine —a boy 10 years old can operate it with ease; only weighs three pounds. Make your own at savings of 60 per cent; it will make cable out of old baling wire. Mail us your address . Will demonstrate or call after 7:00 p.m. Peerless Tool company, 710 L street, room Z



https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SU19181...--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-“peerless+tool"-------1

 

[Provincial]

I was hoping you guys in the area would be able to track down Peerless Tool Co. Those newspaper ads can be helpful.

These are pretty light duty. They do clamp tight enough to dent the plastic insulation on electrical wire.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Jock, the "Pat." date is my new nemesis. It's a puzzle just begging to be solved.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

It's designed for spreading open piston rings to allow easy installation. I have several pairs and they work great.

 

[wrenchguy]

It's designed for spreading open piston rings to allow easy installation. I have several pairs and they work great.

You ruint the thread!

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

You ruint the thread!

Sorry...I just can't seem to keep my big mouth closed!

 

[Provincial]

I tried them on some piston rings, and they removed a 3/16" thick oil ring from a 3-1/4" bore piston. I don't think they would work on a much larger diameter piston. They would not grip the compression rings soon enough to expand them, but the linkage rods may have been bent by a previous user to make them grip thicker rings.

Because they require a lot of room to work, the other rings must be flush with the piston wall to get a grip on the ring you want.

TTT may have spoiled the chase, but he got the fox!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't really care what they're for. That number will still haunt me.

 

[RTM]

It’s a Saturday, don’t sweat it too much. ( I have seen a few tools with the wrong date (typo), or non existent patent dates in tool, but never hunted back anything that wasn’t a weekday. I guess a long time ago the office may have been open on weekends to accept applications.)



Yeah, right!

And DATAMP won’t be much help by category, I’ve put 10 different piston ring expander patents in, and none are in there.

Nah, not sweating it here either

 

[gorilla]

I tried them on some piston rings, and they removed a 3/16" thick oil ring from a 3-1/4" bore piston. I don't think they would work on a much larger diameter piston. They would not grip the compression rings soon enough to expand them, but the linkage rods may have been bent by a previous user to make them grip thicker rings.

Because they require a lot of room to work, the other rings must be flush with the piston wall to get a grip on the ring you want.

TTT may have spoiled the chase, but he got the fox!

I have quite a few of piston ring expanders but have never used them to remove a ring just for installation. Have I been missing some thing?

 

[Provincial]

It is easier on my fingers to use an expander.