What the f*** is this for?

[atari]

Friend of mine buys box lots of tools at his local auction house in Plain City, Ohio. He pickeds them of for pretty much nothing and we pick through them at work. This pair of what ever they are came out of a box that had some vise-grips, aviation sheers, and blacksmith tongs. They look like they would hold a spring but I'm not sure, any thoughts?

Jaws appear to be the same on both sides

 

[240sxguy]

Those look kinda like hog ring pliers.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

My guess too...I think too small for actual Hogs, so upholstery.
Multiple grooves might allow different sizes or might just allow you to get an easy grip for first squeeze then move to tighter groove ons the thing is under control.

 

[Russian]

Upholstery hog ring pliers. Interesting, as I've never seen a multiple like that. Nice find if you ever want to do your own seats!

 

[atari]

I can see that, it would be nice to have the ability to squeeze further. What's the deal with "TOP" though. Do hog ring pliers have a top and bottom?

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

I suspect that means you line the thing up or seat it in the lower groove, then bring down the lid.

 

[Lost Road]

cool pliers!

 

[2CRUZ]

That is a old set of hog ring plires. Newer ones have a screw that goes through the handle so you can adjust how far you want to squeez. I have used a meany of them on a lot of hogs. they make differant size hog rings. you use small ones to put on the rim of a hogs nose to keep him from rutting up the ground. a hog is very distructive.

 

[copterdoctor]

maybe Adel Clamp pliars?
but I think they hog ring pliars also...

 

[Danglerb]

I've never seen a three row hog ring plier, and hogs don't have a top, ring goes side to side doesn't it?

What kind of metal is it?

 

[atari]

Its mild steel I would say, we bead blasted it so we could see what it said.

 

[Gary Anderson]

Very rusty crimping tool.

Was on the ground or in water Before blasting to clean.

Your Pal, Gary

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What is the marking on the inside of the other handle? Same thing as the patent data?

 

[woody 73]

With a pat Date of Sep 1874 (if my eyes are still ok) I would go with the Hog ring pliers.

What is the auction house in plain city I would like to give it a shot...

 

[NUTTSGT]

With a pat Date of Sep 1874 (if my eyes are still ok) I would go with the Hog ring pliers.

What is the auction house in plain city I would like to give it a shot...

Being they are that old, atleast the patent date, they may be for something very similar but not typical auto upholstery.

 

[atari]

Yes the info is the same on the other handle. Woody, its actually called "the plain city auction". They have a website and a e-mail list for upcoming auctions. They do it at least once sometimes twice a month. Tools are in the right back corner of back room and they start selling at 7. You never know what will be there. We usually go right after work and preview the auction on the way to Der dutchman. It's a good time if you like auctions and Amish buffets.

 

[fordbroncodave]

they look like they would fit a valve spring really nicely

 

[The Dutchman]

The tool crimps a ferrule for, say, the end of an air hose? (SWAG)

 

[atari]

fordbroncodave, are you on FSB?

 

[atari]

I don't know man, I really don't know. They do look like hog ring pliers but why the"top" casting. The rest are good ideas too but I had hoped someone would say "oh yea" those are for holding a such and such. No dice though. My dad is a blacksmith I should send him the picture too.

 

[road]

I've never seen these before but IF they are hog rings they have never been used ... looks like pot metal and real cheeeeep qlty

I'd say use em for a paper weight

 

[atari]

They are not pot metal, they are a really old casting. They are cast steel or iron, far from pot metal.

 

[Danglerb]

Not too hard, googled 1874 pliers, found several hits for people selling these, with a clean example showing all the lettering, Aug 11 1874 patent date, googled again and
http://www.google.com/patents/US154046

Hog ring pliers for a variation on the normal hog ring using two vertical rings connected together.

 

[atari]

Well there you go. Thanks Danglerb!