Interesting Tongs

[dowdstools]

It's hard, for me anyway, to determine the age of blacksmith made tools. For instance, the tongs I originally posted could be 19th century, or earlier, or they could be mid to late 20th century.

Lynn

[rusty]

heh, "modern" being at least 50 years old, the company changed it's name to "Heller tool co" in 1955.

I like to get as far from the fire as possible...

[keykeeper]

Originally Posted by humber

This just maybe the oldest tool I own.

No trademark on it, just text stamped.

I guess it's one of the most common 'smiths tools.

http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/ironsteel/heller.htm

http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioHellerBros.html

Sure it has a trademark, note the little mule/horse looking thing between Heller and Bros. on the tool. Or does it say Heller & Bros.? If so, it's older than the horse/mule logo'd ones. A better picture would help.

Also has the size marking on the other rein, indicating more than likely a factory made, mass produced tool. Look like they have seen plenty of use and neglect judging by the "patina".

I'd put those in the early 1900's-1930's range, maybe a little later. Commonly sold from places like Sears and Roebuck. Don't know about down-under who supplied them.

I agree with Lynn, tools like this are hard to identify as to age, especially when so many blacksmiths made their own. With tools such as Heller, Champion and a few others with trademarking stamps, they can be at least nailed down to when the company was in business.

[lazyassforge]

This is a pair of tongs I bought at an estate auction. They are simple "twisted" tongs but they have a lot of file work. The acorn on the end of the reins and the file work at the end of the jaws. There is no area on them that have not been filed. I think they were probably a project for a vocational class.

Bill Davis

[keykeeper]

Those are very nice, Bill. There was definitely a lot of work put into those to achieve that amount of fit and finish.

Do you think they upset then swaged the acorn shape and finished by filing them? Sure is a neat way to compliment the tool.

[lazyassforge]

Keykeeper, I don't know exactly how they did the acorn. I don't see how the reins could have been turned, but they are a lot rounder than I would think forging would leave them. All I know is that someone put way too much time into them!

Bill Davis

[anglesmith]

RE Original interesting tongs by dowdstools

These tongs are from the buggy era. The ends of the tongs have been made to have a convenient "clip wrench" on the makers favorite tongs? The half twist is evidence that even a good blacksmith makes mistakes.! (He bent it the Wrong way!!) For clip wrenchs see Salaman's Dictionary pge 533 c1. For those who don't have acess to Salaman's Dict.. They were used for springing the plate over the clip (ubolt) that held the springs to the axle.

Graeme