Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: kxxr on August 09, 2011, 07:36:36 PM

Title: more pliers of some kind
Post by: kxxr on August 09, 2011, 07:36:36 PM: I was hoping the logo would come out better, but no, it didn't. The logo picture is the best I could get. It's right side up and appears to have once been a pretty fancy one with a lot of detail. It is a circle in a square logo. At the top of the square is some lettering in a semi circle and below that is an image of some sort; a bit like the Arm & Hammer baking soda logo as far as how things are positioned.
Anyone have any idea what they are and who made them?
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/openjaw.jpg)
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/openjawlogo.jpg)
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: lzenglish on August 09, 2011, 07:57:28 PM: Looks like battery pliers to me. Check AA and see if your logo could be Armstrong Brothers Tools, which is at the top of there logo list.

Wayne
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: kxxr on August 09, 2011, 08:08:59 PM: The logo is so hard to see. It's one of those that you'd only recognize if you were looking at an exact match. If the 'StrongArm' is on these pliers, it is in the most obliterated part of the stamp. I didn't see any 'circle in a square' versions of the Armstrong logos on AA. Even with a pretty good magnifying glass I can't see much. Anybody ever try looking at these with a low power microscope? Maybe I'll try that.
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: BRwrench on August 09, 2011, 08:27:36 PM: I have one of these pliers, I don't know what it is for. On mine I can read what is inside the box that is on the side. It is marked VAUGHAN & BUSHNELL MFG CO CHICAGO USA. This is in really fine print in a circle that is inside of the square. In the very center of the circle it looks like the letters VB.
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: kxxr on August 09, 2011, 10:22:28 PM: I'd like to see a picture of your VB pliers. The Vaughan and Bushnell company, founded in 1869, is still in business and family owned according to the website. It looks like they specialize in striking tools and are "Proudly Made In the USA". I counted 30 trademarks listed on their web pages. They have a history page here:
http://hammernet.com/vaughan/pages/company/history-of-vaughan.php
Thanks for the tip, and post a picture if you can.
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: Rhoderman on August 11, 2011, 08:57:32 PM: Dust the logo with flour and wipe excess of until you can see the logo. Or, try lighting it from the side with a flashlight.
I've found my digital camera on macro can focus a heck of a lot better than I can, especially with hard to see, faint serial numbers, etc.
Nice pliers by the way.
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: kxxr on August 12, 2011, 06:27:22 AM: I'll give the flour trick a try, I haven't tried that one yet. Another one that sometimes works is to go over it with chalk if you have some of that around. I'm afraid the original logo had a lot of fine line detail on a rough surface and that it is now obliterated by the fine pitting. Thanks for the tip, if I discover anything, I'll post it.
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: rusty on August 12, 2011, 04:27:52 PM: This logo?
Title: Re: more pliers of some kind
Post by: kxxr on August 12, 2011, 05:22:48 PM: Oh, that's it I bet. I'll try the flour or chalk trick with that one on the left in mind and maybe I can confirm. It looks like a very good candidate. Thanks rusty.