Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ray Smi7th on November 08, 2015, 06:17:18 PM
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Although I've been collecting vintage tools for only a few years,I have been collecting knives since I got my first one(with my grandfather's permission)since the age of ten. Among my accumulation(collection is too good a word)are a number of tool kit knives. These were the forerunner of the multi-tools that seem to be everywhere now.
For those not familiar with them,they seem to have started around the beginning of the 20th century and were produced primarily in England and Germany.They consisted of a handle that usually had a pocket knife blade on one end and a pivot on the other where you could fit various tool blades.Some attached by a simple hook while others required pressing a lock bar to latch them into place.They ranged from simple tools(saw;awl;can opener;screwdriver;chisel;corkscrew)to specialized items and the kits would feature various types of pliers and such;all housed in a leather fitted case.
These show up on various auction sites and are usually missing one or more tools or even the handles. The problem with this is that even if you manage to fins a replacement piece of the same manufacturer the chances are better than even that they won't fit. Apparently there was a lot of hand fitting much like the making of pocket knives in the past.
Anyway here are a couple of examples. I may have to stretch this into a couple of posts as there is a limit to picture size so please bear with me. Feel free to post pics of any that you might have.
EDIT: Forgot the descriptions.
First pic is of a kit by Bonsa(Bontgin & Sabin) of Germany that features two handles.These handles are different from most in that the tools may be inserted either parallel to or perpendicular to the handle.Tools include corkscrew;knife blade;saw(with a protective cover that has a scale engraved on it);chisel;hammer;awl;two types of augers;and a screwdriver.A nice kit probably made in the early 1930's.
Third is another nice German set by Salm with an all metal handle and the usual tools.
Fourth is a cheap Japanese set with a miniature adjustable wrench.
Last one is another Japanese kit with no knife.
Second is an inexpensive German kit probably made after WWII. The tools include a chisel;awl;screwdriver;can opener;file;and saw.
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A few more........
First up is a set marked simply,"Germany"and I believe is missing the second handle and the cover for the saw.The case is in pretty bad shape.Probably post WWII.
Second is another nice one by Daniel Peres of Germany. The handle is a replacement I found that actually worked. This includes the regular pliers and nippers.Unfortunately the case is almost totally rotted.
Third is what I believe is two kits put together and simply marked(DRGM) with the German patent mark.
Last is a combination knife.bicycle wrench.To use the tools,the sheath is installed to protect you from being cut.
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very interesting collection, thanks for sharing.
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Nice collection Ray, I've seen them before just never really realized there were so many different makers.
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Nice sets. I have two sets. One Japanese and one German.
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Nice stuff! Are you familiar with the Multitool Forum?http://forum.multitool.org/index.php (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php)
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Nice stuff! Are you familiar with the Multitool Forum?http://forum.multitool.org/index.php (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php)
Yes;I belong to that forum although I haven't posted very often anymore. Some health issues and business is starting to pick up again. The deer are running again which means plenty of deer hits and plenty of body repairs which means for me plenty of business repairing pinstripes. Also I have a few customers who have their motorcycles painted over the winter and I do a lot of decoration on those
Here is a picture of one of the more unusual tool kits:the handle has an adjustable wrench on one end.Japanese manufacture and reasonably good quality.
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neat collection , thanks
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+1
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Nice stuff! Are you familiar with the Multitool Forum?http://forum.multitool.org/index.php (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php)
Yes;I belong to that forum although I haven't posted very often anymore. Some health issues and business is starting to pick up again. The deer are running again which means plenty of deer hits and plenty of body repairs which means for me plenty of business repairing pinstripes. Also I have a few customers who have their motorcycles painted over the winter and I do a lot of decoration on those
Here is a picture of one of the more unusual tool kits:the handle has an adjustable wrench on one end.Japanese manufacture and reasonably good quality.
Neat set!
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I usually skip past that kind of stuff but I like what you've shown. Might have to look a little closer from now on.
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Very nice collection.. Thank you for sharing..
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Ray, very nice kits !
papaw, thanks for the new site link.
Brian
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Thanks for the kind words folks. If you don't mind I will post some pictures of others in my accumulation.
First up is a group of four plier/knife tools made in France either just before or after WWII. These were the forerunners of the Leatherman type tool rage. Good steel but the nickel plating had a tendency to chip off.
Second is one in the open position to show the various blades.
Third is a plier knife manufactured by the Oscar Barnett Tool Co around 1900. They must have made a ton of these because they pop up rather frequently on e-Bay.
Fourth is another French knife(I believe) marked S.A.P.Pienture(which is French for paint I think) that has a sheepfoot blade;a 1/4" square hole and square metal bar that folds along with what looks like a screwdriver tip at the end but is actually for opening paint cans.The square items are used to fit door knobs.
Fifth is a multi-tool that is a hammer that disassembles and sports a variety of tools that fit into where the head is removed.Looks to be 1950's or a bit earlier.Last is a,"you-name-it-and-it-probably-does-it" tool marked Gussstahl Germany.
Last is a knife/pliers from Valley Forge Cutlery Co in NJ. Sadly the master blade is broken.
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A good friend has a tool knife combo that his father brought back from the South Pacific in the war. Has a small canvas pouch, 3 blades, and very clearly stamped Japanese lettering. Blades hook in, and lock as usual. At first glance it looks lilke a variation of the Barlow style knife. Another slippery slope for collectors.
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Another slippery slope...
I believe one of the lesser-known formulae in General Relativity demonstrates that there is an infinite number of slippery slopes.