Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: bird on November 17, 2015, 11:00:13 AM

Title: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: bird on November 17, 2015, 11:00:13 AM
I have no idea what this one is.... help!!
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Aunt Phil on November 17, 2015, 12:29:21 PM
If the size is right it looks like it would have been helpful pulling battery cables free from terminals.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Papaw on November 17, 2015, 12:42:17 PM
Aunt Phil is correct- BESCO 9857 Battery Terminal Pliers
(https://img1.etsystatic.com/008/0/5191711/il_570xN.472744707_kk3l.jpg)

Alloy Artifacts- BESCO giant battery terminal pliers, designed for lifting a cable clamp from a battery post. The handle has forged-in markings for "BESCO" and "Made in U.S.A." with a B-Shield logo in the center.

(http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/tools/besco_9857_pliers_battery_bshield_jr_f_cropped_inset3.jpg)
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: turnnut on November 17, 2015, 02:08:15 PM
Aunt Phil & Papaw are correct,  I have one just like that and have used it on my 1941 Farmall - A  tractor,
it works very well.

also have a few short clamp style post cable lifters.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: bird on November 17, 2015, 02:50:07 PM
Thanks guys!!! You are the best!
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Lostmind on November 17, 2015, 03:48:17 PM
That's a lot of tool just to remove a battery cable. Looks like it would do the job even if you didn't loosen the bolt!
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: bird on November 17, 2015, 04:58:13 PM
Was it made for larger stuff.... as in , not a car?
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Northwoods on November 17, 2015, 05:23:07 PM
If you ever lost your bunion stretcher(http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/M1oAAOSw14xWOm7R/s-l225.jpg) , it might work in a "pinch."
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Aunt Phil on November 17, 2015, 09:03:33 PM
That's a lot of tool just to remove a battery cable. Looks like it would do the job even if you didn't loosen the bolt!

I was in a 38 Caddy Monday those tongs would have been perfect for.  Battery is mounted to the frame under the driver's right foot.  Pure sumbeach to get to, and the vacuum driven fan on the steering column is no help unless the engine is running.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Papaw on November 17, 2015, 09:49:32 PM
The battery in my old MGA was under the miniscule rear floorboard.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Aunt Phil on November 17, 2015, 10:04:21 PM
The battery in my old MGA was under the miniscule rear floorboard.

A model had a pair of 6 volt batterys, 1 behind each seat bulkhead with the driveshaft between them.
That red piece of sheet metal wasn't a floorboard, it was the battery cover, and the compartment above was storage for the convertible top.

Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 30, 2015, 07:48:32 PM
The battery in my old MGA was under the miniscule rear floorboard.

A model had a pair of 6 volt batterys, 1 behind each seat bulkhead with the driveshaft between them.
That red piece of sheet metal wasn't a floorboard, it was the battery cover, and the compartment above was storage for the convertible top.
If I remember right, Triumph TR-3s had that arrangement.  I always wondered how many times the cable wound up on top of the driveshaft, slowly wearing through until the copper was in contact with the shaft.  Or, conversely, how exciting things got if the U-joint failed catastrophically and broke loose - battery acid everywhere.

Not that parts on British cars ever fail.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: mikeswrenches on November 30, 2015, 08:14:34 PM
I sold a pair of those to a blacksmith who was going to use them to hold railroad spikes while he beat them into shape.  This was last year sometime.  He was at the November fly wheelers meet looking for another pair.  Said they worked real well.

Mike
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: john k on November 30, 2015, 08:40:59 PM
I wonder why a blacksmith didn't just make himself a pair, he already had the pattern?   Back when, 1920s, some battery clamps were solid, no bolt, one just wiggled it down over the post.  These would have been perfect for removing those. 
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: jefftrin on December 01, 2015, 01:36:32 AM
I am just amazed at the scope of things that people find and post on here. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: krusty the clown on December 01, 2015, 07:10:24 AM
I have a pair of these as well, seems all I have seen had a 1926 date code, can you post the date code on yours?
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: bird on December 03, 2015, 05:52:31 PM
Well, there wasn't a code on mine at all..... but they're gone now... hopefully to a good home where they will be of some use to someone.
cheers
bird
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: leg17 on February 21, 2020, 03:39:42 PM
Aunt Phil is correct- BESCO 9857 Battery Terminal Pliers
(https://img1.etsystatic.com/008/0/5191711/il_570xN.472744707_kk3l.jpg)

Alloy Artifacts- BESCO giant battery terminal pliers, designed for lifting a cable clamp from a battery post. The handle has forged-in markings for "BESCO" and "Made in U.S.A." with a B-Shield logo in the center.

(http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/tools/besco_9857_pliers_battery_bshield_jr_f_cropped_inset3.jpg)

I have a pair and I can't find the Bonney date code.
Where is it located?
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: wvtools on February 21, 2020, 10:04:31 PM
Those pullers are the perfect tool to hold a railroad spike for reforging into something.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Northwoods on February 22, 2020, 09:00:47 AM
Don't leave out the VW Bugs.  Under the back seat, passenger side.
And the old vans' batteries were hard to get to, as was everything else back there.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: mvwcnews on February 22, 2020, 03:40:18 PM
Battery Equipment & Supply Co was advertising heavily in the early 1920s including the TERMINAL TONGS.  Their 1924 trademark filing gave July 1920 as start of use of  BESCO.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: Bill Houghton on February 22, 2020, 04:04:01 PM
Don't leave out the VW Bugs.  Under the back seat, passenger side.
And the old vans' batteries were hard to get to, as was everything else back there.
As long as you kept the cover on the battery, the bug battery wasn't bad; and they lasted a long time, not being exposed to engine compartment heat.

The vans with the original doghouse-style motor - well, different story.  Keeping the acid topped up on those was nearly impossible, if you didn't have the special factory auto-shutoff water bottle.
Title: Re: Besco tool .... blacksmith???
Post by: bird on March 11, 2024, 11:30:02 PM
The battery in my old MGA was under the miniscule rear floorboard.

A model had a pair of 6 volt batterys, 1 behind each seat bulkhead with the driveshaft between them.
That red piece of sheet metal wasn't a floorboard, it was the battery cover, and the compartment above was storage for the convertible top.
If I remember right, Triumph TR-3s had that arrangement.  I always wondered how many times the cable wound up on top of the driveshaft, slowly wearing through until the copper was in contact with the shaft.  Or, conversely, how exciting things got if the U-joint failed catastrophically and broke loose - battery acid everywhere.

Not that parts on British cars ever fail.