Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Heads Up => Topic started by: RedVise on February 11, 2012, 09:45:58 PM

Title: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: RedVise on February 11, 2012, 09:45:58 PM

Central FL CL listing - interesting tool, I sure dont know what is was used for.
But figured someone here might be interested.

Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/tls/2846743992.html

I have no affiliation with the seller. Will help out with shipping if requested.

Brian L.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on February 12, 2012, 12:19:57 AM
It looks to be a tool that would extrude something (a shaped mold not a thread) to me.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: lbgradwell on February 12, 2012, 12:42:57 AM
It's a pipe threader; a ratcheting handle with dies of different sizes.

It has nothing to do with telephone poles!

I happen to have the exact same model that was my grandfather's...

The set was actually red when issued & had a quite nice decal on the holder that I have admired. No idea how this set came to be black...
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on February 12, 2012, 09:00:09 AM
Are those really ordinary pipe threading dies?  I have rigid ratcheting pipe threader that is old and looks to be very much the same as the one pictured, but the dies are much much different.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: lbgradwell on February 12, 2012, 09:09:56 AM
I think so. They look like normal block dies to me...

I'd check, but mine are halfway across the continent in Newfoundland in my cousin's garage!

Anyone else care to weigh in?
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: rusty on February 12, 2012, 09:11:48 AM
Are those really ordinary pipe threading dies?

Yup, early dies were square because it's a lot easier for someone to cut a square chunk of plate and drill the holes in it than to make it some more complicated shape like circular or hexagonal. However, the square shape makes them a bit fragile..

The really unusual thing about the craigslist one is that it has it's set of inside reverse dies (aka taps). Most people have no clue what those are and loose them

The seller may be correct , the taps have no visible taper, they may be conduit dies....(which the telephone company would use occasionally...)

Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on February 12, 2012, 09:25:16 AM
Thanks for the education, Rusty.  I had no idea early dies were square, nor that taps were ever packaged with them.  I may now need to go take a second look at my late g'pas shop.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: Bus on February 12, 2012, 10:37:12 AM
Rusty,
I think the pieces you are calling inside reverse dies are the pipe guides, one for each size pipe the dies fit (with one size missing). I have had a Craftsman set for years that looks identical with the same holder and must of been made by Reed.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: rusty on February 12, 2012, 05:16:20 PM

Hmm, score one for Bus ; P

They did look slightly odd....

I have seen them with taps, but they look a little different....
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: lbgradwell on February 14, 2012, 06:34:41 PM
Here's a set from an ended eBay auction I had been watching...

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/160702445105 (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/160702445105)
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on February 20, 2012, 09:47:55 PM
Page 46 of the 1960 Craftsman catalog has a set

Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on June 30, 2012, 11:01:48 AM
A (I believe complete) Craftsman pipe threading set I picked up today.

(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_96783_.jpg)

(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_96785_.jpg)

(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_96787_.jpg)

(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_96788_.jpg)

Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: schnitz on June 30, 2012, 11:23:29 AM
Nice set!  I'm just getting into threading tool collecting myself.  Got a pair of Ridgid threaders (one was my Great Grandfathers), a Ridgid reamer, a Toledo Pipe Company threader that appears close to your Craftsman set in style, and a NYE Tool and Machine Works threader that looks more like a radial engine than a threader (it holds 3 square dies at one time).  Do you plan on restoring it, or flipping it for profit? 
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: HeelSpur on July 12, 2012, 02:20:46 PM
Heres a set that I have, I believe its from the 60's and not sure if its complete.

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/013.jpg)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/014.jpg)
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: lbgradwell on July 12, 2012, 02:27:42 PM
Heres a set that I have, I believe its from the 60's and not sure if its complete.

Are there any clues on the labels on the box that might confirm Reed as the manufacturer?
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: HeelSpur on July 12, 2012, 04:59:11 PM
Heres a set that I have, I believe its from the 60's and not sure if its complete.

Are there any clues on the labels on the box that might confirm Reed as the manufacturer?
Nothing that says Reed anywhere on it. It has a # 9- 5390 and a price $31.99 on it.
Sears and Roebuck & Co. and Craftsman are all I see.
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on September 03, 2012, 05:14:29 PM
Man, your sets are in much better c0ndition than  mine.  I have yet to crack it open and see if the ratchet head will even spin.....

DM&FS
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (Reed No. 71 pipe)
Post by: lbgradwell on September 04, 2012, 05:26:09 AM
I have yet to crack it open and see if the ratchet head will even spin.....

Oh, it will. And if it doesn't, it will soon!

I can't imagine what would need to happen to make that ratchet stop working; it's a very simple machine and must be near bulletproof...
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: scottg on September 04, 2012, 01:33:34 PM
Wow, where are all you guys getting these?
 I have 2 sets of square dies, one are solid dies and the other has removeable insert cutters.
But until now I never saw a ratcheting solid square die holder in my life!
 Cool, very cool.
Both of mine have easily removeable handles so you have to keep screwing the handles on and off to keep going in a tight place.

  One of my square die sets is old, with a large cast iron frame stock and a thick brass swinging "trap door" to hold the dies in the frame.

  Square dies are a total pain to resharpen. Nearly impossible.
This is why insert cutters gained favor, even if they are more prone to chipping.
  yours Scott
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: OilyRascal on September 04, 2012, 04:41:13 PM
Wow, where are all you guys getting these?

My late grandfather's tool
Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on September 04, 2012, 07:00:51 PM
$5 yard sale item at a farm house outside of Hudson Iowa.  BTW, my ratchet says Reese on it, but have yet to clean adequately to see if it also says Craftsman.  The gray tool tray certainly has remnants of an old vintage Craftsman logo on each side.

HTH

DM&FS

Title: Re: Vintage Reed Pipe & Die Kit - (ReedNo. 71 pipe)
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on September 27, 2012, 01:49:10 PM
Well, I did get around to cleaning off the dies and inserts and wouldn't yo know, the ratchet is a Reed and so are like two of the dies.  The other 3 dies have that really old Craftsman(BE socket timeframe and font) logo on them, so I wonder if this is a bastard set, or whether that's the way they did things back when metal was scarce during the war?  I guess some of the thin ones could have broken and the replacements said Reed on them, but who knows.  The rat spins nicely, but is a bear to clean, so,  I may leave that for retirement.

DM&FS