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Author Topic: How old are multi tools?  (Read 2107 times)

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Offline Branson

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How old are multi tools?
« on: August 27, 2015, 08:41:49 AM »
A lot older than I thought.  From 1560 to 1570:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/108959819159/universal-tool-1560-70-germany-iron-case-with

From 1580, this one really astonished me:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/108822354954/multi-tool-1580-iron-with-etched-decorations

Moving to the 18th Century, these:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/111405022074/saw-sets-combination-tools-hammers-and-a-signet

got a couple other pictures that I'll post in the appropriate sections
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Offline jimwrench

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 09:49:13 AM »
 Very neat. Back then we had artificers and artisans who spent lots of time embellishing their work. Finding any of these would definitely increase my heart rate.
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Offline PFSchaffner

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 09:53:38 AM »
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Offline Papaw

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2015, 11:05:00 AM »
All of those are outstanding!
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Offline Twilight Fenrir

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2015, 11:53:05 AM »
Quote from: PFSchaffner on August 27, 2015, 09:53:38 AM
This, I think, qualifies:

http://webapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=70534
Wow...

I guess, for as long as there have been tooks, there have been people trying to smoosh them together into one :P

But, now I'm going to have to forge myself a leatherman-like tool to take to historical reenactments and I can point at this page and say, 'they existed, see?!?' :P
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Offline Yadda

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2015, 01:29:02 PM »
Plyerman has a collection of multi tool information that includes a lot of photos.  He also has a pretty nice collection of unique multi tools. 

The 19th century until now is the golden age of multi tools. 
« Last Edit: August 27, 2015, 06:50:58 PM by Yadda »
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You might say I have a tool collecting problem....

Offline Bill Houghton

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2015, 03:02:42 PM »
I find myself wondering, given the level of decoration, if these weren't "gentleman's" tools, not intended for actual use.

I'm tempted to argue that multi-tools go back farther than that...

...but I guess that would be unfair.  I mean, the really old ones don't have a corkscrew or church key, even (an omission I also note on the examples Branson posted), so how can they be multitools?
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Offline Branson

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2015, 05:56:54 PM »
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Offline turnnut

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Re: How old are multi tools?
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2015, 09:42:46 PM »
the human hand is the oldest tool, and it could do many task.
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