More old multi-purpose gadgetry

[Plyerman]

Some more crazy combination tools I've acquired over the past six months:




From top to bottom:

1) Unknown & unmarked. 10" long. Has a hammer head/ice chipper head, with a nail pry on the opposite end. In the center is a bar that pivots, with a screwdriver on one end and a hooked knife on the other.

2) A 9" version of the Capewell combined tool. No protruding carriage axle nut wrench on this one, and no crossbolt. Stamped PAT MAY 16, 1871 WARRANTED MALLEABLE.

3) Unknown & unmarked. 10" long. Solid brass. The jaw with the hammer pol looks like it is intended for some special purpose, but I cannot guess what it might be?

4) Unknown, marked only PAT PEND. 8-1/2" long. Pliers, hammer, square wrench, cap lifter, nail pry, and more. Seems like I've seen pictures of one before (perhaps DATAMP?) but I can't remember where.

5) According to Datamp, this is a Best Wrench, and it combines "alligator wrench, spoke nipple wrench, screwdriver and adjustable nut wrench" and was included in "tool kits supplied with bicycles sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. in the late 19th Century." Stamped PAT.AUG.3,97.





 

[turnnut]

nice group of tools.

I have the 2nd one down, the Capewell patented by George Capewell, Cheshire, Conn., some years back, I picked it
out of a pail of tools in Conn.  any tool for $2.oo

mine has the original bolt, spring & wingnut, but is missing the screwdriver bit.  they look better with the bit.

[amecks]

On number 1 is the knife a can opener?  It seems like it might be with the ice chipper also having kitchen type use.

Al

[bonneyman]

Nice!

So long as none of them are vintage dental tools. 

[Northwoods]

What Bonneyman said!

[mikeswrenches]

Here's one from an upcoming Donnelly auction.

https://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/i16/305836_lg.jpg

Mike

[Yadda]

On number 1 is the knife a can opener?  It seems like it might be with the ice chipper also having kitchen type use.

Al

+1 on the can opener.  I believe I've seen this one before.  I believe it may also have a corkscrew?

[Plyerman]

Here's one from an upcoming Donnelly auction.

https://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/i16/305836_lg.jpg

Mike

Thanks for the heads up Mike! That would be a J.W. Currier patent tool from 1905. Only the second one I've ever seen. Hmmm, it looks to be in a bit better shape than mine.

[Plyerman]

On number 1 is the knife a can opener?  It seems like it might be with the ice chipper also having kitchen type use.

Al

+1 on the can opener.  I believe I've seen this one before.  I believe it may also have a corkscrew?

I suspect you gents are correct about your can opener theory. But that hooked blade is quite large; bigger than any can opener blade I've ever seen before. Perhaps the cans were just larger back then?

[jefftrin]

3 looks a lot like a cobblers tool

[Plyerman]

3 looks a lot like a cobblers tool

Could be I guess...? But what would the purpose be of the special form in the right hand side plier jaws? And why would they make the whole tool from brass/bronze? I sure can't figure it out.

[Aunt Phil]

When looking at these tools you need to bear in mind that corrugated cardboard didn't exist as a boxing material when these tools were made.  That means these tools were made to facilitate containing goods in wood slat/wire boxes, with the minimal amount of human action needed.  Rockefeller was famed for studying the minimum amount of solder needed to close 5 gallon tin kerosene cans on his assembly line.

You take cardboard and tape spitters out of the equation and the use of these tools becomes obvious. 
Factor in that the Post Office wouldn't accept any box for shipment that wasn't wood or completely covered with paper and properly tied with string until 1960, and the need for these tools is more obvious.

Brass or bronze tools - real simple, your shipping department is crating up explosives or blasting caps in wood boxes with steel nails.  Steel hammers against steel nails can cause sparks.  You don't allow smoking on that line, and you damn sure ain't going to risk the Dynamite factory on sparks.  Your Insurance carrier is already complaining about the electric lights, and may cancel your coverage.  You use nonsparking tools.

[Plyerman]

HAH! Maybe got one of these identified. After two hours of browsing the patents photos on Datamp, I stumbled across number 243,652 from June 1881. From the patent text I gather that it was intended to be a multi-purpose household tool, with tack setting and driving being a primary chore. The drawing also shows an adjustable wrench jaw, but mine doesn't show any evidence of ever having had one attached. Who knows, maybe they decided to drop that feature, or maybe it just got taken off and misplaced 135 years ago?

[Lewill2]

The wrench jaw on #3 would be the first thing to get misplaced since it appears that it would have to be removed in order to use some of the other functions but it would keep the pliers handles locked closed when storing it.

#4 seems to be more of a kitchen tool as it has many functions similar to some of the kitchen tools that I have.

Nice collection I like all of them. I have one like #5.

[turnnut]

 I agree with Lewill2 on #4      it looks like a multi homeowners tool as it seems to have what looks like stove lid lifter
 and a pot lifter.