strange pliers

[Neals]

Is anyone familiar with these? One pair is pitted badly so no visable markings. The other pair is mounted so only one side is available. Looks to be marked Brand with at least 3 letters in the next line. Last 2 being AN. I thought maybe Herbrand but doesn't look like anything in front of Brand.

[Papaw]

Strange is right. Do the handles not rotate to make the other head usable?

EDIT- Now that I look at both pictures, I see that they do. Why do you say only one side is available?

[Lewill2]

I've seen similar ones before but I don't remember the maker. There was a set on and off eBay over the last year the guy wanted $99.00 for them and they didn't sell for a long time they might have finally sold. Those were chrome plated and nice and clean. The handles had a knob around the pivot point so you could reverse the handles to use the other set of jaws. I never actually had a pair in my hands to play with.

[rudeawakening55]

 Looks like a possible combination plier, one end is for regular use & other end appears to be used as a gas plier.
   I have a combination plier-pincher with a thumb screw so it can be changed from one use to the other. If I remember correctly they were stamped 1909 as manufacturing date.

[wvtools]

I have never seen a pair of those.  It looks like one set of jaws may be regular and one thin (narrow).

[Neals]

Perhaps I should explain. Some years ago some 200 tools were donated to the local museum. They are mounted on a display and cannot be removed and replaced without tearing the display apart. That will likely happen in the spring as that building is unheated. The badly pitted pair are a duplicate pair from another donation.
I was talking when I should have been listening so have the job of identifying and dating as many as possible.
While the one end looks like gas pliers they are smaller than others I have seem. Both jaws are about the same and fairly thin.
I would like to add that this is not one of those museums where everything goes into storage , never to be seen again.

[Papaw]

I would like to add that this is not one of those museums where everything goes into storage , never to be seen again.

Where do they go, then?

[Neals]

Where do they go, then?

So far all the artifacts they have are on display. A total of 5 buildings full. In a few years they will have to add more space. They currently have no storage space and current policy makes it likely that any new space would be display not storage.

[gibsontool]

Neals. Where abouts is the museam you are refering to? I usually get out to Alberta 2 or 3 times a year and I'd love to have a look if it's not too far off of the beaten track. Jim

[Neals]

Jim, its at Rochfort Bridge. About 1 1/2 hours NW of Edmonton on highway 43. Its open July and Aug but if you give me a bit of warning I can likely arrange a tour and a coffee most anytime.

[rusty]

>While the one end looks like gas pliers they are smaller than others I have seem

Probably bicycle cone pliers, usually mistaken for gas pliers, but have flat tips.

I'm thinking this is a pocket bicycle tool, small, light,compact....

[gibsontool]

Thanks Neals,if I recall corectly it,s around Whitecourt. I'll definately check it out on one of our future trips and thanks for the offer I'll give you a call when we are in the area. Best regards. Jim

[Neals]

Rusty- Sure looks like cone pliers.

Jim- Sent you a PM

[anglesmith]

I had a pair of these once my thinking now is that they were German I remember thinking i'd rather have two tools! I have found them in a 1940 cat.. they called them combination pliers "one end forms a gas grip the other is the usual cutter and burner grip in black and bright finishes 7 inches long.
Graeme

[john k]

When I see combo tools, I think service work, trying to condense the tools, carry less on the belt, up a pole, into a crawl space.   Make one less trip out to the truck.