Crazy pliers. What are they for?

[Windwood]

I've been holding on to these for years and I can't even remember where they came from, it's been that long.  Does anyone know what they would be used for?

[Branson]

Looks like a leather tool with a bunch of adjustments -- the punch visible in the top picture is distinctively a leather punch.

[Bus]

It's an adjustable button hole cutter for leather. I have never seen one with a punch before.

[Bill Houghton]

Do they say "Osborne" on the handle or around the pivot?  Osborne made/makes a lot of the pro-grade leather tools, and they look kind of Osborney to me.

[scottg]

I think its an adjustable buttonhole cutter for leather.
 The fence is adjusted keep the slits spaced equally in from the edge.
  yours Scott
   

[OilyRascal]

Would this be an application?  I'm told this is my g-gpa's dice cup.

[lazyassforge]

Look here!

http://www.patented-antiques.com/Backpages/T-F-S/Misctools/leather-tools.htm


B Davis

[Papaw]

Looks like it!

[Billman49]

These appeared on the French, Outils Ancien, site recently. They are button hole pliers, but their use is limited to positions on the edge of an object....

[Billman49]

Modify message isn't working (for me) - the revolving brass anvil allows differenet length slots to be cut with the one blade, the guide sets the position from the edge. The above image is a leather military étui (sheath) for a serpe de genie (sapper's billhook) - dating from the WW1 period. This one is stamped 1918.

[Aunt Phil]

Not sure those pliers are exclusively for leather.  I have a few pair I harvested from the I dragged it home collection of the man who kept machines running for a suit manufacturer.

[Branson]

Not sure those pliers are exclusively for leather.  I have a few pair I harvested from the I dragged it home collection of the man who kept machines running for a suit manufacturer.

Were the machines belt driven?  Or had they been belt driven earlier?

[scottg]

Not sure those pliers are exclusively for leather.  I have a few pair I harvested from the I dragged it home collection of the man who kept machines running for a suit manufacturer.

 I am not surprised a bit.
'Ol Ichabod Greenberg, the little master tailor, down on Madison and 5th,  had some tools, now, you best believe.
No messing around. Tools!

  yours Scott

[Aunt Phil]

DAMN, those Wiss scissors were Ickys;  I best return em to him cause I damn sure don't want a man with the grip he must have had after me.

Sewing machines in places like Hickey Freeman last for at least the life of 2 sewing machine operators.
Belt driven, not lineshaft belt though.

"Newer" machines had 3Ø varispeed drives. 
I even have a small German enclosed varispeed I harvested from that sale. 

[rusty]

> I best return em to him cause I damn sure don't want a man with the grip he must have had after me.

On the other hand, you don't want him after you *with* those things in his hand....