Really an old one?

[Papaw]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Antique-Vintage-Original-Multi-Tool-Rare-Ornate-Farm-Pat-May-1871-/230828175504?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35be6e7090

An Old, Antique Vintage Multi Tool that is very ornate and in remarkable shape for the age.  I counted 6 different functions with a possible seventh being the long end of the handle.  It has a taper that could be used like a screw driver or to pry with.  There is wear on the design but no cracks, breaks or repairs.  On the backside center is the only visible marking  "Pat. May 18 1871".

[rusty]

I suppose it is the top verstion of Capewell's multi tool, but if so, it seems to be missing a piece....

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=114759&id=21442

On the other hand, it seems to have gained a set of cutting blades...hmm


(NB: wow, the capewell horse shoe nail co still exists: http://www.capewellhorsenails.com/p/44/company_profile/ )

[BruceS]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Antique-Vintage-Original-Multi-Tool-Rare-Ornate-Farm-Pat-May-1871-/230828175504?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35be6e7090

An Old, Antique Vintage Multi Tool that is very ornate and in remarkable shape for the age.  I counted 6 different functions with a possible seventh being the long end of the handle.  It has a taper that could be used like a screw driver or to pry with.  There is wear on the design but no cracks, breaks or repairs.  On the backside center is the only visible marking  "Pat. May 18 1871".

Gee whiz,  there is even a Nut Cracker between the handles.

[1930]

If somebody hadnt worked so hard to make it Id ask if that price included the dollar bill

[john k]

With the 3 crimping jaws, makes me wonder if it wasn't intended as an early electricians tool.   Trying to remember if I'd seen bands crimped on old wiring?   Have to be early to have that much fancy work. 

[Bus]

Capewell's patent doesn't mentioned electrical. From the patent:

Thus it will be seen that in one instrument I have pliers, two open square wrenches, a gas-burner wrench, a pipe-wrench and nail-drawer, a pipe-wrench of large grasp, a box-wrench, hand-vise, and screw-driver, all combined in a simple and useful manner. Or, if desired, the combination tool above described may be modified (see figs. 3 and 4) by constructing the same without the screw-bolt j and projections n n, thus producing a less expensive but at the same time extremely useful implement.

Here's are three variations from by stuff all marked May 16, 1871:

[amertrac]

this is one nice peice .Would look in anyones collection more than that it would be a really nice peice to research . I bet there are some stories to be found  bob w.

[Plyerman]

Been watching that one for a few weeks now, hoping the price would come down. I want it, but I don't want it for $299

[rusty]

heh..they left off the screwdriver extension, and inset wrench to make a lower cost version, and then added all that fancy decoration, go figure ;P

> I want it, but I don't want it for $299

Unfortunatly, I suspect it will go in that neighborhood :(

[michael]

I just put up on ebay the same wrench, albeit different condition.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170902171811?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

thanks to the folks on this list - after I picked up this wrench it was the posts here that helped me identify it.

- Michael

[Branson]

I thought I saw another one on eBay recently, say, the past 2 -3 weeks.