Mystery pliers

Hi Gang, When my grandfather passed away I inherited a toolbox in
which I found a strange pair of pliers. They seem to be designed for a
specific purpose, but I can’t fathom what it is. I wonder if anyone
out there in Orchidland can identify them. As far as I know, my
grandfather never had any involvement with the jewelry trade, so
they’re most likely not native to our benches.

If you’d like to see pictures, please visit this URL:
http://www.carolinaartisans.com/Orchid/mystery_pliers.htm. After all,
a picture is worth a thousand words! :wink:

Please let me know if you’ve got any ideas!

Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans’ Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
http://www.CarolinaArtisans.com

I think they would work great for opening split rings - those tiny
rings that look like key chain rings and avoid the need for soldering
a jump ring! don’t know why the bottom jaw is split though.

Karen

Dave–Could these be some sort of split ring plier? It seems that the
tooth would be used to open the ring which is held in position by the
groove on the lower jaw. They look similar to my jeweler’s split ring
pliers. I know that fisherman use these for lures and I’ve seen
several different types. I had to get my son some to keep him from
taking mine off of my bench!

–Vicki Embrey

hey dave, about your grandfather’s a strange pair of pliers:

give us a hint. what kinds of jobs did he hold? what were his
hobbies? i’m assuming that he modified the pliers for his use rather
than purchasing them that way. the photo of the lower jaw looks as
though the depression was made after-market.

jean adkins

The Carolina Artisans site was readily accessible, but how to reach
the pliers remains a mystery. Couldn’t connect at all. Any
suggestions?

Dee

It doesn’t appear to me that the pliers were modified… I think they
were manufactured in this form. My grandfather retired from Kodak
where he worked with chemicals. Aside from that, he was a bartender,
Golden Gloves boxing champ in NYC and in the National Guard in WWII.
That’s about all I know, and don’t know that it’s much in the way of
clues! I don’t think he was much of a handyman or craftsperson, so I
suspect they might have been used in some sort of tradework.

Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans’ Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com

Hi Dave … I’m not so sure about it , but could they be the type of
pliers used in claw settings to press a notch in the claw to
accomodate the stone?? I’ think that the groove in the lower jaw is
to fit the claws and the tooth in the upper one is to press the stone
rest , they work well because a pressed groove is work hardened and
more resistant than milled or cut ones Best regards Toni

Dave,

These remind me of a pair of “markers” used in the garment industry
by the fabric cutters. The notch marks the line where the pieces are
to be sewed, or where there is a fold or pleat. Could they be for
sheet metal work?

Vera B.