Thread: W. Schollhorn Corp, W. Bernard Combined Pliers and Cutter

The recent thread about the PlieRench. prompted me to take a closer look at an old wrench hiding in the corner of one of my toolboxes I had long ignored.


Close inspection of the stampings revealed "Bernard's pat July 19, 1892" and "W. Schollhorn New Haven Conn" around the hinge points. Also a 'running dog' logo with the word "Bernard" inside is stamped on the handle.


No patent numbers, but a patent search turned up No. 479,113 dated July 19, 1892 for a "Combined Pliers and Cutter"

Features include formed steel metal handles (not solid) and jaws which open parallel. Most of the nickel plating is long worn away on my pliers, as is the diamond cross-hatching on the handle. It's about 5 inches long.

Anyone care to guess at it's age? (I have no idea.)

I have a dozen or two examples of Bernard pliers. Many of them I bought new around 1970. But I seldom pass up a chance to buy a used one in decent condition. They were made in several sizes and with several jaw shapes, often without the cutter. Some are diagonal cutters only. There is a special version made for splicing round leather belting for Singer industrial sewing machines.

They have been around for over 100 years and, like the Eifel Plierench, are very useful tools.

Larry

the jaws parallel together , allowing for even pressure , they are especially good for working with wire, they are very common on e-bay , mine where less then 10.00 with shipping .
Brice

We had some of those in army aviation maintenance, along with the spinning safety-wire pliers. They had so much cosmoline on them, we had to soak em in JP4 for days to get them loosened up.
They're pretty handy, even for home shop use.

We always called those "fisherman's pliers". Most had a small groove up the middle, with a larger dimple recess about 2/3 of the way up.

Story was told me that they are great for removing hooks from you.....Push hook the rest of the way through your finger, clip off barb, then use the pliers to pull out........ I'm sure it would work, not so sure about the specialty useage intent....

I not only have several pair of these pliers, but also a wire cutter made the same way with similar handle and force multiplier. Made by same company as the pliers.

The parallel grip is great, some tasks just can't be done well with the "bird's beak" type pliers.

Originally Posted by L Vanice

I have a dozen or two examples of Bernard pliers. Many of them I bought new around 1970. But I seldom pass up a chance to buy a used one in decent condition. They were made in several sizes and with several jaw shapes, often without the cutter. Some are diagonal cutters only. There is a special version made for splicing round leather belting for Singer industrial sewing machines.

They have been around for over 100 years and, like the Eifel Plierench, are very useful tools.

Larry

I recently bought some parallel pliers on ebay .. and was quite fascinated them when they arrived, because of the extra bits and pieces on them! Having read this, I'm pretty sure it would have been the Singer leather cutting tool - a spike comes down to pierce the leather belt as it is cut - presumably to join the two ends together in some way.

Is anyone able to confirm if that is indeed what I have .. and what the date might be please?

Thank you

Yes, you have the special model for industrial sewing machine leather belts. The join is made with a loop of soft steel wire, which is inserted in the two punched holes and bent over with the pliers, pressing it into the leather.

Larry

Interesting stuff - thank you

The round-belt maintenance version might also be useful to someone who has early machines with round belts, or watchmaker's lathes.

Yep, I have several sets of them too, and they are my most often used pliers. All were bought on ebay or at flea markets. One set is nice and shiny, like new, and is marked "Sergeant & Co., West New Haven, Conn. Made In USA".

Are they still available new?

Another great use for them is holding small metal parts while grinding on an abrasive belt or disk. I have a beat-up pair that I use just for that.

They're also wonderful for pulling dowel pins. In my musical instrument business, most of my routing templates and fixtures are made from MDF using 1/8" steel dowel pins to index on parts and as stops. These pliers have a very strong grip on a smooth hard small pin.

I bought them to use for bassoon reed making - I'm not sure I will find a use for the leather cutting bit - but you never know - it's good to know its history though!

How old do you think they might be?

Hey, look at this !

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool

and

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool


best of all, this:

http://www.rostratool.com/pdf/PlierPictorial.pdf

The company is still in business!!!

ON EDIT: That last web page explains why some of you fellows own several of these tools. I had no idea that there were more than three varieties, plain, with cutters, and the round-belt punch model.

Digging down in their wonderful website, I see the pliers are STILL AVAILABLE:

http://www.rostratool.com/families.a...at2Name=Pliers

Oh, be still my beating heart! An american company still making quality hand tools in the USA, and keeping up with current market needs (the PEX tools and the various electrical/electronic offerings) to boot !!!

John Ruth

Steamin asked: "Anyone care to guess at it's age? (I have no idea.)"

According to the EAIA's DAT, William S Schollhorn Co., New Haven CT., was in business from 1873 to 1913. And it indicates that they made "William A. Bernard patent pliers and dividers with patent dates of 6 may 1890, 19 July 1892, 24 Oct. 1899, 7 Aug. 1900, 1 Jan. 1901, 2 April 1907 and 6 Nov. 1907."

So, I guess from the 1892 patent date on your example it was likely made before 1913 and perhaps before even the new 1899 patent.

I got a crispy, mint one somewhere here, but only Rivett knows where.

OOPS! I found it myself and it is mint in the original box! Only, it is made by "Sargent of New Haven", which I am confused as to whether that is really the old Sargent. Like the new Millers Falls (N.J.) versus the old Millers Falls from there in Mass.

AntiqueMac:

That Rostra website clears up a lot. See about 3/4 of the way down on this page:

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool

"Rostra Tool Company purchased the Hand Tool Division of Sargent Manufacturing in 1987. The entire operation was transferred from New Haven to Branford, Connecticut. All employees of the original Tool Group made the transition."

JRR

Originally Posted by SouthBendModel34

Hey, look at this !

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool

and

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool


best of all, this:

http://www.rostratool.com/pdf/PlierPictorial.pdf

The company is still in business!!!

ON EDIT: That last web page explains why some of you fellows own several of these tools. I had no idea that there were more than three varieties, plain, with cutters, and the round-belt punch model.

Digging down in their wonderful website, I see the pliers are STILL AVAILABLE:

SARGENT TOOLS from Rostra Tool

Oh, be still my beating heart! An american company still making quality hand tools in the USA, and keeping up with current market needs (the PEX tools and the various electrical/electronic offerings) to boot !!!

John Ruth

I love the PDF on your post - fab! Thanks for all the info, chaps - I love it

Here's some info on Schollhorn. And lots of other makers.
Scroll down

Various Hand Tool Makers [Page 3]

Interesting .. looking on ebay.com, the sewing machine pliers look very different to mine .. I think mine must be a bit newer ..

Vtg Schollhorn 1892 Treadle Sewing Machine Belt Pliers | eBay

This one on eBay is complete.

Vintage Bernard Belt Pliers Punch 6-1/2" | eBay

Larry

There's a more modern version of the belt pliers made by Superior. I can't find much on them on the web, except for This Outfit, AAA Sew, that sells replacement knives and punches for that, as well as the Sargent. They also have a belt plier but no description. It seems, anyway, that you can still get the belt pliers.



There's a stop on the back side of the belt guide, so that the hole is punched at the right distance from the end.

Very useful and practical pliers. I have three here at the house and my Dad has at least two more.

Most of these I've seen are blued steel, although I think one of my dad's is a rusty chrome plate.

VERY encouraging that they're still made. Maybe there is hope for American production and innovation.

Joe