Vintage clamp/pliers?

[robgul]

I've just acquired one of these as part of a box of tools I bought . . any idea what it might have been used for? It's about 150mm long, lower jaw adhusts with the knurled ring, the top pivots and locks/clamps with the trigger lever, made of forged steel by the look of it.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Could you write down the patent number that is on it please. It is not possible to make it out from the photo.

You might come up trumps at espacenet: Espacenet – patent search

It can sometimes help to prefix the number with 'GB'.

 

[robgul]

Since my post I've been doing some research too - it looks as if it's a Speetog Patent Adjustable Clamp from the 1940s (although it doesn't look that old) - there seem to be a number of different Speetog products - all of which seem to be a sort of Mole wrench (the box of tools I bought also had about 6 different size/style Mole wrenches)

What interests me is what the Speetog would have been used for - if anything other than Mole wrench gets used for?

 

[TRITON]

From google it appears its purpose is that the jaws remain parallel and thats it. For what exact application i couldnt say other than an early development of what became the mole grip wrench.

 

[Just4Fun]

Could be useful for large nuts etc such as on pump valves or domestic immersion heaters? Better than using Stilsons (sp?) or similar, which always seem a crude approach to me.

 

[Nail]

What a lovely design. I think that would be a good project for a machinist to replicate.

 

[clogs]

very sweet looking thing.....
but it wont make my Bacho's redundant.....
tool history of all trades is an amazing subject......sad I know......

 

[robgul]

My conclusion is that it's in effect a Mole wrench - I shall be keeping it with my "treasured special old tools that don't get used" which include a square, mortise gauge, bevel and boxwood ruler that were my Grandfather's (and the square is possibly his father's before him)