Strange tool ID request.

[Condo99]

Hi all. I'm not a plumber but I had a dear uncle who was and he passed away 3 years ago. He left me lots of tools of which I know what all are for but this one in particular has me perplexed.

Since he was a plumber, I'm assuming it is a plumbing tool. It's pretty heavy and obviously opens and closes to grip something or another.

Any identification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[LiQuId]

Some kind of handle puller is my best guess... I dunno for sure.

 

[kennyrogers]

Are there any other tools that may look like they would work together with the one above?

 

[Condo99]

Not that I know of.

 

[Another-Plumber]

looks like something to hold a horseshoe, you know when its hot and your pounding on it... but thats just a guess out of my $@#

 

[Condo99]

Well. He didn't shoe horses but he did work at a ship building facility in the 1970's. It may be a special tool for that line of work. I guess I should look up a good ship building forum and give it a try there.

 

[Caduceus]

Looks like a hand held metal punch.

 

[SlowDrip]

Looks like a hand held metal punch.

But you pull the handles apart to close it...which would be a terrible way to have to punch something.

Also, what the hell are those pivoting pieces on the ends of the handles for?

 

[havasu]

Aren't the pivot pieces used as a fulcrum for additional leverage?

 

[Hyper48fan]

Maybe it"s a lead working tool?

 

[johnjh2o]

It's for pulling sections of cast iron baseboard together. They were assembled with push nipples, much like a cast iron boiler.

John

 

[LiQuId]

holy hotsauce !!! this makes perfect sense... thanks for clearing up the brain Cobwebs..

 

[johnjh2o]

The only problem with my answer is I have now dated myself.

John

 

[phishfood]

And also made it known that you haven't lived in FL all of your life. I have never seen a baseboard heater here.

 

[johnjh2o]

Got me!! I've been in Florida for the past 17 years, before that I was in the northeast. We did plumbing and heating up there and I do miss doing hot water heating systems.

John

 

[Condo99]

You are correct sir! Found this exact same tool on a cast iron radiator site.

Thanks for clearing up this small mystery I've been trying to solve since 2007.

Condo99