What's this tool?

[phil Taylor]

What tool from the Millers Falls Company is this?

Thanks, Phil

[Kenneth]

Hi Phil,

I believe that is a chain breaker...

Many sorts of drive chain (from bicycles to snow blowers etc.) are linked together with pins. That tool can press the pin out to open the closed loop of chain and later re-assemble it.

HTH,

[Bob S.]

I don't know what it's real purpose is but I have a feeling it could be used as a leather punch to add an extra hole to my belt that I'll need after the holiday's.......

(3 nieces all trying to fatten me up... and succeeding)

Bob S.

[George M. Kazaka]

[jev]

This looks very similar to tool I use on my bike chains to press in/out a link in order to take chain apart. It hold the link in place and then as you screw down it pusshes the barrell/roller(not sure of right term) out of the link. Altho as constructed it would tend to squash the link..i still suspect it has a similar use.

Don't believe it is a leather punch - they are generally operated 'plier' style with wheel hholding punches of different sizes or as a single tool struck with hammer. This tool is designed to be able to exert a great deal of pressure.

[jo4hn]

[Scott Cramer]

On 23 Dec 2003, jo4hn spake unto rec.woodworking:

I think the word "adult" is superfluous when talking about sex toys, jo4hn. I hope so, anyway!

[Greg G.]

Perhaps a brass grommet tool? Used to roll over the edges of a brass grommet when installing?

Greg G.

[Kenneth]

There may be other ways to do it, but typically grommets are set with a specific punch and die with the swat of a hammer.

All the best,

[Mark]

Chainbreaker.

Difficult to tell size, but based on handle it would be for medium-weight chain (not farm equipment size).

[phil Taylor]

Thanks, they both sound reasonable. Unless somone else has some input.

Phil

[Greg G.]

I say this because I owned a grommet kit years ago that had a similar device with a screw and changeable formed anvils that set grommets by rolling them over. Made for a nice clean job - albeit slightly slower than the hammer method.

But it probably IS a chain breaker.

Greg G.

[todd]

[Lyndell Thompson]

Phil I have a painfully slow inet connection.........but based on the part of the jpg. I could view.......this looks like an old time handsaw setting tooI I.E. it sets the angle of the teeth in a handsaw, before sharpening it. I would have to see the end view of the tool to say for sure, but it sure looks like one my grandpa used to keep our handsaws in good shape. Just my two cents worth. Lyndell

[Pat81359]

From Millers Falls catalog #42 it is a #200 saw punch. It is used to punch holes in Butcher's saw blades which were sold in coils of 25 or 50 feet. The Butcher's saw looks like a hack saw but much longer, ranging in length from 16 to 24 inches. The catalog states that there is so much variation in the sizes of these saws that most of the better class of butcher's saw blades are not punched when they leave the factory. The frame of the punch was made from nickel plated, malleable iron and made an 11/64" hole. By the way, the selling price from this catalog dated January 1938 was $1.10 each. Hope this answers your question.

[P©WÉ®T©©LMAN]

I was not able to view the picture of the original Millers Falls photo until this morning but I'm pretty sure it is for on site custom putting the holes in the end of hacksaw blades, we live in apple country & years ago I remember a professional pruner cutting & making a custom fit blade for his hacksaw on the job, the last part of the procedure was putting the mounting holes near the ends of the blade with this tool.

Pretty sure......

[P©WÉ®T©©LMAN]

Yes, that sounds like it....see my previous post...same idea.

[phil Taylor]

THIS IS CORRECT...Merry Christmas! The reason the answer is so clear to me now, is that the tool was found in a large metal box with many knives and a saw that resembles a hacksaw. I now know, all of these were used by a butcher. When this post came up, it put the peices together.

Thank-you for all of the posts people, and long live Groups.

Phil Taylor

[Kenneth]

Hi Phil,

I was one of the folks who said it was a chain breaker...

I assume that others are correct with the "punch holes in a saw blade" direction, but I do have a question:

Assuming that it is for punching holes in saw blades, why is there such a wide gap in the jaws of the tool?

All the best,