Ford marked pliers

[ModelT46]

Came accross these today. When they were given to me 60 years ago they were NOS. I put them in a box with other stuff in 1985.

[Steve Jelf]

In my humble opinion Ford carried the cheapness thing way too far, getting rid of the screwdriver and sharpening the pliers. That's not the handiest of tools.

[thom]

You can pinch your fingers and hands easily when trying to use those as a screwdriver. Ask me how I know.

[26TRoadster]

I never use mine. Mine are in the tool box.

[RichardG]

I HAVE A SET TOO, AND YES THE ARE A BEAR TO USE, BUT THINK OF THEM THIS WAY, THERE TO BE USED IN AN EMERGENCY ON THE ROAD, NOT TO BE A EVERY DAY TOOL, BECAUSE OF HENRY'S THINKING THE --T--FORD WAS AF--FORD--ABLE TO 15.000.000 PEOPLE, THAT PERHAPS IS WHY I HAVE ONE A HUNDRED YEARS LATER.---THEY COULD BE USED TO REMOVE THE HOGS HEAD COVER, TIGHTEN A RADIATOR CLAMP, ADJ, A HEADLIGHT, REPLACE THE LICENSE PLATE, ADJ THE DOOR LATCH,TIGHTEN A HOSE CLAMP AND TRANSMISSION COVER--TO ADJ BAND ON THE ROAD WOULD BE TWO I WOULD THINK COME UNDER THE EMERGENCY USE, ANY WAY JUST THINK OF IT ,A BRAND NEW CAR FOR $350 dollars. IT HAD EVERY THING IT NEEDED TO DRIVE IT HOME, THE PLIERS---THE ONES WITH THE SCREW DRIVER,--- ARE SCARCE, THERE WERE LESS OF THEM MADE THAN THE OTHER TYPE, ALSO ,DURING THE WAR WHEN THE 2-N-TRACTOR CAME OUT, IT HAD STEEL WHEELS, --MAG IGN, ALUMINUM COVER OVER TOOL BOX AND GAS TANK, FOOT PEGS, NO FOOT BOARDS, NO STARTER, NO GENERATOR, I KNOW WHAT FOLKS WENT THROUGH BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS, WHEN IT WAS BELOW ZERO AND THE FORD HAD TO START, OURS CAME WITH THE TOOL KIT AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE PLIERS I HAVE CAME FROM, ANY ONE HAVE A IDEA WHEN THIS CHANGE TOOK PLACE? SOME ONE OUT THERE IN --T--LAND MUST HAVE A TOOL KIT THAT HAS THAT CHANGE AND THE YEAR IT TOOK PLACE, VERY INTERESTING PART OF HISTORY OF THE MODEL T, THANK YOU 26 ROADSTER FOR BRINGING THIS UP,

[DanTreace]

Have a copy of the Record of Change for the T-1903. Interesting is that the 'screwdriver tip' was on the pliers prior to 1913, so the pliers likely had that tip on one handle for long time, even when the T-1902 screwdriver was part of the tool kit.

Details:

2-2-1913 change screwdriver tip to 1/32" thick at end from 3/64"...specified bevel length


12-19 1914 specified Ford script


10-11- 1920 change bevel of end of screwdriver tip to 7/8" from 3/8"...specified end to be hardened ....this change made to enable pliers to replace screwdriver in the tool kit...screwdrivers on hand to be used up.

[RichardG]

THANK YOU DAN--- THAT'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

[MdDWS]

Do you have information about the pliers that don’t have a screwdriver end on one
end that is both ends are rounded ? Thanks.Don

[John kuehn]

I have a pair of pliers that have the screwdriver end that aren’t Ford but another brand. Like others have said it not the best idea in my opinion! My Father got them way back when. I keep them in my extra box of tools but not for screwdriver use for sure.

[HornsRus]

i have a pair that have a crescent on one end.charley

[DanTreace]

Do you have information about the pliers that don’t have a screwdriver end on one
end that is both ends are rounded ? Thanks.Don

Don''t have info on rounded ends, admit my records are just partial, have only portions of Ford prints for the T-1903, -1903A, and my copy of the 2 page Record of Change is on the T-1903A rev.

Can decipher some of the print to read drawn Oct. 16, 1911, and appears the overall length of the early pliers is 6 1/2" as stated on the partial print copy.
That print for T-1903.

The later pliers are noted on a new print as 6 3/4" overall, change dated July 7, 1921, then quickly on July 21, 1921 change again to have the length of the handle with the screwdriver tip to 6 5/8". Must be why I've seen those pliers with the longer leg being the screwdriver, makes sense for it to work better like that.

Plus the Record of Change notes Script to be on pliers, first on the outer handle (12-19-1914) then on Oct. 22, 1920 change to place Scrip on inside of the handle. Record notes part to be T-1903A1, "Changed shape of handle to conform with sample OK'D by Mr. Galamb."

June 1, 1922 "New, alternate design"

Finally, Feb. 8, 1923, "Removed note specifying the above pliers and part to be known as "Outside Design".

Guess by that time, suppliers had the shape down fine, and engineering didn't have to keep changing the prints. That is what makes some tools like the pliers hard to identify to shape and feature, not a lot of details on the prints. One change note even says 'See Galamb's OK of tracing T-1903' , likely the draftsman only had to copy the outside supplier's part!