✅ SOLVED Large Tong-Type Tool Patented 1880s - 1890s

[mcl]

Hi all. This item seems to be some type of iron or steel tool of the tong variety. It appears to have been well-loved and thus is bent a bit out-of-shape. The jaws open to just over 90 degrees. When completely closed, the handles go slightly beyond 0 degrees and cross over (of course this might be because of the aforementioned bends issue). The jaws are in the shape of an elongated egg, are slightly cupped, have teeth, and have large cutouts in the same shape as the cupping surface. The jaws' gripping surfaces measure between 2.5 and 3.0 inches at their longest dimension. The tool itself is just under 17 inches lengthwise when closed. I don't have a scale for weighing an object in this range, but the item is fairly light considering its size, weighing somewhat less than a standard hammer.

The item does have stamps which allude to a patent although they are not 100% readable. They seem to show a year between 1880 and 1898. 1896 is my best guess but you may see it differently.

This item is awkward to photograph but I've done my best to provide good pictures. I doubt whether I can get "better" ones of the stamps because the metal itself is heavily worn.

Thanks for any ideas.

-mcl

 

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[flinthunter]

Coal or clinker tongs? They look like they were made to handle something hot.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I think you're there. The long tool looks like a way to introduce a burning starter under a coal grate to get a boiler or furnace lit and clear out clinkers when it's burning.

 

[firemanphob]

Hooks on handle ends would indicate they were for pulling. Could they be a pair of old vet forceps possibly for pulling piglets or something like that.

 

[mcl]

Hooks on handle ends would indicate they were for pulling. Could they be a pair of old vet forceps possibly for pulling piglets or something like that.

This is almost certainly the answer. A Google search pulled up the following:









The bottom one in the last picture is actually my piece exactly. The post I found it in said the patent date reads April 1 1890.

That was a damn-good ID. I owe you beer.

Solved.

 

[Clo]

Man, I don’t have a uterus, or any type of birth canal, but if I did, I wouldn’t want those things inside it. Good ID.

 

[A2coins]

wow thats alot of pics lol

 

[ARC]

Well at least there was no shortage of good pictures.