3) Old/Rare multitool of the month: F. Nielsen Combination Tool

[J-sews]

F. Nielsen Combination Tool


When the Leatherman Super Tool was first introduced back in 1994, it caused quite a stir. Not only was it bigger and beefier than the original Leatherman PST, it also featured blades that locked open! Since then a lot of other multitools have came out with all locking blades, but was the Super Tool really the "first"? 

Apparently not:





Back in 1923, an immigrant from Denmark by the name of Frederik Nielsen filed a claim with the United States patent office for a "new and useful combination tool." Frederik's invention consisted of a set of plier jaws, one integral with a folded metal handle, the other integral with a large backspring. A lug (or notch, as shown in the patent drawing) on the backspring engages with three pivoting blades, locking them closed and/or locking them open.





The tool itself could handle any number of tasks, and it's handy size made it suitable for carrying in a pocket until needed.







The plier jaws open wide for large jobs, yet close fully together for small ones. The inner surfaces of the jaws have a v-groove running lengthwise for pulling wire and such, and several v-grooves running crosswise for grip.







At the base of the jaws there was even a wire cutter.  (v-grooves in the jaw face mentioned earlier can be seen in the photo below)





But the most interesting feature of all on Mr. Nielsen's combination tool was the locking blades. You can see how the backspring lug engages each blade, keeping them "closed"....





....until the backspring is lifted up, which frees the blade and allows it to be rotated.





When the blade is fully "open", the backspring lug snaps into place, locking the blade into position.





Sadly, as far as I know, the Combination Tool was never manufactured commercially. The example shown here is rather crudely put together. It functions well enough, but all of the individual parts look to be homemade, not factory produced. The knife blade for instance appears to have been made from an old file. (see photo below) My guess is that this is one of Mr. Nielsen's hand made prototypes.





And unfortunately, we probably won't ever know why Mr. Nielsen's tool never made it into production. Perhaps when he showed it to knifemakers, they said it was a tool, and when he showed it to toolmakers, they said it was a gadget..?




F. Nielsen Combination Tool, at Google Patents: CLICKY

[Smitty44]

Neat tool Bob,he was a man ahead of his time,thanks for sharing.

[MultiMat]

Now that is a RIPPER Bob  .

Bob be carful when you unlock those tools ,you do not want to break that backspring/lock 

[50ft-trad]

That looks excellent Bob 
When I see older tools like that it always makes me wonder why they didn't catch on sooner
Outboard tools too 

[AHB]

Go Denmark.. 
Very interesting pre-pre LM tool Bob, once again thanks for sharing these
oldies with the rest of us.. 

Btw. in 2010 there was 272.804 with the surname Nielsen in Denmark..

[Gareth]

I like that one a lot.   I do think this thread needs to be called "Old/Unusual Multi Tool of the Week" though.

[J-sews]

Go Denmark.. 
Very interesting pre-pre LM tool Bob, once again thanks for sharing these
oldies with the rest of us.. 

Btw. in 2010 there was 272.804 with the surname Nielsen in Denmark..

Yeah, tell me about it. When I try to do a google search for more info on a Frederik Nielsen, I get 500 pages of stuff about a Danish tennis star, a Danish doctor, Danish jewelry, Danish this, Danish that, etc, etc. 

[J-sews]

That looks excellent Bob 
When I see older tools like that it always makes me wonder why they didn't catch on sooner
Outboard tools too 

Agreed Al. Like Smitty said, the guy was definitely ahead of his time.

[David]

Interesting tool there Bob.      

[Mercury]

Great tool bob!  I love seeing stuff like that.  Amazing ingenuity for the time period.

[ryan1835]

I really enjoy these bob!

have you got any multi tools that are steam/traction engine related?

[J-sews]

Thanks Ryan, I really enjoy writing them Modern multitools are wonderful to be sure, but my true passion will always be with the antique ones.


No traction/steam specific tools that I'm aware of, but I do have a few coming up that might have been used for that purpose.

[Chako]

That is a neat looking tool Bob. 

[scrappy]

Very cool, I need to read this section more

[Neil]

Considering it never made it into production, how did you come by it Bob?