Pictures of some old Multi-Gadgets

[J-sews]

None of these tools are related really, they were just some I've accumulated recently. Generally these old gadgets have several decades of grime built up by the time they find their way into my clutches. First thing they get from me is a good scrubbing and going over. After a hectic summer I had this group backed up at the cleaning bench, but with today's all-day rain I managed to get caught up. Decided to take a few pics before they get archived.




Hoffritz scissors
Not a multitool, but the butterfly folding method is very Leatherman-esque. Exact age unknown, but they appear in an early-1970's Hoffritz catalog.




Utica Cutlery blade-changer
An ordinary single blade folding knife, with interchangable tools. Several different firms in Europe and the United States produced similar models. This is the only one I've ever seen with an adjustable wrench head. (shown in the first photo)




Made In Occupied Japan
Those are the only markings on this gizmo. It has a knife, a flathead screwdriver, a can opener, a cap lifter, and some sort of other pokey thing. The blades lock open or lock closed by a clever little sliding crossbolt:





Cattaraugus 1W wrench knife
....not to be confused with the model 3W, which had a combination blade instead of the awl.




Kaufmann kitchen shears
Made in Germany before WWII. Spring loaded shears with a folding corkscrew, a cap lifter, and a strange sort of ratcheting can opener.




Latama tape measure knife
Italian made gadget with a 36-inch / 90mm steel measuring tape. (tape itself says Made in Germany)
pen knife blade, nail file, and scissors.
 

[Mike Micklea]

Oooh... I like the Latama! 

The other pokey thingy on the "Made in Occupied Japan" one looks like a Divot Tool for golfers... Did they Golf much in Occupied Japan?

[I'm Still Bison]

The tool in the top row between the Latama,and the one marked "Made in occupied Japan",reminds me some of the combo tool that was made for use with Springfield Trapdoors.Do you have any background on it?

[J-sews]

The tool in the top row between the Latama,and the one marked "Made in occupied Japan",reminds me some of the combo tool that was made for use with Springfield Trapdoors.Do you have any background on it?

Not much I'm afraid.   The only logo is this stylized word Torpedo

So Bob do you think this is a trapdoor tool?

[I'm Still Bison]

No,it it isn't for Trapdoors,but it certainly looks like it was made for some type of firearm.

The 2 tools here were made for Trapdoors,you can see some similarity in design

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice collection Bob

I really like the Made In Occupied Japan one, I wonder what the inspiration was for it

[Gareth]

Great collection.  I'm not sure how much I would trust a hammer where the head and handle are two pieces though.

[Benner]

Interesting lot there Bob. 

[MultiMat]

Great group of tools Bob.Ace pics too mate.Nice.

[Neil]

What a fantastic collection of oddities.  Thanks for taking the time to share them, they're great.

Neil

[Grant Lamontagne]

Any info on that fixed head plier tool on the bottom of the first photo?  Second one in, after the 1w?

Def

[american lockpicker]

I think the divot tool is a can opener.

[Anthony]

Any info on that fixed head plier tool on the bottom of the first photo?  Second one in, after the 1w?

Def

I'm interested in that one to...

[J-sews]

Great collection.  I'm not sure how much I would trust a hammer where the head and handle are two pieces though.

Yah, I hear what you're saying. Those old blade-exchangers certainly were not the sturdiest tools in the shed. What is surprising though is how many different firms produced them, and how similar they were. Several cutlery outfits in Solingen Germany and Sheffield England manufactured knives with various interchangable blades, usually packaged up in a little leather pouch for travel. Knifemakers in the USA followed suit. It seems like there is always one or more for sale on fleabay.

Here's a similar example made by the Aerial Cutlery company of Marinette Wisconsin:

[J-sews]

I think the divot tool is a can opener.

I wondered about that too AmLoPi. But how exactly would it do that?