Before Atwood There Was Aussie !!(Whittingslowe Tool NO.43)

MultiMat · **on:** March 30, 2011, 02:32:54 PM

I have a BIG soft spot for the Aussie metal works company Whittingslowe. I have posted a couple times with my Whittingslowe military issue clasp knives. Well this week I got 2 much wanted Whittingslowe items first up I got a nice number 41 Stockman's knife & yesterday I got this odd vintage one piece tool called Number 43 , made in the 1940'5 I think. It has a screw driver , bottle opener, can opener, 3 inch ruler & a pencil sharpener which is listed as also being a blade sharpener

. A advertisement from a Aussie news paper from 1945 featuring the NO.43.

It appears the 43 was sold with a leather sheath. I wonder what the rectangle cut out in the tool centre was for or if it was simply part of the manufacturing process

. The 2 images above come from Australian Military Knives website link here------> http://military-knives.110mb.com/whittingslowe.html

My Aussie Atwood

;

The unusual combined pencil/blade sharpener. It does sharpener pencils

not sure I want to try to sharpen a blade with it though

.
Whittingslowe started manufacturing in the 1920's & ceased manufacturing in the 1950's. These NO.43 tools do not come up for sale very often so I am VERY happy to have one of these 60+ year old tools.
Thanks to John at Australian Military Knives website for the information & photos from his website, thanks John .

Neil · **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2011, 03:02:37 PM

A nice one piece MT for your weird and wonderful collection Mat. Don't think I've ever seen any Australian tools over here. Well, except for the FRED you sent me

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2011, 03:18:00 PM

Hey Mat,

That is an awesome little tool! Really like that! What's it made of? It almost looks like aluminum...

edcgear · **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2011, 03:29:14 PM

Great tool matey!! And usefull... Maybe cutout is for some oxy or simmilar wrenches??

Could can oppener be sharpened to double for seat belt cutter?

Can it be used for some prying, is material strong enough?

Pitty they dont make it anymore... Certainly would like one for EDC...

David · **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2011, 05:15:58 PM

Nice addititon to your collection Mat. Looks like it could be a useful tool also.

MultiMat · **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2011, 05:26:13 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on March 30, 2011, 03:18:00 PM

Hey Mat,

That is an awesome little tool! Really like that! What's it made of? It almost looks like aluminum...

Not sure Mr Whip 1940's Australia was under rations & I wonder if aluminium would of been reserved for other uses

. That said I am not overly keen to check the can opening prowess of the little tool my MTO Raker one piece tool 'feels' a lot stouter

Quote from: edcgear on March 30, 2011, 03:29:14 PM

Great tool matey!! And usefull... Maybe cutout is for some oxy or simmilar wrenches??

Could can oppener be sharpened to double for seat belt cutter?

Can it be used for some prying, is material strong enough?

Pitty they dont make it anymore... Certainly would like one for EDC...

Oxy cylinder key maybe

Did they use that sort of thing in the 40's

The can opener or the pencil sharpener could easily be sharpened up for other uses

.
I would not use the tool for prying, they are very rare & not cheap

& I think the tool could break if used for serious prying

Yep it is a shame Whittingslowe went bust , they supplied their military clasp knives to the government at cost to help with the war effort, that can not of helped the businesses long term profitability

Quote from: David on March 30, 2011, 05:15:58 PM

Nice addititon to your collection Mat. Looks like it could be a useful tool also.

Thanks David

It is a real rare beast so I am very happy to have it. It has performed well as a cider bottle opener , it sharpens pencils & it has turned a screw BUT I do not think I could really push the little 43 too hard for fear of breaking it

J-sews · **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2011, 01:57:23 AM

Great score there Mat!

I know how you've been wanting to grab one of those.

I can't imagine it would be made from aluminum though.

Maybe try sticking it to a magnet? My guess is its made of steel thats been galvanized or zinc plated.

MultiMat · **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:07:25 AM

Yep it is magnetic , I think you are right about the coating Bob. I am going to try & give it a trial polish & see what happens to the screwdrivers edge it looks to have rusted were some of the coating has chipped off.
The tool just does not feel particularly rigid

J-sews · **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:44:54 AM

Do be careful with the polishing. Taking the rust off usually results in some of the plating coming off along with it. $:-\$

MultiMat · **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:52:51 AM

I shall be ninja like with my touch whilst using the fine steel wool Bob

.Says the ham fisted Aussie

ironraven · **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:52:11 AM

Neat! This is why there needs to be a multi-tool muesem someplace- pay your gate fee (and they let you keep your pocket knife!) and you can look at the history of our.... hobby? obsession? madness?

I'm also curious about the material. If I had to take a guess, the "sharpener" was for taking nicks and dings out of large, soft alloyed bush knives and the like. As for the hole, some kind of bung wrench or silcock key-type impliment for opening water cisterns? It is Australian.

MultiMat · **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2011, 03:05:25 AM

Aussie as mate

William Whittingslowe the company owner was born in Wales but settled in Oz

company was located in Adelaide South Australia from the 1920's too the 1950's. Yep no super steel knives in the 40's

but as a pencil sharpener it works great

.

The seller who sold me my one has ANOTHER ONE

for sale. This one has the original neat little leather sheath

.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WHITTINGSLOWE-ARMY-ISSUE-MULTI-TOOL-/190517802672?pt=AU_Militaria&hash=item2c5bbef6b0
I would of liked one with the original sheath

. Given the couple of weeks I have had

. I will not be chasing this one

. I do recognize a certain 'Buckeye's' Ebay user ID who has bid on the wee Aussie

David · **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2011, 05:45:39 AM

This might get interesting.

MultiMat · **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2011, 06:14:15 AM

Quote from: David on April 01, 2011, 05:45:39 AM

This might get interesting.

Good luck , may he or she who has the most powerful Payapl be victorious

:D

WH867 · **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2011, 06:22:33 AM

Quote from: David on April 01, 2011, 05:45:39 AM

This might get interesting.

And expensive $:-\$

J-sews · **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:07:34 AM

So did you get it Dennis?

WH867 · **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:12:42 AM

Quote from: J-sews on April 07, 2011, 03:07:34 AM

So did you get it Dennis?

Yea, It's on the way

J-sews · **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:16:24 AM

Quote from: WH867 on April 07, 2011, 03:12:42 AM

Quote from: J-sews on April 07, 2011, 03:07:34 AM
So did you get it Dennis?
Yea, It's on the way

Sweet! Congrats

David · **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2011, 05:22:44 AM

Quote from: WH867 on April 07, 2011, 03:12:42 AM

Quote from: J-sews on April 07, 2011, 03:07:34 AM
So did you get it Dennis?
Yea, It's on the way

AHB · **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2011, 06:44:11 AM

Quote from: David on April 07, 2011, 05:22:44 AM

Quote from: WH867 on April 07, 2011, 03:12:42 AM
Quote from: J-sews on April 07, 2011, 03:07:34 AM
So did you get it Dennis?
Yea, It's on the way

Score..

kymg · **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2011, 01:44:43 PM

Well I'll be buggered. When I saw the heading to this post I thought to myself I wonder if..... and then I saw it. I was given one of these by my father about forty years ago and I am damned if I can find it. Often when I think about multi tools this very same tool comes to mind and given its age I reckon they manufaturers were thinking pretty well. Mine even had the dinky leather case.

As far as the slot in the middle is concerned, I do know (from experience) that it fits the tops of taps (yeah faucets for youse above the equator). Often in Parks etc the handles were left off so that recalcitrant youths couldn't turn them on. The Park workers carried a spare tap handle to use when they wanted to turn the rap on. Well guess wot - this tool will fit and just give it a turn and you can turn the tap on too. Oh the wonders of modern science.

I must now go and have a squizz to see if I can find mine but given that I have shifted ten times in that past thirty years the odds are slim.

Good work on the find and given the money they are fetching I have further inspiration to do a little huntin'.

edcgear · **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2011, 02:35:57 PM

Quote from: kymg on April 27, 2011, 01:44:43 PM

Well I'll be buggered. When I saw the heading to this post I thought to myself I wonder if..... and then I saw it. I was given one of these by my father about forty years ago and I am damned if I can find it. Often when I think about multi tools this very same tool comes to mind and given its age I reckon they manufaturers were thinking pretty well. Mine even had the dinky leather case.

As far as the slot in the middle is concerned, I do know (from experience) that it fits the tops of taps (yeah faucets for youse above the equator). Often in Parks etc the handles were left off so that recalcitrant youths couldn't turn them on. The Park workers carried a spare tap handle to use when they wanted to turn the rap on. Well guess wot - this tool will fit and just give it a turn and you can turn the tap on too. Oh the wonders of modern science.

I must now go and have a squizz to see if I can find mine but given that I have shifted ten times in that past thirty years the odds are slim.

Good work on the find and given the money they are fetching I have further inspiration to do a little huntin'.

Great usage!!

Now I really WONT one!!!

MultiMat · **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2011, 03:38:42 PM

Quote from: kymg on April 27, 2011, 01:44:43 PM

Well I'll be buggered. When I saw the heading to this post I thought to myself I wonder if..... and then I saw it. I was given one of these by my father about forty years ago and I am damned if I can find it. Often when I think about multi tools this very same tool comes to mind and given its age I reckon they manufaturers were thinking pretty well. Mine even had the dinky leather case.

As far as the slot in the middle is concerned, I do know (from experience) that it fits the tops of taps (yeah faucets for youse above the equator). Often in Parks etc the handles were left off so that recalcitrant youths couldn't turn them on. The Park workers carried a spare tap handle to use when they wanted to turn the rap on. Well guess wot - this tool will fit and just give it a turn and you can turn the tap on too. Oh the wonders of modern science.

I must now go and have a squizz to see if I can find mine but given that I have shifted ten times in that past thirty years the odds are slim.

Good work on the find and given the money they are fetching I have further inspiration to do a little huntin'.

, a tap key

. I wonder if intentional or improvised

.

Yep get huntin

edcgear · **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2011, 04:43:44 PM

OH

and they have produced Clasp folding knive... Like Sheffiel BAK....

MultiMat · **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2011, 04:53:40 PM

Quote from: edcgear on April 27, 2011, 04:43:44 PM

OH and they have produced Clasp folding knive... Like Sheffiel BAK....

That they did mate

.
I am a sucker for em too

.

edcgear · **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2011, 08:59:29 PM

Oh man I love those... And marlin spike... Useless for me, but just for

things arround, and blade shape... Don't care what they say about quality, and everything, they are just awesom!!

MultiMat · **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2011, 02:58:14 AM

Well shock n horror I made a mistake

. I thought the wee Aussie tool's pencil sharpener also doubled as the tools listed feature of having a blade sharpener. The blade sharpener is actually the under side edge of the tool & it is for the old style razor blades

.I think it was a little 'creative' to call a rounded tool edge a razor blade sharpening devise

. BS marketing was around in the 40's

This number 43 tool recently came up for sale & it had the tool's original instruction sheet(tools vintage 1950's)

which I have never seen before. I sadly got out bid but the owner of the images , Larry , has kindly given me permission to use his images. I would love to find a 43 with it's original leather pouch

.

WH867 · **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2011, 04:42:24 AM

b

Quote from: MultiMat on August 18, 2011, 02:58:14 AM

. I would love to find a 43 with it's original leather pouch .

[

I thought everyone had one of those pouches

.

Nice instructions.

.

MultiMat · **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2011, 05:01:03 AM

Quote from: WH867 on August 18, 2011, 04:42:24 AM

b
Quote from: MultiMat on August 18, 2011, 02:58:14 AM
. I would love to find a 43 with it's original leather pouch .

[
I thought everyone had one of those pouches .

Nice instructions. .

Yeh its not right that a Buckeye has a rare piece of Aussie industrial heritage in his possession with its original leather pouch

.

Maybe the government/me could demand its return as a required historical artifact

J-sews · **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:56:06 AM

Interesting new info there Mat.

I wonder if the fellow with the Whittingslowe web page knows that?

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Before Atwood There Was Aussie !!(Whittingslowe Tool NO.43)

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