Mystery Tools?

Hi All,

Just got a couple of sets of these unusual tools in with a lot.

Not totally sure what they are for:

Pretty sure they are for leatherworking but I can find no reference at all in the 'Salaman' bible. The only other use that kind of comes to mind is bookbinding but again no proof. A bit like cauking irons but way too small...

Nicely marked with sizes and good maker R TIMMINS.

Any thoughts welcome.

Cheers,

martin

They look like tools for sheet metal work to me - I have used them for making hinges in the past.

Thinking about it, I have an idea my dad had some of these tucked away in his garage - sadly he's not going to be with us much longer, but still ok to talk about the old days, so I'll ask him later today - they might be called swaging punches, or hinge swages (or the name might depend on where you live or who taught you during your apprenticeship!).

There is mention of an R Timmins & sons in Grace's guide. They made steel toys ect, might be them.

sheet metal roll formers - butt hinges  & edges of steel sheets

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 29/01/2017 08:24:44

There are almost identical ones listed in my 1971/2 Buck & Hickman catalogue under 'Tinmens Groove Punches', in sizes from 1/8" - 3/4", but that's all they information given.

John

Well done folks, thats that sorted out! Many thanks.

RTIMMINS & WYNN TIMMINS made a huge assortment of tools for all trades and were a high quality maker, their tools are very collectable.

Cheers, Martin

As part of my apprenticeship I had to make similar items and then use them to roll the edges of sheet metal. Once that was mastered the edge was rolled and "wired" with a length of thick wired or usually welding wire. This was the process used by coachbuilders to stiffen the edges of vehicle wings. This was part of the all round training as the company where mould makers for plastic items and the process was not relevant.

Wire rings were used to strengthen beaded edges on tinware and these tools are used to form around the wire neatly.

Clive

Chris Evans has beaten me to it.

I know them as "tinman's edge snaps", used to make a rolled - and usually wired - edge on a tin sheet to stiffen it and make it safe to handle. Think old fashioned cake tins, bait boxes etc.

First knock up a right angle along the edge of the sheet.. The secret is to know how much to knock over. Now lay in a piece of wire. and knock the edge back over the wire to trap it. Now use the snap to form the rolled over edge and neaten it.

I never made hinges, though I can see that if you withdraw the wire from the bead you've got the makings of a hinge.

HTH Simon

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Well-found, John ... but what a curious and counter-intuitive description !!

They clearly do not punch a groove, but wrap thin materal over a radiused counterpart

... which is quite the opposite to the description.

I doesn't matter, because the end-product can be 'seen as' grooved ... but it does seem odd.

MichaelG