William Bernard was an innovative tool maker and inventor. Mr. Bernard was born in 1848 in Lynchburg, Virginia. After working as a machinist making tools in several east coast areas, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut in 1890 where he would work with, and later purchase his share of the William Schollhorn Manufacturing Company, which was initially founded 1870. Mr. Bernard would go on to career which included more than 100 patented inventions to his credit. At some point, William Schollhorn Company was purchased by Sargent Manufacturing Company, making the Schollhorn Company the hand tool division of Sargent. Rostra Tool purchased the hand tool division of Sargent, and is still the owner today. Rostra proudly acknowledges it's history on their website. Outside of his work, William Bernard was a member of the Episcopal and politically independent.
Mr. William Bernard's most significant innovation is the Bernard Parallel Action Pliers, patent #427220 submitted on May 6, 1890. This parallel action plier was not only a significant invention in itself but would also be the base from which Mr. Bernard would add on many other patents as well. On the plier above, there are 3 additional patent dates. Patent #479113 submitted July 19, 1892 is for the cutter on the side, and patents 848877 (April 2, 1907) and 1064956 (June 17, 1913) are concerning the technology used to make the handles. Perhaps what amazes me the most is that the main design, patented over 120 years ago is still being manufactured today.
William Schollhorn Company History
Sargent Tools (Rostra) still manufactures these pliers to this day
patent #427220
Patent #479113
Patent #848877
Patent #1064956
Bernard, William A. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ctnhvbio/Bernard_William_A.html Dec. 13, 2013
from the Netherlands, I looked on the internet for more information about the Bernard pliers, I found this blog.The tool comes from my grandfathers toolbox, 40 jrs ago and I still use it, a fine tool to me.Indeed amazing that the concept is still in use.
ReplyDeletegreetings from the Netherland, Dirk
I agree with ya Dick as I did the same thing. I got mine at a yard sale for $2 10 years ago and it works 100% and made of some super steel. Researching the name I was just wanting to find a value or date of manufacturing and this info on this site is just perfect! Jerry
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm in London - England, i have exact same tool as above, (found at a yard sale too, £2) but mine is stamped "AM" with a crown above and "1940" below.
ReplyDeleteThis is an acceptance stamp for "Air Ministry" and date of acceptance, the Air Ministry procured items for use by The Royal Air Force, only sourcing the very best available, even in war time. I've stripped them down, cleaned reassembled with a thin film of oil, good for another 75+ years. I have a few other pairs of Bernard pliers, not same as these though.
We just bought a box of old tools at a garage sale today and there was a pair of the pliers in it and I had to look them up.. they are unique and will more than likely stay in the same shape we got them in and br used
ReplyDeleteI have a classic one of these pliers also...they belonged to my dad before me. He was an electronics quality control engineer and this plier lived in his home electrical soldering kit. If I was to guess, I would say this plier is at least 60 to 70 years old, and still functions perfectly! I use them for holding wire of equal diameter, especially heavy, thick gauge electrical wire, while installing large wire nuts. Because the handles are not electrically insulated, care must be used in the presence of voltage. Nevertheless....no other tool I own serves this purpose as well! They are uniquely designed for many specialized tasks and often no other tool serves.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I remember pawing through my father’s soldering ‘kit’, and was always drawn to this particular tool, I loved the smooth action and moving parts of the design.....tho’ I didn’t have a clue as to how or why I would use them.
When I would question my dad about them, he would demonstrate it’s use....I think he enjoyed the same qualities inherent in this tool, as I do today!
As an aside, he always called them “The Berniers”, (and so have I), not sure were that name came from, but that is what they will always be called, by me!
I use This tool to cut heavy wire seals on truck trailers/the quality of the steel it's made from seems to be exstinct..I got them at a sale off a 100 plus year old farm,they work perfectly and will cut a nail easily
ReplyDelete