Electricians Tool Set Restoration

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Steve Webb
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Steve Webb » Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:16 pm

#2 is called a fish tape and it would be 1/8" wide 100' long. I'll scout around to see what kind of case it would be in back then. I think it would be a metal case.

This would be modern one. Most are stainless steel or a poly.

https://www.grainger.com/product/10F502 ... adType^PLA

I would wager it would be this kind for that era

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LUFKIN ... 2140157469
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by pjones » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:17 pm

Steve,
I think your right but how do you tell the difference between that and a surveyors tape. They look identical at a glance. I would guess that a fish wire isn't marked like a rule but I may be wrong. What are your thoughts?
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:38 pm

pjones wrote:
Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:30 pm
Here are a few pieces unique to this set that I don't recall having seen posted before.
I found a slightly different Lenk torch last year, Phil, posted here, if you’re interested in seeing it, and also a pair of TRICO brand fiber fuse pliers, posted here (lower left, below file handles). I probably should’ve paid more attention to your needs list – maybe could’ve gotten rid of some of my stuff! :)

As for the fish tape... When we discussed them earlier and I sent you some links to vintage examples and I mentioned I had a Lufkin reel with a wood handle, maybe it is a fish tape and not a steel tape measure after all. I’m on TDY through Friday but I’ll re-check it when I get back home.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by pjones » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:52 am

Greg, thanks for the Lenk link :lol:
Let me know about the fish wire. I found one locally but I'm not sure if it's a surveyors tape or fish wire.

Steve, how would the wire itself be marked if at all?

Thanks,
Phil
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:20 am

pjones wrote:
Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:52 am
Let me know about the fish wire. I found one locally but I'm not sure if it's a surveyors tape or fish wire.

Steve, how would the wire itself be marked if at all?
Good question. I'm curious to see what Steve says. It's his Lufkin link that has me wondering. That is exactly what my Lufkin looks like, but I am pretty sure it's marked differently. If that is truly a fish tape (at his link), and I had to guess, I'd say it's marked not for precise measurements, but for knowing generally how much of the fish tape you have running through a wall or a conduit before you hook your electrical cord or wire on it to push it through. ?? Last time I used one was pulling speaker wire from the basement up to the third floor, and I don't remember it being marked, but I'm no electrician. :oops: :lol:
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Steve Webb » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:27 am

None of the newer tapes are marked. I think it was a good idea early on but really not that practical now. The fact that it is 100' makes sense for electrical work. Back then short runs and pipe was rigid cut and threaded very simple circuits. I don't know a lot about surveying but 100' seems kinda short for that work. My fishtape now is 240' and stainless steel. It is shorter now as it gets beat up pretty good and you just cut it off and rebend new hook. I would like to see the end of the older tapes as they are closed and you stripped wires off and put them through the fishtape then flattened them with pliers and tape to keep it slim and on the hook. Put a pic of the end you have and unless it has been cut I can tell if it for wire pulling.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:41 am

Phil,

I picked up what looks like a vintage fish tape today. See a photo on my flea thread here. I'll post more photos when I clean it up. Based on the capacity of the reel, and what's wound up, it looks like it's been clipped a few times. But it looks authentic and legit to me, especially with that coiled-wire whip-like handle.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by retro-roco » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:49 am

your photo on the other page you linked looks like the plumbers snake that my father used for clearing sink drains and the like. the spring on the leading end helped to coax the snake through P-traps. Not saying it cant be a fish tape...
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:01 am

retro-roco wrote:
Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:49 am
your photo on the other page you linked looks like the plumbers snake that my father used for clearing sink drains and the like. the spring on the leading end helped to coax the snake through P-traps. Not saying it cant be a fish tape...
Interesting, Kirk. I was thinking that was the handle. Let's see what Steve says.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by retro-roco » Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:02 am

it uncoils from the center. that is the leading end.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:11 am

Ah. Good point.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Steve Webb » Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:05 pm

That is for certain a plumbers snake.
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:08 pm

Thanks, Kirk and Steve. Going with the users in that case! :lol:
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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Rustman » Mon Feb 05, 2018 4:17 am

Steve Webb wrote:
Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:05 pm
That is for certain a plumbers snake.
I would suggest he wash his hands then...

I may have the correct fish tape. Somewhere in my stuff is a steel cased fish tape. Similar in design to the modern plastic cases that are made up of two pieces clam shelled around the tape. Except this is steel. No handle. Just a clamshell donut with the tape sticking out. I've never really messed with it. Have to find it and check it out.

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Re: Electricians Tool Set Restoration

Post by Steve Webb » Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:57 am

The free end is what will tell if it is or not. I believe prior to plastic they had 2 piece steel cases without handles and you just pulled tape from the center slot and used the case to pull tape and rewind. it was slow and also caused binding since you can really put a lot of pressure on it during wire pulling. We also would cut a piece of 1/2" greenfield and run end through it and taped it to the second piece then rolled tape inside of it. Mostly with tapes that the case got destroyed during use and the handle would not turn. We are brutes
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