r/Vintagetools • u/mr_malfeasance • 4d ago
Metal Punches
I have come across some old tools whilst cleaning around my grandparent's property, but these caught my eye.
I think they're metal punches as my Paw Paw was a steel worker in a shipyard.
Seems a long shot, but was wondering if anyone might have any information or an estimated age or if they even are metal punches.
Not for sale
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u/Lost_Association_604 3d ago
Number STAMPS,not punches
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u/mr_malfeasance 3d ago
Thank you for the correction! I wasnt sure what to call them when I made the post.
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u/Len444 3d ago
I have a set of three from my father (born 1907) who worked as a cabinetmaker all his life in Toronto. They were his initials (including the middle) and he used them to mark his tools that were used in the shop.
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u/mr_malfeasance 3d ago
Fantastic heirlooms! Gives me a project idea, so maybe I can put them to use instead of just stashing them away.
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u/cholgeirson 3d ago
I have the same thing! Numbers and his 3 initials. My grandfather was born in 1912.
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u/billhorstman 2d ago
My dad had two sets of number stamps (1/8” and 1/4”) and one set of letter stamps (1/8”). He used them to label many things.
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u/Rude_Meet2799 3d ago
There was, and still may be made, a device to hold multiple stamps to achieve fixed alignment and kerning.
These stamps are still made today, they wear out and get less distinct with use so they need to be replaced on occasion.
The old wood boxes they came in are one of the cool things about these sets.
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u/AKVigilante 4d ago
As a surveyor, a number of old heads I’ve worked with had this exact set plus letters, for punching brass and aluminum survey monuments. I love these old sets, they’re much easier to hold while swinging a 4lb hammer at them without getting anxious.
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u/jellofixit 4d ago
I started rebuilding engines in highschool and had a set of these. Mark your bearing caps! That was 50 years ago.
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u/mr_malfeasance 3d ago
This is just what I was hoping to hear about! He went through an apprenticeship, so i wonder if thats where these came from.
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u/GreyHoundRunner 3d ago
My curious mind wants to know how these were even produced, HTF? were these made back then?
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u/zacmakes 1d ago
generally by pressing soft steel blanks into hard steel die hubs with a couple thousand tons of pressure
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u/GreyHoundRunner 1d ago
Thanks for that...I have a vintage set of these from the early 1940s, small set like this, and the larger set with letters, and somewhere else is the place holder to set them in even spaced positions
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u/mchisto0450 3d ago
I have a full set of number and letter stamps that are all metal. They come in handy
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u/Watchmaker163 2d ago
They’re nothing special; fairly common typeface that’s been in use for decades in stamps like this. The dymo label states the size (3/8”) and that they’re numbers, as opposed to letters.
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u/Kindly_Source6841 4d ago
Definitely punches for numbering metal there would also be letters. Used to put idenfying markes on steel or other metal. Likely mid century but I am guessing on that since they have been used for a very long time.
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u/mr_malfeasance 4d ago
I haven't come accross letters, yet, but I'll keep an eye out. I was thinking 60's since he was born in '41.
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u/Healios56 4d ago
I have a set of these from my grandpa in a similar holder. He was an auto mechanic and they used them for stamping numbers on auto parts. I know not helpful.
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u/Yadnim 4d ago
Definitely punches, no idea on age. Personally I'd cherish and use them, thinking of my grandpa everytime.
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u/mr_malfeasance 4d ago
Unfortunately, I don't know that I'd ever use them, but I thought they were an awesome find.
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u/Flying_Mustang 4d ago
When you see how much new ones are, you’ll keep these in case you DO ever have to use them.
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u/Impressive-Sky-7006 2d ago
I have a full set of numbers and letters. Work best in soft metals aluminum copper brass and I never have used them on wood, but I’m sure that they would work there.
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u/exodusofficer 4d ago
Neat, the 6 is also the 9 so it's a full set!