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I also have this vintage German mechanical nippers coming my way... Info?

15 visible archived posts · 15 preserved total · topic ID 6814

jimmy.jimenez.65 09 Sep 2019

So, I also ordered these online, and should have them within a week or so.
I believe them to be German, but the pics don't seem to show any maker's marks.
Based on the attached photo, if someone has some insight they can share with me about this item I have coming, I will greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance :)

djhalfdead 09 Sep 2019

That is a German, Hide/Roth nipper. Here is a page, with a pic and a little info on them. https://www.blacksteel.com/hcs/index.cg ... 190&mode=1

-Richard Knip-

Unknown / guest 09 Sep 2019

Heid* /Roth

jimmy.jimenez.65 09 Sep 2019

Thanks, you guys are awesome!
Btw, based on the photo I was able to share here, is this specimen that I have coming my way, an older version, or the later version?
Also, what kind of price range are they usually found in?
Thanks again! :)

Unknown / guest 09 Sep 2019

This is the picture that was online of the other side of it...

Unknown / guest 11 Sep 2019

Same with the Hiatt nippers I have coming my way, I am hoping someone here can maybe offer me clues on how to establish the decade in which these Heid & Roth nippers were made?
Based on what I have read thus far, they began making them sometime after 1910, but were possibly still made as late as the 1960's, (or further). Would there be any subtle tell tale signs/markings that help place them into any given circa. For example, the older ones/first ones, supposedly had their screws placed into them in a way that made them non adjustable, where the later ones were without this feature, and the screws could be adjusted. Even that is a bit confusing to me, as I have found no mention on how this was achieved, (what was this difference)?
Anyhow, I again want to thank you folks in advance for any insight you can share with me about these nippers :)

Bjoern70 11 Sep 2019

Hi there,
the Heid & Roth patents date from 1912, 1951 & 1964.
You might identify your specimen by comparing it with the patent documents. They are available in the german patent office online database:
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... &xxxfull=1
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... &xxxfull=1
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... &xxxfull=1

Best regards
Bjoern

jimmy.jimenez.65 11 Sep 2019

Bjoern70 wrote: ↑
Sep 11, 2019
Hi there,
the Heid & Roth patents date from 1912, 1951 & 1964.
You might identify your specimen by comparing it with the patent documents. They are available in the german patent office online database:
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... ;xxxfull=1
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... ;xxxfull=1
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/d ... ;xxxfull=1

Best regards
Bjoern
Click to expand...

Much thanks, those patent drawings totally narrowed down to the 1951 model.
The earlier 1912 model had no gimping on the frame opposite of the side where the thumb lever is, (mine has that gimping). And, the the 1964 model has a longer overall thumb lever, and that lever protrudes out more in the final locked position.
Yup, based on the patent pics and the pics I have of the nippers coming to me, they are of the 1951 variant.
Much thanks again! :)

Unknown / guest 11 Sep 2019

Well, after some more comparisons of the patent and the pics of my incoming nippers, I can definitely say it's not a 1910 model, but really can't be so sure whether it's a 1951 or 1964 variant. If I could read German, maybe I could read what adjustments they made for each model along the way.
In any case, it is not the 1910, so at least that was easily figured out by the patent drawings. The 1910 does not show the gimping found on the two later models.

Unknown / guest 12 Sep 2019

#10

I kept going back to examine the patent diagrams for the Heid & Roth 1910, 1951, and 1954 model nippers.
As I mentioned before, it seems that the diagrams for the 1910 model does lack any gimping on both the thumb lever and the opposite side of the frame.
The 1951 model patent diagram does show the addition of the gimping for the lever and the frame, (which is later included on the 1964 model as well).
Now, looking at the 1964 model diagram, it seems to show that the earlier 1910 & 1951 models had a shorter thumb lever, but is extended in length for the 1964 model.
If I am correct on this summation, it would qualify my incoming nippers as being the 1951 model. If I am wrong about the lever difference, then I'm back to it being either a 1951 or a 1964 model. But, I actually think I'm right about the extended thumb lever being the added distinguishing facter for the 1964 over the 1951.

I must say, I do enjoy looking into and discovering the subtle differences of the "interesting objects" within my collection :)

jimmy.jimenez.65 12 Sep 2019

#11

Oops, sorry for the typo above... The models, based on patent dates, are the 1910, 1951, and the 1964 ☺

Unknown / guest 12 Sep 2019

#12

My Heid & Roth nippers arrived today.
They're definitely a neat gizmo.
They'll fit right in with my "interesting objects" collection ☺

Thanks again, guys, for imput shared with me

Unresolved image reference ↗

Unknown / guest 13 Sep 2019

#13

If these nippers are indeed the 1951 patent model, it would mean they are anywhere from 55 to 68 years old. That said, other than obvious scuffs and such to it's nickel finish, I did not notice anything that I would think of as being rust. So, I kind'a was thinking that maybe they were not made of steel, but rather of a nickel plated zinc or brass.
I decided to do a magnet test on it, and sure enough, it stuck right to it's frame.
So, it does seem to be made of steel, or maybe a malleable cast iron, but brass or zinc it's not.

Unknown / guest 14 Sep 2019

#14

Another thing I was wondering about, was the finish on these nippers. Although they are obviously plated, I'm no longer so sure that the plating is nickel.
It simply does not have that ever so slight yellow tint to it, although in certain areas where the finish is a wee bit thinner from wear, a golden look seems to peer through.
I'm almost convinced the finish is actually a chrome plating. I believe chrome plating has been around since the late 1930's to early 1940's, so it could be what this finish is. I have yet to see a pic that is definitely one of the earliest made 1910 Heid/Roth nippers, and one of those would have most likely had to have been unplated, blued, or nickel finished, because chrome plating was not yet in play. As I try digging more into these Heid/Roth nippers, it seems I only have more questions than answers about them.
Online photos of them have shown me that markings run the gamut from non existent, to various numbers, to various other stamps, (and on one side, both sides, or neither side).
Some of the photos show pretty close tolerances around the joint areas, while others show much looser tolerances. Some have very rounded edges, while others are left with little edge rounding, basically left very square, (but not sharp), in that regard. Some have staked screws to secure them from movement, others do not. Some seem to have most to all machining marks buffed away, while others clearly have that detail excluded.
Also, I have noticed that some have their wrist prongs tapered, where their ends are noticeably not as thick as they are near their beginning at the frame area, while others simply taper so little, that it is nowhere near as obvious.
I am thinking these were were not at all a one or two factory manufactured item, but instead an item that many firms were contracted to make them, and thus the oh so many differences.
Even so, any and all information on who actually made them, is very much hiding from my discovering them.
It would seem that the deviations, (subtle, and not so subtle), are so many, that it could keep someone collecting them, very busy.
I'll stick to just having the one representation I now have, but will continue to try and learn more about them... "Interesting Objects" is interesting stuff ☺

rejones68 25 Jun 2023

#15

jimmy.jimenez.65 wrote: ↑
Sep 14, 2019
Another thing I was wondering about, was the finish on these nippers. Although they are obviously plated, I'm no longer so sure that the plating is nickel.
It simply does not have that ever so slight yellow tint to it, although in certain areas where the finish is a wee bit thinner from wear, a golden look seems to peer through.
I'm almost convinced the finish is actually a chrome plating. I believe chrome plating has been around since the late 1930's to early 1940's, so it could be what this finish is. I have yet to see a pic that is definitely one of the earliest made 1910 Heid/Roth nippers, and one of those would have most likely had to have been unplated, blued, or nickel finished, because chrome plating was not yet in play. As I try digging more into these Heid/Roth nippers, it seems I only have more questions than answers about them.
Online photos of them have shown me that markings run the gamut from non existent, to various numbers, to various other stamps, (and on one side, both sides, or neither side).
Some of the photos show pretty close tolerances around the joint areas, while others show much looser tolerances. Some have very rounded edges, while others are left with little edge rounding, basically left very square, (but not sharp), in that regard. Some have staked screws to secure them from movement, others do not. Some seem to have most to all machining marks buffed away, while others clearly have that detail excluded.
Also, I have noticed that some have their wrist prongs tapered, where their ends are noticeably not as thick as they are near their beginning at the frame area, while others simply taper so little, that it is nowhere near as obvious.
I am thinking these were were not at all a one or two factory manufactured item, but instead an item that many firms were contracted to make them, and thus the oh so many differences.
Even so, any and all information on who actually made them, is very much hiding from my discovering them.
It would seem that the deviations, (subtle, and not so subtle), are so many, that it could keep someone collecting them, very busy.
I'll stick to just having the one representation I now have, but will continue to try and learn more about them... "Interesting Objects" is interesting stuff ☺
Click to expand...

I don’t believe you have the second model from the 50s but 1 of the 2 models produced in the 60s. The green line in the photo is why I think this. It’s a straight line across on the 50s model only. I have 3 of these nippers now and all are different but none are the first model. I have the 50s model and the two different nippers Heid & Roth patented in the 60s. Really hoping to find the first model someday. Ron J