Maltby, Henley and Co principal business was producing handguns and pocket pistols. However, back in the late 1800s, this USA-company developed a nail-removing tool.
Patenting it in about 1878. The heritage collection now boasts one of these tools among its collection. Donated in 2018 by Don, the son of a plumber who
immigrated from South Africa to Australia in the 1980s to make a new life. Don says it was the best thing for the family with so many new opportunities.
While you might think the nail remover an unusual tool for a plumber’s kit, Don’s dad must have had a use for it, maybe pulling out noggins and lifting decking and floorboards. But like most of us we like a good tool kit and really like to have the right tool for the particular job. I gave this vintage tool a try and it did the job very well.
The vintage tool, when extended is 600mm long and 450mm when retracted. The operation was simple:
• Position the claw/pincher to the nail head.
• Thrust the slide forward to get the claw/pincher past the nail head.
• Push the handle sideways (to lever) to grip head.
• With a good grip, lever the nail out, pulling back the slide to assist.
Similar tools on the market today are made by Crescent, (RRP $45) are still made and used today.
Another odd tool in Don’s dad’s kit was a set of wire-fence strainers, which is certainly very curious
