The Crescent Company was founded in 1907 and its first tools were pliers. Soon after it began manufacture of an adjustable wrench that would eventually become the name for all similar adjustable wrenches. Their early tools were typical of the age; carbon steel. In the 1930s Crescent introduced an alloy steel they called Crestoloy. Tools made with the alloy steel could be made thinner and lighter while being stronger than similar carbon steel tools. The use of alloy-steels marked a significant change across the entire industry. Crestoloy Steel appears in “Crescent Tools Catalog No. 19, 1931-06-15” ( https://archive.org/details/crescent-tools-catalog-19/001%20Crescent%20Tools%20Catalog%2019/page/2/mode/2up?view=theater ), where its advantages are touted and that it was in use for their Adjustable Wrenches. The first appearance we could find for a Model 72 Nipper in this form is “Crescent Tool Co., Catalog No. 23, 1939-04” ( https://archive.org/details/crescent-tool-co-catalog-23/page/4/mode/2up ). Our effort to narrow the age of the Nipper was complicated by the long-span of time of production without significant or noticeable changes of Crescent’s tools. The best we can offer is this; it appears from images viewed on Alloy Artifacts and elsewhere that “Jamestown, N.Y.” (see images) disappeared from the stamped branding of Pliers in the 1970s. It was in the 1960s and early 1970s that management and ownership changed and production shifted, as needed, to other facilities not located in Jamestown. The Nipper is in fully functional condition though there’s a small nick near the center of the Nipper’s Blades (see images). The Pivot Point is secure, moves smoothly and lacks any lateral movement. The Blades meet squarely. There’s evidence of use and, except for the nick mentioned above, no evidence of misuse. Some corrosion has accumulated on after many years (see images). The Nipper could be put to work and would perform as designed. With a little cleaning it would fit easily in a mid-century tool Show-and-Tell Accumulation and still be available to go to work. It’ll always look (and perform) like what it is; a fine tool. We will ship the Nipper by USPS Ground Advantage on the next regular business day following receipt of payment.
Specifics
- Brand: Crescent Company
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States