My Tools
A Simple Restoration
A well-used pair of vintage Barcalo lineman's pliers reminds me that the best tools aren't always the perfect ones... they're the ones with a story.
A Gift from Dad
Over the years my dad gave me a number of tools, with his classic Stanley plane, and the Gerstner tool chest being the prizes. He's also given me some other hand tools - a pair of old Utica diagonal cutters, and his old Barcalo lineman pliers . Let's talk about the Barcalos!
Barcalo - An Interesting History
Barcalo? What's a Barcalo you ask? Well, one of the fun things about restoring old tools is learning about the history of old tool companies, some I never heard of either. These days it seems hand tools are all just Crescent, Klein, or a small handful of others. But it turns out, once upon a time there were tool manufacturers all over the place. There was a somewhat famous company in Utica, and we'll get to them another time, and there was also a manufacturer in Buffalo - Barcalo Tool Co.
It's not every day that a tool company is acquired by a furniture maker, but such was the case with Barcalo Manufacturing of Buffalo. Barcalo was a diversified maker of metal products including metal beds, tools, and later the Barcalounger line of reclining furniture. Eventually the fame of the Barcalounger chairs eclipsed the tool operations, and later Barcalo was purchased by a furniture maker in North Carolina. So, they're sadly no longer located in Buffalo.
Some other tool restorations here at 173
∙ The Inherited Old Oil Can - July, 2021
∙ Dad's Stanley No. 4 Plane - February 2021
∙ The Paring Chisel Restoration - March 2021
∙ The Red Devil Sheet Metal Shears - April 2021
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Random post collection: The Dining Room
Dad's Barcalos: Why These Pliers Were Factory Seconds
I have no idea where dad got these pliers. He may have picked them up at work, from a catalog, a yard sale - who knows? But what I do know is that he's had them almost all my life, and they've seen a lot of work. And you may have already noticed that they're "seconds" meaning they had some flaw or flaws.
And at a mere glance I can tell you the two flaws that probably resulted in the pliers being labeled "seconds." One - the cutters aren't aligned properly, probably the result of the forging. They still cut most wire beautifully, it's just when cutting thin, stranded wire that the flaw stands out.
Two - the nose is separated a little too far, probably because the cutters aren't aligned properly. I haven't come across an instance yet where either of these flaws made a difference. This picture is a little deceiving because they really do close all the way. You'll see that later.
At [the factory] you had to buy most of your own tools. They used to come around with with catalogs and you'd order your tools and the company took the cost out of your check. Because of that - you were always looking for a deal...buying from guys retiring, or less than perfect tools. But whatever you got, you paid for them so you took care of them. - Paraphrase from a conversation with Dad
I've thought about that conversation many times since Dad told me that story. It explains why so many tools from his generation are still around today. They weren't disposable, and they certainly weren't impulse purchases. Every wrench, pair of pliers, or screwdriver represented hours of work, so they were cleaned, repaired, and put back in the toolbox instead of thrown away. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy restoring old tools so much, it feels like carrying forward that same respect for the things we own.
Cleaning Up a Lifetime of Work
Dad's Barcalo Linesman pliers were actually in pretty decent shape. Mostly they just needed a cleanup and a little rust removal. I read in Alloy Artifacts that the pliers were polished with blued handles. You can get a good sense of that in this picture:
Vintage books, old china, antiques; maybe I love old things so much because I feel impermanent myself. - Josh Lanyon
I considered cold bluing the handles after cleaning them up, but at the time that I restored them, which was in March of 2021 (no idea why I waited so long to post this) I was on a Klein Koat Tenite kick. Heck - maybe someday I'll take them off and cold blue after all! In the meantime, here's how they turned out...
And while these pliers may be "seconds" they'll always have a special place in my plier arsenal. They'll always make me think of my dad. I wonder what he'd think about having grips on the handles. I can almost hear him now, "why'd you do that?"
Natural Habitat: More Than Just Another Pair of Pliers
Of course, these pliers found the pliers rack on the tool board above the work bench to be their natural habitat. After all, where else would they go?
With that, thanks for stopping by, and - see ya' next time!
I've bought expensive tools, inherited cheap ones, and found treasures at flea markets. After all these years, I've learned the tool is only half the story. The other half is who used it before you.That's what I liked most about this post. You could've spent another page talking about rust removal, but instead you talked about your dad. The part about buying tools through the work catalog and paying a little at a time says a lot about that generation. You can picture a young guy deciding whether he could afford one more tool that week.I also liked that you left the flaws alone. Those crooked cutters aren't defects anymore, they're part of that pair's story. They weren't collector's items when your dad bought them. They were working tools, and they earned every scratch.The line that stuck with me was imagining your dad asking, "Why'd you do that?" after seeing the new grips. I laughed because every family has those conversations. Sometimes fixing up an old tool isn't about making it better. It's about making it yours while still hearing the voice of the person who handed it to you. - The Seasoned DIYer
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made Barcalo tools?
Barcalo Manufacturing was a Buffalo, New York company that produced a variety of metal products, including hand tools, before becoming better known for the Barcalounger line of reclining chairs.
What are lineman's pliers used for?
Lineman's pliers are designed for gripping, twisting, pulling, and cutting wire, making them one of the most versatile hand tools for electrical and general shop work.
What does "factory seconds" mean?
Factory seconds are tools sold with minor cosmetic or manufacturing imperfections that generally don't affect their intended use.
Are vintage Barcalo tools collectible?
Yes. While they may not command the prices of some premium brands, Barcalo tools are appreciated by collectors, especially those interested in American-made hand tools.
Should old pliers be restored or left alone?
That depends on the goal. Light cleaning and rust removal preserve usability while maintaining character. Over-restoration can sometimes erase the history that makes an old tool special.
Why keep using inherited hand tools?
Using inherited tools keeps family history alive. Every time they're picked up, they serve as reminders of the people who first used them.
Keywords
Barcalo pliers, vintage lineman's pliers, Barcalo Tool Company, tool restoration, inherited tools, vintage hand tools, Buffalo tool companies, family tools, American-made tools, House 173