Pliers
There are 1, 2 and 3 row Vacuum Grip handles. 2 rows are most common, but with in the 2 row pliers there are 3 variations shown here
Snap on started with Sockets and Handles. There were no Pliers offered until 1928. They were “Vacuum Grip Pliers. These were OEM products from “Forged Steel Products Company” out of Newport PA.
In 1924 the owner (Billy Myers) of Forges Steel Products Company visited Snap on and a deal was stuck. He was having trouble with distributors and needed a way to sell his products; Snap on needed a line of pliers. The deal was non-exclusive so Pliers marked Snap on, and Forge Steel Products existed at the same time.
Forged Steel Products also started to build Blue-Point open end wrenches and punches around the same time. Blue-Point was also manufactured in Racine and later Milwaukee. By 1931 Forge Steel Products Company was merged into Snap on and Bill Myers became president of Snap on. In 1939 he passed away.
Snap on Plier Growth
There are 2 ways to mark plier types, this is an early example on the top and a late example below
In 1926 there were 8 sets of OEMed pliers, 2 needle nose, 4 adjustable side joint pliers and 2 wire cutters. 1927 brought 11 types, 1929 was up to 15 types. Then the period of an independent OEM was over.
Span On offered 16 types in 1931. 1935 saw some expansion to 20 types, 1936 – 25 types, through 1960 the numbers grow slowly, and Vice Grip is introduced in the early 1960s. In 1962 the phase out of the Vacuum Grip started also with the introduction of insulated handled pliers for electronics.
This phase out lasted over many years and Vacuum Grip pliers were still sold through 1970.
Geography
Pliers were originally OEMed from Forged Steel Products in Pennsylvania. Pliers were potentially made in Newport, PA, Racine, Milwaukee and Kenosha. Some of the tools are marked with manufacturing sites that can help date these tools. Forged Steel Products was the source from 1926 through 1949 when it became a subsidiary of Snap on and was active until 1955. It seems likely that Newport and Milwaukee produced pliers at the same time. Also Newport and Kenosha produced at the same time. So the following sites may have produced your pliers
1. Newport PA OEMed from Forged Steel Products in Pennsylvania 1924-1949 (Very Likely)
http://www.newportpubliclibrary.org/forgedsteelproducts.htm
2. Newport PA Subsidiary of Snap on 1950 – 1955 (Very Likely)
3. Milwaukee existed from 1920 to July 1930 when the Kenosha Plant was opened (some pliers are marked this way)
4. Racine is the site of the Blue Point Tool Company and existed in the 1920s is 1926 the production was transferred to Milwaukee (I have not seen an example)
5. Kenosha Plant from July 1930 (100% after 1955 - Very Likely)
Patterns
Handles seem to have 4 variants: Smooth and Vacuum Grip, With Vacuum Grip there are 1 and 2 rows, with the 2 row versions, there are single cups at the start and finish of some and others start and end with double cups. I speculate all the 2 and 3 row vacuum grip handles are from Newport, and none of the smooth handles are.
So the Variants are
1. Smooth Grip
2. Vacuum Grip 1 rows
3. Vacuum Grip 2 row with single cups at the start and finish
4. Vacuum Grip 2 row with double cups start to finish
Labels seem to have the following variants: Early stamped versions - normally in the joint. There are 2 recessed rectangles inside the handles, one is marked Made in USA on both handles and one has the model of the pliers. Both of these seem to be from Forged Steel Products and are common into the late 1940s. There are molded raised labels – These seem to be modern and are likely Kenosha built. There are stamped labels in the handles as well.
1. Early stamped versions - normally in the joint.
2. recessed rectangles inside the handles, one marked Made in USA one marked with the model
3. recessed rectangles inside the handles, both marked Made in USA
4. Molded raised labels
5. stamped labels in the handles