Antique Multi-Tool [Restoration]

This was a fun tool for a restoration project! It was made by the Lowentraut MFG. Co. of Newark, New Jersey sometime soon after 1901. It was patented by Samuel Johnston on May 21, 1901 and you can view the patent here: patents.google.com/patent/US6...
There was an earlier version of this tool and you can see the patent here: patents.google.com/patent/US5...
Some people call this a brace wrench or combination tool.
The handles are made of rosewood and the original finish was nickel-plating. I really do not like nickel-plating on antique tools as it is almost always degraded and prevents tools from getting that nice patina. I decide that, instead of re-plating the multi-tool, I would just polish up the metal that was there.
I used Evapo-Rust to see if any of the nickel-plating was salvageable, and it was on the screwdriver part of this tool. The rest were either sandblasted or polished with an abrasive pad.
Oil-based wood finished turn rosewood really dark, so I used wax to make sure the beautiful wood grain was showing through.
I can see why something like this never really caught on as most multi-tools today suffer from the same problems; they are only somewhat good at each task.
It was fun to have a nice and quick restoration for a change along with removing all the history from the tool! The MAN can't tell me what to do.
I also caught my first "blooper" on video and included it in this upload.
I'd like to thank Evapo-Rust for sponsoring this video.
Purchase wrenches here:
www.handtoolrescue.com
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[@kevinsage993]

After not being able to sleep last night I stumbled on to your channel and to my surprise I “binged” on your tool restoration channel until half past 7 the next morning. I have found my new hobby thanks to you sir and am disappointed only that I must now wait for your next upload. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, expertise, talent and humor, absolutely love it,

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you! Welcome.

[@Doofusroy]

The sandblast box headbutt gets me every time! LOL!

[@craigljardine]

Doofusroy Makes me laugh everytime he does that

[@SideBurn12]

ikr! I've seen it in 3-4 videos now, and I still laugh more than I probably should ^^

[@crystalsoulslayer]

That's no headbutt. That's 10x optical zoom, right there.

[@gile849]

lol

[@johndow9323]

Doofusroy I died laughing too

[@volvok7749]

The Clickspring cameo killed me!

[@tommyyandle9327]

What’s a clickspring?

[@frankstrawnation]

A really, really good channel. Check it: kzbin.info/door/worsKCR-Sx6R6-BnIjS2MA

[@Jokerbuzzed]

I'm glad you went through the different uses for the tool at the end because at the start of the video it just looked like someone welded a bunch of random broken tools together and tried to sell it off as a "Multi" tool. Reminded me of the time my dad broke his screw driver and tried to use it by clamping the head in a pair of vice grips. It........didn't go well. But hey! My 8 year old self learned a bunch of new curses I could throw at my friends, and subsequently get detention over. Who knew the term "Communist pissbucket" could be so offensive.

[@ChristopherFranklinSr]

I had to check the date to see if this was published on April 1st.

[@jebsails2837]

I had the hardest time getting my head around this one. I could see some components of the many tools, but it was not until the last few minutes where it all came together. It doesn't take all kinds, we just have them. Thanks for a great job.

[@BlackBeardProjects]

I would have never guess all the feature of that thing! Very interesting! :) Came out real nice of course, well done

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you! I am heading to Italy soon. Where are you in Italy?

[@BlackBeardProjects]

Nice! Near Bologna, let's have a beer if you come close.

[@flightrik1964]

Black Beard Projects any love your videos

[@mikelamothesr.8998]

At 70 years old I can lay claim to never having had seen one of that brace ever before. It looks handy as Hell and it looks fine after you put your hand to it, keep it up. Mike

[@TysyTube]

what a strange tool, a lot of work for a small tool, god job, i loved

[@ramosel]

Somehow, I never thought I'd be interested in seeing another man polish his knob....

[@jasonvandervalk3679]

Good quality wood

[@Daindrais]

Oh you... naughty man!

[@bradybyrum6885]

Genius engineering. Pipe wrench, Drill, Wrench all in one.

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

Best knob polishing I’ve seen on KZbin

[@mushroomtip11]

You slamming your head on the sandblasting window was the sole reason i subscribed. Not long after i was able to witness your genius ability of tool restoration. Putting some degree of comedy into this type of video/work adds an additional level of love i have for this craft. Keep on, keeping on, you Canadian gentleman, you. (*Tips hat, followed by a 2 finger salute)

[@HandToolRescue]

haha, thank you!

[@jeffreykipperman6894]

This is one of the coolest tools I've ever seen. Amazing restoration!

[@markwriter2698]

I have Been loath to restore my antiques. Mainly I don’t want to ruin them. But you have gotten me to consider the idea.

[@cecilgore495]

What guy in invented this, an all in one tool, probably got tired going back an forth to the tool box. Great job buddy, never tire of watching you.

[@slackjaw703]

Nickel plating is the Nickleback of tool finishes! Lol!

[@ramosel]

I just love Nickleback bashing!! laughed hard at this one!!!

[@stevencochran4284]

Everyone of them sounds the same ?

[@crystalsoulslayer]

I think it's because it's popular, but nobody can really understand why.

[@whywoulditellyoumyrealname4598]

It takes a certain kind of person to insult nickel plating like that

[@reygood1]

This guy deserves more view than the one cleaning a rusty knife or a rusty cleaver.

[@kurtfattig9370]

That is one of the most unique tools I've ever seen. You did a great job bringing it back to life.

[@bogdanmoldovan3555]

The tool is a reminder that even back then, they were still thinking big. Great tool, thank you for the rescue, mate.

[@stxrynn]

A tool box in your hand. That is too cool. Yeah, I've heard Chris's voice in my head once or twice, too!! Good work, man!

[@Mishn0]

As soon as he put that triangular toothed wheel part in the vice I said to myself, "I know where this is going..."

[@atles8379]

Not only are you the knob releaser.... you are also a great knob polisher 👍

[@daviddaddy]

Man, you Sure Know how to Polish the Hell out of a knob! Lol Loved the Clickspring Cameo! That was funny as hell! Thanks for another great video!

[@ThisOldTony]

nice work! leathermans aren't what they used to be huh. shame.

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you! I think it's missing a detent though.

[@9HighFlyer9]

Good to see you here Tony. Just found this channel but if you're commenting, that's enough endorsement for me to subscribe.

[@DemetriusCoutinho]

HighFlyer indeed

[@iflick7235]

I've come to appreciate the hundreds of camera adjustments he has to make in these videos.

[@derrickroe9791]

This must have been designed by a madman! Great restoration. Really glad you didn't over restore the rosewood and kept the character and contrast with the polished metal. Keep banging your head on the sand blaster 😀

[@More_Row]

4K looking super good! @Hand Tool Rescue . Glad you took the plunge and are future proofing your videos.

[@chrisandrus2735]

You did an amazing job Bringing this beautiful tool back to its former glory!

[@Penster-Elle]

I've watched you and learned lots from you over the year or so I've been subscribed. So I knew, without a doubt, that the rusty old tool sitting neglected at an antique store was a King Dick. So I bargained with the seller that If I bought a woodturning tool (that I would have bought anyway) he would give me the "rusty, knackered adjustable wrench" (his words) for nothing. I took it home and gave it the Hand Tool Rescue treatment. Now I have a perfectly working, non-rusty King Dick to play with when I'm alone in my workshop.... err..... err.... Great video by the way!

[@HandToolRescue]

Haha, nice!

[@tomtruesdale6901]

You don't see anything like that anymore. Great job on the restore.

[@MakeNCreate]

That clickspring joke was magnificent! Well done mate!

[@jakobc9348]

jesus that caught me off gaurd, sitting here jsut watched a new clicksprng vid like jsut came form it, im sitting here 2:30 in the morning dosing off too HTR and i think that ive done fallen asleep and woken up to a clickspring vid lmao

[@ericstoever9577]

The Clickspring voiceover, absolutely priceless! We all need such filing skills..

[@JoeShopper]

VERY professional. You can tell that you've had YEARS of practice knob polishing.

[@pemtax557]

First time I have laid eyes on this tool ... ingenious! As always, excellent work.

[@johnburdis5352]

Good resto of the antique multi tool. Thanks once again. I thoroughly enjoy your restorations.

[@rossforeman3156]

You knocked this out restoration out of the park. So good!

[@natemorton5575]

That Evapo-rust remover works wonders. Great job.

[@rugby224477]

Tools nowadays should still be made like this one. Great job, keep up the good work!

[@twigletts8433]

Every time I watch one of your videos its like watching a master painter doing a fine piece of art its amazing how well each tool was constructed and how with some tlc the life shines again i admire what you do so much im a production engineer so love my tools and how there made so very much keep up your amazing work

[@stephenlee62]

Excellent Resto! What an amazingly ingenious device. Never seen one of these before.

[@samtaylor6385]

Wow! I have never seen a multi-purpose tool like that before! Great restoration!

[@Sideshow320]

That's actually a pretty ingenious little tool.

[@cecilgore495]

I think you do a fantastic job on tools that you restore, I love watching you at work.

[@redlock4004]

When your done, the tool is a thing of beauty for sure :)

[@mali843]

back in 1876 they had to hand deliver 4k content and if it was HDR it had to be transported in a insulated carriage with a big ice cube cause its hot! Nice 4k bro!!

[@ApolloSevan]

I am so excited for the day you restore your work bench!

[@JamesBowers]

Such an interesting tool. Great restoration! Loved the reference when you were filing that gear.

[@forithan]

Always so excited to see you posting a new video!

[@BrokeMoFo]

Much respect sir, just a well done job all around. My father and I collect antique tools and engines or the like.... Recently we had met in our opinion, a magician of a machinist that shares our passion of restoration as I am well sure you have been bitten by the same.... I would like to say "Kudos" to you for your time spent on the history lesson that is our inventions past, as well as shining a restorative light upon the future understandings of where and to what constructs we had previously attempted to learn. Again, Kudos my friend, and many thanks....

[@charlieboyzname]

As ever, a truly brilliant restoration of a version of this type of tool I’ve not seen before. Keep up the great work and your a knob polisher extraordinaire! P.S. the tool gods have declared you their personal apprentice.... Think I need to find you a stone axe to restore, truly going back to our roots!

[@Atlantismonkey40]

charlieboyzname is

[@henrymca]

Really wish they had multi tools like this now a days

[@kamikazinyc]

The face plant on the sandbox is priceless!

[@Lemongrasspicker]

Cool piece. Nice work sir

[@bj20715]

Excellent restoration! A truly unique (if not entirely practical) tool. Not quite as easy to carry around as my Leatherman, but has infinitely more character. Good on you for saving it.

[@komerwest5872]

A truly never seen before tool. Was loving what you where doing then you put the brass knob on the belt sander😨😱😨😱😨.

[@censusgary]

I have never seen this kind of tool before. It’s really something.

[@mikepugh6483]

Unique tool. Great clean up and reconditioning.

[@randynovick7972]

Lovely! This restoration seemed pretty quick. Nice work!

[@Victoria_2005]

A beautiful piece of restoration! 👏👏👏

[@tonymarks3950]

that is a beauty ! The Knob Whisperer LOL

[@Mr.Stacey-L-SCC]

I love this thing, what a unique tool. Nice job.

[@ryguy7383]

That Clickspring reference made my freaking DAY! Subscribed!

[@yazman4040]

I LOVE THE REFERENCE TO CLICKSPRING!!! My favorite KZbin channels talking about each other... How meta....

[@kennethtalbott2233]

never seen a brace and bit like that. cracking tool. nice job

[@kencarlile1212]

Awesome. Just ran across these the other day and I'm well hooked!

[@renebernier8839]

Man i love watching your restorations

[@Sundlofengineering]

Thanks for posting so glad I had this on my delayed flight its hard not to polish brass. Brass for life!

[@Oxatolla]

Your videos are just the best! Thank you.

[@lordieshepherd]

Your videos are awesome on so many levels. Love it.

[@jtfen86]

I love your videos dude! This style or restoration is the best. I've already watched everything you have up. I'm hungry for more!

[@HighSeasCruiser]

Thanks for sharing. I was starting to miss your videos.

[@mtmchenry]

Very interesting tool. The jack of all but the master of none. Great video keep up the great work.

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Wow. Never seen one of these before! Thanks for the demo. Nice

[@thelamb288]

What a marvelous piece of engineering that tool is. Very good find! Your channel is the best and most fun restoration one that I watch. Hells Bells, have I laughed out aloud on many occasions. Thany you and all the very best. Cheers.

[@user-xw3vc7cf7f]

That is awesome! Thanks for making such videos.

[@user-zx9sf7cf8g]

Шикарный инструмент. Хорошая реставрация!!!

[@beriorgar]

that's such a cool tool! great job on the restoration

[@Madmaxoz]

The highlights for me was the sandblasting and the reference to Chris from clickspring you rock!

[@donaldasayers]

What a useful tool for screwing big hooks and eye bolts in.

[@donparker8246]

The early predecessor of the Gerber Ninja. Whoda thunk it? Another nice restoration.👍

[@emy1111]

Nickelback used to love you channel!

[@thomasarussellsr]

Never seen one of these before. Nicely done.

[@simplemanduke7128]

Love your videos please keep up the good work and thank you for all of your videos they're so intriguing

[@Crakera]

A well polished knob, sir.

[@cavasinon9182]

Tools God :"It's ok buddy you doin' great... And send me one of your wrench ! ASAP !"

[@SalahEddineH]

Top notch humor! Stay awesome man!

[@CSPhowto]

I love the clickspring reference!

[@lavidadetina2963]

Hand tool rescue and clickspring, two of the most interesting channels on youtube. ; )

[@juliocesaravelar6744]

Realmente você é um artista. Tenho visto os seus videos e tenho gostado bastante. É muito bom ver que existem pessoas que se preocupam em restaurar e porque não recuperar a historia de ferramentas. você está de parabéns. Abraço.

[@donaldwycoff4154]

If it wasn't the exact same tool, my father had a tool very similar to this. I was with him when he bought it from an old guy out at Roseville Auction in Califorina, 1972 I think. The old guy was selling a tool collection for a friend of his who had died. My father picked it off the table and chuckled. They ended up talking a while, and eventually the tool made its way into my dad's big plastic bucket with assorted other rusty old-school plumbing tools. The nifty thing about that bucket: nobody would steal it. everything was functional but really old fashioned and looked like a bunch of rusty junk. Dad was the type who bought a house with water damage so that the back end of the house sloped down pretty badly, but not so bad as to be condemned. Then he brought in 4 old-school car jacks and slowly cranked the end of the house back to level, a little bit of a crank each day for weeks on end. Then he fixed the gingerbread detail (it was a Edwardian style former-bordello) on the outside, and if you can beleive it, he cut the wood shingles himself. He was really amazing with tools. I think working with his hands brought him peace. His day job was with Pacific Telephone; but his evening job was to restore houses. He didn't much like TV back then. He said it was a waste of valuable time on Earth. Anyway, thanks for sharing this. I wish I knew where his rusty bucket of tools was at, but he died almost 20 years ago, and it is most likely out of my reach forever.

[@TheJimbodean67]

And the tool gods lamented at the blasphemous polishing of brass patina, but later rejoiced at the resurrection of a lost and forgotten thingamjiggy. I’m sure Chris will appreciate the free plug lol.

[@Nanakiyami]

Jim Letts You can never have too many thingamajiggys or whatchamacallits.. 😂

[@MonsterPumpkin]

Could you please explain me the tool god joke ? 🙂

[@rcgusto2427]

This has quickly become one of my favorite channels. I’ve essentially binge-watched all of the vids, can’t wait for more. Also bought a wrench. Keep up the great work.

[@HandToolRescue]

RC Gusto Thank you! Welcome.

[@jazbuilding]

What an interesting tool. Thanks for sharing.

[@Dark..498]

Que hermosa pieza, buen trabajo, saludos desde Argentina!

[@gregwright392]

That's a cool tool! Well done!

[@MrNightdawg]

Oh my...the nickel plating / nickelback: the best! Thanks!

[@raymondkoonce5827]

I really like the mirror-like finish you imparted to these metallic surfaces.

[@captainjerk]

Awesome tool! Great rescue buddy! :D Also excellent for opening coconuts!

[@frankkelly2245]

Even then useless tools, awesome restoration sir.

[@roccomariano7121]

Hi this is ROCCO MARIANO LOVE YOUR SHOWS I WATCH YOU MAKE AN INCREDIBLE RESTORATION THATI CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES I ALWAYS WATCH YOUR SHOWS AND I ALWAYS ENJOY IT I AM HANDICAPPED BUT I ENJOY THE SENS OF HUMER I ENJOY THAT I AM ASKING PLEASE DON'T GET OFF THE SHOW I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOUR ESPECIAL ME I LOVE YOUR SHOWS GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM YOUR LONG TIME BIGGEST FAN ROCCO MARIANO THANK YOU

[@nateshattuck1512]

Best restore yet!