Sargent “Tool Holder” 130 Applewood Handle Nickel Plated Grip w/Tools pre 1926 For Sale

Several companies in New England manufactured similar but different Tools known broadly, now, as Hollow Wood Handled Combination Tools in the late 1800s. Both Granville W. Wright and JosephB. Sargent received Patents for such Tools; Wright, #303,478, August 12, 1884, Tool Handle and Sargent #303887A, Tool Handle, Aug. 19, 1884. The Assignee and Manufacturer for both of these Patents was Sargent & Co. A not-exhaustivelist of other manufacturers of similar but different Patented Handles includes, among other, Fray & Co., Buell Bros. and Millers Falls, all located in New England.

Seeking a Patent related specifically to this “No. 130, Awls and Tools ‘Tool Holder’ 130 Applewood Handle Nickel Plated Grip”, was a fruitless search. It is unlike most“Tool Holders” of the era because the End Cap is not removable to expose a cavity in which Tools are stored. One Thirty’s Grip “Enclosed Brass Receptacle” allows the Handle to be solid and theTools to be more easily accessible. It is NOT designed for production work. In “Sargent Tool Book: Mechanics\' Tools 1911” the best description of how the Tool is to be used says, “Awls and Tools (often called Tool Holders) are combination tools adapted primarily for odd jobs.“

We found the 130 as early as 1908 in, “Sargent & Co.\'s Hardware (1901) by Sargent & Co., 1908-08”. It did not appear in “Sargent Locks and Hardware (1926)”. Our best guess is that it was produced between those dates, or earlier. Like we said, a hundred years old . . . at least.

The No. 130 “feels good” in-hand and was manufactured to a standard sufficiently high to make it both a Collectible and a Functional Tool that you’d wanna put in a specialplace where visitors might notice it yet convenient enough to make it readily accessible for a task for which it is ideal. Yeah, it’s a hundred years old and it could easily serve as an everyday small Screw Driver anda sometimes gouge or pick or “poking holes in things”, occasionally, Tool for another hundred years.

It might not have been intentional to make the 130 so visually appealing, but it is. Looks ready, like a solution waiting for a problem to solve . . . a screw to extract. In-hand it feels right;secure and a the size and shape of the Applewood Handle is right. Much of the Nickel Plating has gone away, adding a reminder of the wealth of stories of what it’s done and where it’s been since being made longago in New Haven. The “Grip”, as Sargent called it, must be turned quite snuggly to tighten the Chuck and secure the inserted Tool. It is large enough to grasp easily even with an aged, not nearly as strong asit “use tuh be” hand.

There were 12 Tools provided to fit into Holes in the Brass Ferrule. Eleven Tools survived a Century and one is broken:

1 Countersink No. 617

1 Tack Claw No. 613

1 Screw Driver No. 616

1 Chisel No. 612

2 Medium Brad Awls No. 605

2 Small Brad Awls No. 609

1 Large Brad Awl No. 601

1 Belt Awl No. 614

1 Scratch Awl No. 625

1 Reamer No. 615

I’d like to tell you which one is missing, but I did not put enough effort in to figuring that out, mostly cuz I was thinking of keeping it for the Little Screw Drivers, mostly. And maybethe Awls. The Reamer, too. For us, though, 130 would always be a useful novelty, at best. It’d be better in the hands of someone skilled in Tools who will REALLY like it and want it around as a companion to other equallycompelling devices.

There is nothing functionally deficient about the 130. It’s old and still works. Typically we suggest (see images), but if the pictures weren’t compelling enough for you to havelooked at them already . . . why not? Is it rare? You could look it up. Not common? Some. Is it worth what we’re asking? We think so.

We will ship the 130 Tool Holder by USPS Ground Advantage on the next regular business day following payment.