Description

Superb Gladwin Patent Combination Plane & Tool Handle – Rare Nickel-Plated Version – Patented April 9, 1878

A brilliant example of 19th-century American innovation, this Gladwin Patent Combination Tool Handle is a rare nickel-plated variant of Porter A. Gladwin’s 1878 design. Intended to function as both a multi-bit handle and a miniature plane, it showcases the versatility and mechanical creativity of the post-Civil War toolmaking era.

🔹 Nickel-plated cast iron body.
🔹 Patented April 9, 1878 – U.S. Patent No. 202,105
🔹 Designed to accept interchangeable tools (chisels, screwdrivers, etc.) and comes with one tool as pictured
🔹 Integrated slot for a plane iron—handle doubles as a small plane
🔹 Compact form: approx. 5″ long x 1¼” wide
🔹 Rare survivor—especially in nickel plate, which was offered alongside japanned finishes

This tool was marketed as a multi-purpose solution for tradesmen, combining portability with utility. Few examples remain today, and even fewer in nickel-plated form. Whether displayed in a top-tier collection or admired for its mechanical ingenuity, this piece is a testament to the inventive spirit of 19th-century American toolmakers.

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