KTC Plier
KTC Pliers are picked up specially for the request from the tool collector in US, who has written Alloy Artifacts.
I suppose Alloy Artifacts is most extensive website for hand tools in the world, and he has picked up Japanese tools also, as follows.
It's amazing how in-depth an American is explaining Japanese tools.
Japanese Tool Makers (alloy-artifacts.org)
Japanese Tool Makers [Appendix A] (alloy-artifacts.org)
Followings are all results which I had searched about KTC pliers.
*Summaries:
5-kinds of KTC pliers are found out.
1st: T-86 with JIS & patent mark from around 1955 to 1970's by KTC-Oike/御池 & Fushimi/伏見.
↓Catalog in 1955 with the patent explanation (First Catalog of KTC)
2nd: JP-200 with JIS 1st Generation without circle-K from 1970's by KTC-Fushimi/伏見.
↓English Catalog in 1970
3rd: JP-200 with JIS 2nd Generation with circle-K from 1979 by Kyoto-Kiko/京都機工.
↓Catalog in 2001
4th: JPS-200 basic model from 1970's, maybe without JIS & by Kyoto-Kiko.
No photo, only catalog.
Additional information on Oct.2.2024
I found out JPS-200 photo which is also made by Kyoto-Kiko (circle-K) & with JIS.
5th: PJ-200 current model from around 2002 by KTC-Kumiyama/久御山, after closed Kyoto-Kiko.
There is no evidence for the models before 1954 which KTC was certified by JIS. (I suppose that T86 is 1st model of KTC plier)
I believe that Kyoto-Kiko had been manufactured Fuller models from the first stage of 1961.
*Details:
1. Kyoto-Kiko from KTC 50-yaers book
KTC established Kyoto-Kiko for the plier factory in 1960.
KTC 50-years book/KTC50年のあゆみ explains clearly that "Kyoto-kiko produced pliers", and more that "annual production reaching 3.6 million pairs at its peak".
Kyoto-Kiko had JIS B4614 certification in 1979, as mentioned at next column.
And, main products of the plier for Japanese market were JIS models at that time.
Accordingly from 1960 till 1979 Kyoto-Kiko could not make JIS models.
It means main products of Kyoto-Kiko at that time were the export models.
The export to Fuller had started in 1961, which is next year of their establishment.
Accordingly I believe that the main portion of 3.6-million exports by Kyoto-Kiko was to Fuller (and Sears).
And, I think that from 1979 they had been manufactured both of JIS & export models.
When Kyoto-Kiko had been closed, it is unclear.
However, the company advertisement as Kyoto-Kiko was found in 1992.
Therefore, I suppose that at least till 1992 they had manufactured the plier, and closed before 2000.
Now there is not their name in the subsidiary company list now.
↓Automatic OCR & Google Translation from KTC 50-years book
Kyoto-Kiko Co., Ltd., the first subsidiary company
Nakagawa Kiko (President: Nakagawa Eiji, address: 39 Tsutsumigai, Oyamazakicho, Otokuni-gun, Kyoto Prefecture), the predecessor of Kyoto Kiko Co., Ltd., was a company with 4-5 employees.
Yamazaki encouraged President Nakagawa, who was his classmate, to join the KTC subsideary company, and in September 1960 (Showa 35), he invested in the company.
The capital was increased to 4 million yen, and Saito was appointed president.
The land in Oyamazakicho was also purchased at the same time as the new company was established.
After the transition to Kyoto-Kiko, the company mainly produced pliers, with annual production reaching 3.6 million pairs at its peak.
2. JIS Story of KTC & Kyoto-Kiko
JIS B4614 for Combination Plier has folloing histories.
1) KTC factories
KTC-Oike/御池 was certified as JIS B4614-3487 on Oct. 21. 1954.
Therefore we understand that the model in 1955 catalog is first JIS one.
And, JIS models from 1961 to 1979 are manufactured by KTC factories.
JIS certified factories for B4614 were changed as follows;
1954 Oct.21 to 1964: at Oike-factory/御池
1964 Dec.17 to 1979?: at Fushimi-factory/伏見
*There is not termination report for Fushimi-factory, probably it was terminated at the same timing of Kyoto-Kiko certified on Jun.1979.
↑↓1962 JIS Annual Report, Certified Factory List/JIS表示許可工場名簿
JIS B4614 certified factory was moved from Oike/御池 to Fushimi/伏見 on Dec.17.1964 as showed by 1972 JIS Yearly Report as follows.
↓1972 JIS Yearly Report/JIS表示許可工場名簿
2) Kyoto-Koki certifide on Jun.26.1979
Kyoto-Kiko was certified as B4614-579037 Jun. 26. 1979.
Accordingly, JIS models after 1979 would be manufactured by Kyoto-Kiko.
*Kyoto-Kiko was closed before 2000, as explained above.
↑↓Sep.1979 JIS Monthly Report, Certified Factory List/JIS表示許可工場一覧表
KTC factory moving history (for the reference)
3. Details of each model
Photos & Catalogs are used as same as "Summaries" ones.
1st:
This is first JIS model by KTC as explained above.
And, there is the big patent mark on upper-side. (JIS mark is on back-side).
The detail of the patent was explained in 1955 catalog. (Made by Molybudenum is another important point)
PAT number is stamped "399268" on the model as above photo.
However, 1955 catalog shows "399238".
And, there is another number "99788" in 1960 english catalog, as follows.
(Meaning of "M" at "MPAT" is unclear)
Maybe there are several patents for this model, or each number of apply, public notice & registration is diffrent by the patent screening process.
3-kinds of PAT number are not found by the patent search system, because many of Japanese patents before 1970 are dropped from the databese of the patent office.
Fortunately, the detail of the patent is explained in 1955 catalog.
2nd:
This is JIS model JP200 around 1977, we understand it from catalog year.
And, there is not the mark of the product code.
It means this is KTC product itself.
Because JIS standard asks to stamp the manyufacturer mark (for example KTC) or the product code in case of OEM (for example circle-K with the brand name).
In 1977 catalog, there are 2-photos, one is with patent mark, another one is with JIS mark.
We do not know that both are same model as the upper & back photo, or different models as JP200 & JPS200-basic model.
3rd:
This has not only KTC & JIS mark but also circle-K mark.
I believe that this is Kyoto-Kiko products, because there is not any JIS product code except circle-K.
In the certified manufacturers, there are not alphabet "K" company except Kyoto-Kiko.
Therefore I believe that circle-K means Kyoto-Kiko.
This model starts from 1979 after Kyoto-Kiko was certified JIS B4614.
4th
JPS-200 is basic model.
I find out it by only model number lists in the catalogs.
Maybe it is stamped only "KTC", and no JIS mark.
↑1960, 1977 & 2001 catalog
Additional information on Oct.2.2024
I found out JPS-200 photo which is also made by Kyoto-Kiko (circle-K) & with JIS.
JP & JPS are almost same model, diffrent only the finish, satin and flat.
How to sell separately??
JP is made by Molybudenum??
5th
This is the current model PJ-200 as the name of "21-century version tools".
This is not JIS model.
I suppose it is manufactured at KTC-Kumiyama/久御山.
It was relaesed around 2002.
Because formaer model JP-200 still was posted in 2001 catalog.
4．Display at KTC Museum
Fuller combinartion plier is explained at KTC tool museum/KTCものづくり技術館 with Fuller open end wrench as following photo.
Explanation sheet says "FULLER TOOL, many of Combination (Plier) & Pipe Wrench were exported".
And, actual Craftsman plier (maybe "Craftsman" from the brand name stamp) is also displayed.
I suppose that many of the products of not only Fuller but also Sears including Craftsman are manufactured by Kyoto-Kiko and exported at 1960's & 1970's.
For the reference
Fuller plier made in Japan with BF mark, manufactured by Kyoto-Kiko??
＝Queri for JIS certification=
Please put "ending 2-digits of JIS cerified number" to "same ending 2-digits of following HTML link, or "Manufacturer Name" insted of B46xx of follwoing link.
Then, paste to the internet browser, and open it.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/jis-query.html?query=b46xx
This queri is made by Alloy Artifacts.
*Example-1 for B4604/Adjustable Wrench
http://alloy-artifacts.org/jis-query.html?query=b4604
B4604: Adjustable Wrenches, B4606: Pipe Wrenches, B4614: Combination Pliers, B4630: Open-End Wrenches, B4632: Box-End Wrenches, B4636: Sockets, B4636-1: Socket Tools (12.7mm dr), B4637: Extensions, B4643: Bolt Cutters, B4651: Combination Wrenches
*Example-2 for KTC
http://alloy-artifacts.org/jis-query.html?query=KTC
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