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- Mar 21, 2005
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This came to me via a friend of my mother. It belonged to her husband and was sitting among his things since he'd passed away.
It says Gros-Ite Industries Rte. 6, Famington, Conn. on one side. The other side has some decorative lines and a space in the middle for engraving. A quick google search indicates Gros-Ite is a tool and die maker currently specializing in spindles.
It measures 2 3/8" long, 9/16" tall, and 1/4" thick.
There are three implements, all with their own spring and opening out of the top. First is a file.
On the other side is what might be a cuticle tool. I wonder if it might also be used for cleaning out the bowl of a tobacco pipe but it seems like it would be rather small for that task.
Those two tools open to the right. In the middle is the knife blade which opens to the left.
Note the shape of the edge on the blade. It it ground up at an angle, almost like you'd find on a tanto. At first I figured the edge must have been dinged pretty good at some point and it was ground to that shape as a repair. However, I found an expired auction listing that showed another example of this piece and it had the same grind on the edge. Then I thought perhaps it needed to be done that way so the front portion of the edge wouldn't hit the spring when closing. But when I look at the blade in closed position I really don't think it would be in danger of hitting the edge were it conventionally shaped. This remains a mystery for the moment.
The last feature is my favorite. On the bottom edge there is a cutout in the handle.
Press on the grooves and slide out.
Combination tweezers and scissors.
The spring on these is still pretty lively. If you're squeezing them closed and your finger slips off they could jump a good distance.
Here's a picture of the inside.
All parts exposed.
Alongside an Elinox Secretary ad knife.
The Latama is in pretty nice shape. The blade springs all have good snap and nice action. Could use a little clean up and oiling overall but as is she works fine. I don't know how old this is. 1970s maybe but that's just a shot in the dark. I had never seen something quite like this before so I thought others might appreciate seeing it. Any comments or additional information would be welcome.
It says Gros-Ite Industries Rte. 6, Famington, Conn. on one side. The other side has some decorative lines and a space in the middle for engraving. A quick google search indicates Gros-Ite is a tool and die maker currently specializing in spindles.
It measures 2 3/8" long, 9/16" tall, and 1/4" thick.
There are three implements, all with their own spring and opening out of the top. First is a file.
On the other side is what might be a cuticle tool. I wonder if it might also be used for cleaning out the bowl of a tobacco pipe but it seems like it would be rather small for that task.
Those two tools open to the right. In the middle is the knife blade which opens to the left.
Note the shape of the edge on the blade. It it ground up at an angle, almost like you'd find on a tanto. At first I figured the edge must have been dinged pretty good at some point and it was ground to that shape as a repair. However, I found an expired auction listing that showed another example of this piece and it had the same grind on the edge. Then I thought perhaps it needed to be done that way so the front portion of the edge wouldn't hit the spring when closing. But when I look at the blade in closed position I really don't think it would be in danger of hitting the edge were it conventionally shaped. This remains a mystery for the moment.
The last feature is my favorite. On the bottom edge there is a cutout in the handle.
Press on the grooves and slide out.
Combination tweezers and scissors.
The spring on these is still pretty lively. If you're squeezing them closed and your finger slips off they could jump a good distance.
Here's a picture of the inside.
All parts exposed.
Alongside an Elinox Secretary ad knife.
The Latama is in pretty nice shape. The blade springs all have good snap and nice action. Could use a little clean up and oiling overall but as is she works fine. I don't know how old this is. 1970s maybe but that's just a shot in the dark. I had never seen something quite like this before so I thought others might appreciate seeing it. Any comments or additional information would be welcome.
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