Wiss Model C Pinking Shears, Models B, CC-9 and CB-9, 9" Overall
Blade Identification
If you have the instruction sheet or folder then you can date your shears more accurately than you can with only a blade identification.
All 9" pinking shears were only made in a right-hand configuration. The 7-1/2" pinkers did have a left-handed version.
Ledge on Blade
Pre Patents (before mid-1934)
The earliest known Model C. There was a Model B before this. But none yet found.
Labeled Pinking Shears Corp., the firm that held the patents, and was cutting the teeth into the blade. They had rights to sell pinking shears outside the US. This is the only shears with no marking on the front, but with markings only on the back.
Two Patents (mid-1934)
The first two patents were issued on May 15, 1934 and July 3, 1934. The third patent was issued on August 14, 1934. This marking is not that rare. After the die was created during that five week period, they must have left it in production for a while.
This appears with two boxes. Initially with the red, white and blue box that matched the Model A box. Then in a brown leather patterned box with a hinged cover.
Three Patents (1934-1937)
We now have a chrome plate in addition to the original nickel plate.
Pinking Shears Corp. and the patent dates, instead of the numbers.
There is also a Pinking Shears Corp one with patent numbers.
Three Patents with Paint Groove (1938-1942)
A groove was added below the screw in about 1938, when they introduced black handles. The groove gave them a place to stop the paint.
Silver plated, dating to only the year 1941.
Equity was sold as a budget shears.
Three Patents with Space for Fourth (mid-1942)
The fourth patent was issued on June 16, 1942. In this rare example they knew it was coming but didn't have the number. This passed through eBay before I started to collect pinkers will all the different markings.
Four Patents
Ledge on Blade (1942-1950)
The fourth patent, 2,286,874, was issued on June 16, 1942. During this period the blade could be either chrome plated, or after the war, in nickel plate. The blade did not vary at all during this period.
Equity
Pinking Shears Corp.
Chrome Plated (End 1940s)
Pinking Shears Corp.
Shears Length Reduced 1/2" (some time in 1950)
While this blade looks the same as the previous, the handle has been shortened 1/2", taking the overall length from 9-1/4" to 8-3/4". This was used through 1952. [There should be a CB-9 of this length and markings.]
Before: Overall length 9-1/4"
After: Overall length 8-3/4". All reduction is in the bows.
Groove on Blade
Beginning in 1953, the long time ledge on the blade was replaced by a cheaper to make groove. At the same time the line split into a Model B with larger teeth than the consumer oriented shears.
Four Patents: Groove on Blade (1953-1957)
The second and third are chrome plated, but not so marked. Previously when chrome plated the shears was so marked.
Pinking Shears Corp. This pair has the Sure-Grip, as seen in the next group. Note they used different patent numbers. The two not used by Wiss: one was issued in 1944 for a work holder, and the other in 1953. See all patents here
Patents Dropped (1956-1957)
There should be a black one.
The chrome plate now has a brushed finish on the handles, called Sure-Grip. Says a sticker on the pink-black sleeve box.
The nut has been flipped over. Makes for a more elegant look, but the shears now rocks when on its backside. This has 1/4" teeth. From this model onwards all 9" pinkers had 1/4" teeth. For 3/16" teeth one had to buy the 7" pinker.
Consumer Line
In the consumer line the nut appears in both directions. The upward facing nut was needed for inside gift cases, but by this time gift cases only had the 7-1/2" shears. [There needs to be ones with black handles.]
With brushed finish on the handles, called Sure-Grip.
Model B (1954-1956)
Simultaneously with the new Model A, the Model B (Larger Teeth) was introduced by 12/53. It had 1/4" teeth, while the Model A consumer line continued to have 3/16" teeth. The handles were painted gray.
The extra large teeth was highlighted on the backside.
Professional Line
The word Professional was added in 1957 to replace the now dropped Model B. It kept the Model B's 1/4" teeth spacing. In the first one you see that for the first run they cheated and simply removed the Model B, and changed to the regular black paint. The backside continues with the Extra Large Teeth marking, but only for this first one.
Black handles were Professional and the chrome-plated was not. This did not last long, as all 9" were given 1/4" teeth.
With the nut flipped over.
No Patents: No Groove (9/57-1964)
With this blade redesign, they changed the spacing of the teeth to 1/4". The Professional line was dropped. The 3/16" spacing was now only available on the 7 1/2" pinker. At this point the 9" pinker is for professionals and the 7 1/2" pinker is for consumers.
Need one with nickel handles.
Wisco. Must have been a budget line.
Ball Bearing Action [Smaller Bolt Head] (1965+)
The diameter of the bolt head was reduced from 5/8" to 1/2". The blue and gold boxes now had "New Easy Cutting Ball Bearing Action."
Need one with black handles. On its way.
Markings are Acid Etched
By 1969 they were acid-etching the markings, instead of stamping them. But not on all. Stamped ones continue to appear. Or maybe later than 1969.
This one is also etched on the blade. But the blade has a satin finish, instead of a mirror finish. This may have been after Cooper bought the company.
